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Starting in 2020, whenever there is an update to a data resource (i.e. a data table) in the NFD, a new data package is created and the entire dataset is re-published as a release.

The data package version format follows the Semantic Versioning specification format: MAJOR.MINOR.PATCH

The version numbers, and the way they change, convey meaning about how the data package has been modified from one version to the next.

Given a Data Package version number MAJOR.MINOR.PATCH, the values are incremented in the following situations:

A MAJOR version is incremented when changes are made that are incompatible with previous versions, for example:

Changing the data package, resource or field name or identifier
Adding, removing or re-ordering fields
Changing a field type or format
Changing a field constraint to be more restrictive
Combining, splitting, deleting or changing the meaning of data that is referenced by another data resource

A MINOR version is incremented when data are added or metadata changed in a backwards-compatible manner, for example:

Adding a new data resource to a data package
Adding new data to an existing data resource, such as an annual update
Changing a field constraint to be less restrictive
Updating a reference to another data resource
Changing data to reflect changes in referenced data

A PATCH version is incremented when backwards-compatible fixes are made, for example:

Correcting errors in existing data
Changing descriptive metadata properties

References:

Semantic Versioning 2.0.0 http://semver.org/ [accessed 2020-03-06]

Data Package Version specification. Frictionless Data. https://frictionlessdata.io/specs/patterns/#data-package-version [accessed 2020-03-06]