COMPATIBLE

2.52 COMPATIBLE

COMPATIBLE enables you to use a new release of Oracle while ensuring the ability to downgrade the database to an earlier release.

Property	Description
Parameter type	String
Syntax	`COMPATIBLE =` `release_number`
Default value	Oracle Database 23ai (initial release): `23.4.0` Oracle Database 23ai, Release Update 23.5: `23.5.0` Oracle Database 23ai, Release Update 23.6: `23.6.0`
Modifiable	No
Modifiable in a PDB	No
Range of values	`19.0.0` to default release Values must be specified as at least three decimal numbers with each number separated by a dot, such as `23.4.0` or `23.4.0.0`
Basic	Yes
Oracle RAC	Multiple instances must have the same value.

The COMPATIBLE parameter specifies the Oracle version number that the database disk format must be compatible with. The database can be downgraded to the version specified in the COMPATIBLE parameter or any later version.

Setting COMPATIBLE ensures that new features do not write data formats or structures to disk that are not compatible with the earlier release, preventing a future downgrade. Features that require a higher value of COMPATIBLE to work correctly may be restricted or disabled to ensure downgrades are possible.

Typically, users keep COMPATIBLE unchanged when upgrading their Oracle software. After upgrade, users will run the new release of the Oracle software for a few weeks to ensure that the new release is working correctly. Afterwards, users can choose to update COMPATIBLE to the latest version to take advantage of the new features.

The following Release Update guidelines apply:

For Oracle Database 21c, Oracle Database 19c, and Oracle Database 18c:

The value of the COMPATIBLE parameter should not be changed for a Release Update (RU) or Release Update Revision (RUR). For example, assume you are running Oracle Database 21c and the value of COMPATIBLE is 21.0.0. You then apply Oracle Database 21c, Release Update 21.4. Do not set the value of COMPATIBLE to 21.4.0; leave it set to 21.0.0.
For Oracle Database 23ai:

The value of the COMPATIBLE parameter should not be changed for an RUR. The value of the COMPATIBLE parameter should be changed for an RU only under the following circumstance: You are running the Oracle Database 23ai initial release and you have explicitly set COMPATIBLE to any value (including the default value of 23.4.0). You then apply a Release Update. In this case, if you apply Release Update 23.5, then you must set the value of COMPATIBLE to 23.5.0 in order to use all of the features of Oracle Database 23ai, or if you apply Release Update 23.6, then you must set the value of COMPATIBLE to 23.6.0 in order to use all of the features of Oracle Database 23ai.

Notes:

The value of the COMPATIBLE parameter can be increased to a higher version, but it can never be decreased to a lower version.
When using a standby database, this parameter must have the same value on both the primary and standby databases.