Etymology

forward compatibility

for·ward com·pat·i·bil·i·ty

Today it means: The capability of an electronic device, a piece of software, etc., to interoperate with anticipated future systems. Full definition →

First used late 20th c.
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The story

From forward (adjective) + compatibility (noun).

First known use, by meaning

  • from late 20th c. The capability of an electronic device, a piece of software, etc., to interoperate with anticipated future systems.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.