Protobuf Editions Overview

Protobuf Editions replace the proto2 and proto3 designations that we have used for Protocol Buffers. Instead of adding syntax = “proto2” or syntax = “proto3” at the top of proto definition files, you use an edition number, such as edition = “2024”, to specify the default behaviors your file will have. Editions enable the language to evolve incrementally over time. Instead of the hardcoded behaviors that older versions have had, editions represent a collection of features with a default value (behavior) per feature.