Final answer:
When changes are made to a database structure, the version number of the database should be incremented. Updating version numbers is key in managing database schema changes and maintaining software compatibility. It helps track changes, plan migrations, and ensure data integrity.
Step-by-step explanation:
If you make changes to the structure of the database, you can increment the version number for the database. The practice of updating database versioning is crucial when managing schema changes, to ensure compatibility with applications and maintain an organized record of structural changes.
Each time you modify the structure, by adding or removing tables, columns, or indexes, or changing data types, it's important to increment the version number. This helps in tracking changes over time and in cases where database migration or rollback is needed.
Database versioning is not only about tracking changes, but it also involves careful planning and applying changes to ensure data integrity and application functionality. Best practices recommend testing structural changes in a development environment before applying them to a production database. Once the changes are confirmed to be safe and effective, the version number should be incremented as part of the change management process.