diff --git a/builtin/game/features.lua b/builtin/game/features.lua
index 874d3e8856ff..0b69df755400 100644
--- a/builtin/game/features.lua
+++ b/builtin/game/features.lua
@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
 -- Minetest: builtin/features.lua
 
+-- The changelog is located in doc/lua_api.md
+core.api_version = 1
+
 core.features = {
 	glasslike_framed = true,
 	nodebox_as_selectionbox = true,
diff --git a/doc/lua_api.md b/doc/lua_api.md
index be11a4c5dc9e..ab7877171acf 100644
--- a/doc/lua_api.md
+++ b/doc/lua_api.md
@@ -5277,6 +5277,23 @@ Minetest includes the following settings to control behavior of privileges:
 'minetest' namespace reference
 ==============================
 
+API Version
+-----------
+
+* `minetest.api_version`: numeric value
+   * Describes the modding API capabilities and behavior. This value
+     depends on the server version and can be used to achieve backwards
+     compatibility in mods.
+   * This supersedes the concept of `minetest.features`.
+   * Exists since Minetest version 5.9.0. Use the expression
+     `(minetest.api_version or 0)` as a fallback.
+
+**API Version History**
+
+ * API version 1 (5.9.0):
+    * All of `minetest.features`
+
+
 Utilities
 ---------
 
@@ -5401,6 +5418,8 @@ Utilities
       lsystem_decoration_type = true,
       -- Overrideable pointing range using the itemstack meta key `"range"` (5.9.0)
       item_meta_range = true,
+
+      -- All the features above are present if `(minetest.api_version or 0) >= 1`
   }
   ```