Deprecate (Metadata)

Deprecating a metadata component, an Apex class or method via the @deprecated annotation, a custom field, or another package component, marks it as no longer intended for new use without actually removing it. Deleting a component a subscriber org already references would break their customizations outright, so managed packages favor deprecation: the component disappears from new development surfaces, like Setup lists or code completion, but continues to function for whatever already depends on it. It's a one-way door in practice; once subscribers have built on a component, an ISV typically can't safely remove it until a major version change gives customers a clear migration path off it. Our metadata management guide covers this alongside other package lifecycle decisions.