ModelRefs / Model Snapshot — AI Glossary
Model Snapshot — AI Glossary
An immutable, dated checkpoint of a model's weights and system configuration, used to ensure reproducible API behavior.
Overview
Model snapshots are the underlying mechanism behind model version strings. Once released, a snapshot's behavior is frozen (no silent updates). Providers retire snapshots on deprecation schedules (typically 6–12 months notice). Snapshot IDs include date codes: gpt-4o-2024-11-20, claude-3-5-sonnet-20241022.
Reference details
| Topic | ecosystem |
|---|---|
| Last reviewed | 2026-06-24 |
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Frequently asked questions
What is Model Snapshot?
An immutable, dated checkpoint of a model's weights and system configuration, used to ensure reproducible API behavior.
What concepts are related to Model Snapshot?
Closely related concepts include model version, model family, api versioning.