Can we restore a database to an older version in SQL Server?

Question: Is it possible to restore a higher version of SQL Server to a lower version though a .bak file?

Answer:    SQL Server doesn't support restores from a higher version to a lower version using .bak  backup & restore method.  There are other ways to migrate from a higer version to a lower version , but they are outside of the scope of this question

This is a sequence of steps to test out the theory . The end result is an error message 

On the source server  - source1 : 

select @@version;
Microsoft SQL Server 2019 (RTM-CU25-GDR) (KB5036335) - 15.0.4360.2 (X64)

create database restore_test;

backup database restore_test to disk = 'F:\Backups\test\restore_test.bak'



On target server - target1 

select @@version;
Microsoft SQL Server 2016 (SP3-GDR) (KB5029186) - 13.0.6435.1 (X64)  

USE [master]
RESTORE DATABASE [restore_test] FROM
DISK = N'E:\Temp\restore_test.bak' WITH FILE = 1,
MOVE N'restore_test' TO N'E:\MSSQLSERVER\DATA\restore_test.mdf',
MOVE N'restore_test_log' TO N'F:\MSSQLSERVER\DATA\restore_test_log.ldf',
NOUNLOAD, STATS = 5
GO

Msg 3169, Level 16, State 1, Line 2
The database was backed up on a server running version 15.00.4360. That version is incompatible with this server, which is running version 13.00.6435. Either restore the database on a server that supports the backup, or use a backup that is compatible with this server.
Msg 3013, Level 16, State 1, Line 2
RESTORE DATABASE is terminating abnormally.