Limits of IgnorePkg in Arch Linux

Goal: Keep the Arch Linux system current with rolling updates while preventing a specific package from being upgraded to a newer version.

Constraint: The pacman documentation states that partial upgrades are unsupported and that the system expects all packages to stay in sync with their dependencies. Using the IgnorePkg option to hold back a package does not constitute a supported upgrade path and may leave libraries or executables mismatched.

Uncertainty: It is unclear whether Arch Linux provides any officially sanctioned method to exclude a package from updates without risking system inconsistency, or if users must accept the potential for breakage when employing IgnorePkg.

Specific questions:

• Does Arch Linux document a supported way to permanently exclude a package from upgrades while maintaining a consistent system?
• If no such method exists, what are the recommended practices to minimize breakage when a package must be held back?