← REST API Development learning pathREST API Development · Module 8 of 10
Documentation with OpenAPI
Describe your API so others can use it easily.
📖 Key ideas
- OpenAPI (Swagger) describes endpoints, parameters and responses in YAML/JSON.
- Swagger UI turns the spec into interactive docs.
- Generate client SDKs and server stubs from the spec.
- Include examples for requests and errors.
- Keep docs in sync by generating from code or contract-first design.
💡 Real-life example: OpenAPI is the instruction manual and the box diagram for your API.
OpenAPIStandard API description format
Swagger UIInteractive docs from a spec
Contract-firstWrite the spec before code
SDKClient library for an API