Introduction to Swagger Documentation Format

What is REST API❓

Before directly moving to swagger documentation format, we must first have a basic understanding of REST API or RESTful web services. REST stands for Representational State Transfer. REST API is simply a type of API that uses HTTP requests. The user can access data and use it through these requests. This service is mostly useful in cloud applications. REST API is special as it uses less bandwidth. Some of the data formats that REST API supports are as follows:

1️⃣multipart/form-data

2️⃣application/xml

3️⃣application/json

Swagger Documentation Format🎯

After getting acquainted with some basic concepts, let us now explore the swagger documentation format in detail. We will begin with learning some elements of swagger documentation. 

The elements of the swagger documentation format are as follows:

⭕Host: The host tells us about the host where the user has to host the service.

⭕Tags: There are multiple resources. Grouping them based on some criteria provides convenience. Tags help to group the resources.

⭕Path: Path gives the path of the resources. The information on the functions of the resources can also be obtained from the path.

⭕Info: As the name suggests, info gives complete information about the API. The information involves URL, description of API, and its version.

⭕basePath: We mention the basePath in the URI. It is usually written before API and after the port number.

⭕Definition: It gives information about the elements that the user has used in designing the API.

Let us discuss the path, info, and definition element in detail📌

1️⃣Info Element Of The Swagger Documentation Format

Let us see what the info element looks like.

"info":{"description":"Api Documentation","version":"1.0","title":"Api Documentation","termsOfService":"urn:tos","contact":{},"license":{"name":"Apache 2.0","url":"http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0"}},  

Let us explore the different components used to implement the info element of the swagger documentation format.

⭕Description: It contains information about the API. Its type is a string.

⭕Version: It specifies the version of the API that the user is using. Its type is a string

⭕Title: It gives the title of the API used. Its type is a string.

⭕Terms of service: It has information about the terms of service. Its format should be the same as that of the URL. Its type is a string

⭕License: It has information about the default license. As we can see, it is Apache 2.0 in this case. Its type is license object.

📌Out of all the elements, title, and version elements are of the REQUIRED type.

2️⃣Path Element Of Swagger Documentation Format

Path element simply gives the path of the API. This specifies the endpoints. Examples include /users and /users/report. The paths are manipulated by the operations of the API. These operations are basically the HTTP methods such as GET and POST.

paths:

/ping:
    ...
  /users:
    ...
  /users/{id}:
    …

A user can access the paths of the API from the API specification global path section.

How to specify the path❓

{} curly brackets are used to specify the path parameters.

For example:

/users/{id}
/organizations/{orgId}/members/{memberId}
/report.{format}

3️⃣Definition Element Of The Swagger Documentation Format

The use of the definition element is to give information about the objects that are used. These are important to perform the different operations on the API. It contains a parameter known as links. The links are of two types namely rel and href. Rel defines the general link whereas href defines a particular resource.

Ways To Make The Documentation Available For The Client✅

1️⃣You can download the swagger documentation from the URL generated. Download this in JSON format and send this to the clients.

2️⃣Share the link of swagger UI. This UI specifies the operations.

We hope you understood everything about the swagger documentation format. 🙌

Frequently Asked Questions

How is swagger different from postman?

Swagger specifies the information about the API. Postman is used to test the APIs based on certain parameters.

What is the benefit of using swagger?

Swagger focuses on the convenience of the user. It has a list of all the methods from which the user can perform the task easily.

What is the language used by swagger?

Swagger mostly uses YAML( Yet Another Markup Language) or an existing JSON document.

Is swagger open source?

Yes, swagger is an open-source tool.

Which languages are used to build REST API?

Languages like javascript and python are used to design the REST API.

Conclusion

This blog basically talked about the swagger documentation format in brief. We started by briefly discussing swagger. The blog further explained the REST API. Additionally, we explored the elements of the swagger documentation in brief. In detail, we learned three elements, path, info, and definition. Finally, the blog addressed how you can send documentation to your clients.

You can refer to other similar articles as well

• Spring Boot
• Learn what rest API is in 10 minutes
• Introduction to Spring Boot
• How to Build a REST API 
• Spring Boot Version 

Refer to our guided paths on Coding Ninjas Studio to learn more about DSA, Competitive Programming, JavaScript, System Design, etc. Enroll in our courses and refer to the mock test and problems available.

Happy Learning Ninja! 🥷