swagger-jsdoc vs @fastify/swagger vs @loopback/openapi-v3
API Documentation Libraries Comparison
1 Year
swagger-jsdoc@fastify/swagger@loopback/openapi-v3Similar Packages:
What's API Documentation Libraries?

API documentation libraries are essential tools for generating and managing API documentation in a structured manner. They help developers create interactive and user-friendly documentation that can be easily consumed by both front-end and back-end developers. These libraries often support OpenAPI specifications, allowing for standardized documentation that can facilitate better communication and understanding of API endpoints, request/response formats, and authentication methods. By using these libraries, developers can ensure that their APIs are well-documented, which can lead to improved usability and easier integration for third-party developers.

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swagger-jsdoc444,0081,713712 kB412 years agoMIT
@fastify/swagger329,160962335 kB332 months agoMIT
@loopback/openapi-v319,4444,977254 kB310a month agoMIT
Feature Comparison: swagger-jsdoc vs @fastify/swagger vs @loopback/openapi-v3

Integration

  • swagger-jsdoc:

    swagger-jsdoc is framework-agnostic and can be used with any Node.js application. It allows you to document your APIs using JSDoc comments, making it flexible and adaptable to various project structures.

  • @fastify/swagger:

    @fastify/swagger is specifically designed for the Fastify framework, providing a seamless integration that leverages Fastify's performance and plugin architecture. It allows for easy setup and configuration, making it ideal for Fastify users.

  • @loopback/openapi-v3:

    @loopback/openapi-v3 is built to work with the LoopBack framework, which is designed for creating APIs quickly. It offers deep integration with LoopBack's features, such as models and repositories, making it easier to generate OpenAPI documentation directly from your LoopBack application.

Documentation Style

  • swagger-jsdoc:

    swagger-jsdoc focuses on generating documentation directly from JSDoc comments, allowing developers to write documentation inline with their code. This approach promotes keeping documentation up-to-date as the code evolves, but it may require more manual effort to ensure completeness.

  • @fastify/swagger:

    This package generates interactive API documentation that adheres to the OpenAPI specification, allowing users to explore endpoints, parameters, and responses in a user-friendly interface. It supports customization of the documentation layout and style.

  • @loopback/openapi-v3:

    @loopback/openapi-v3 provides a rich set of features for generating OpenAPI-compliant documentation, including support for complex data types, relationships, and validation rules. It emphasizes model-driven documentation, making it easier to maintain consistency across your API.

Ease of Use

  • swagger-jsdoc:

    swagger-jsdoc requires developers to write JSDoc comments, which may have a steeper learning curve for those unfamiliar with JSDoc syntax. However, once learned, it allows for a straightforward way to document APIs alongside the code.

  • @fastify/swagger:

    @fastify/swagger is designed to be easy to set up and use, especially for developers already familiar with Fastify. It requires minimal configuration to get started, making it accessible for quick API documentation generation.

  • @loopback/openapi-v3:

    @loopback/openapi-v3 offers a user-friendly experience for LoopBack developers, providing built-in tools for generating and managing API documentation without extensive configuration. It simplifies the process of creating well-documented APIs.

Customization

  • swagger-jsdoc:

    swagger-jsdoc allows for customization through JSDoc comments, enabling developers to tailor the documentation to their specific needs. However, the level of customization may depend on the complexity of the JSDoc annotations used.

  • @fastify/swagger:

    This package allows for a high degree of customization in terms of API documentation appearance and behavior. Developers can modify the UI and add custom metadata to enhance the documentation experience.

  • @loopback/openapi-v3:

    @loopback/openapi-v3 provides extensive options for customizing the generated OpenAPI documentation, including the ability to define custom responses, parameters, and security schemes, making it suitable for complex APIs.

Community Support

  • swagger-jsdoc:

    swagger-jsdoc has a broad user base and is widely adopted in various projects, leading to a wealth of community resources, tutorials, and examples that can help developers implement it effectively.

  • @fastify/swagger:

    As part of the Fastify ecosystem, @fastify/swagger benefits from a growing community and active maintenance, ensuring that it stays up-to-date with the latest Fastify features and best practices.

  • @loopback/openapi-v3:

    @loopback/openapi-v3 is supported by the LoopBack community, which provides resources, examples, and ongoing development to enhance the library's capabilities and usability.

How to Choose: swagger-jsdoc vs @fastify/swagger vs @loopback/openapi-v3
  • swagger-jsdoc:

    Select swagger-jsdoc if you prefer a more flexible approach to documenting your APIs using JSDoc comments in your code. This package allows you to write documentation alongside your code, making it easier to keep documentation in sync with your API implementation.

  • @fastify/swagger:

    Choose @fastify/swagger if you are using the Fastify framework and need a straightforward way to generate OpenAPI documentation. It integrates seamlessly with Fastify's ecosystem, allowing for easy configuration and customization of your API documentation.

  • @loopback/openapi-v3:

    Opt for @loopback/openapi-v3 if you are working with the LoopBack framework and require a comprehensive solution for building APIs with built-in OpenAPI support. It provides advanced features like model-driven API generation and supports complex use cases with ease.

README for swagger-jsdoc

swagger-jsdoc

This library reads your JSDoc-annotated source code and generates an OpenAPI (Swagger) specification.

npm Downloads CI

Getting started

Imagine having API files like these:

/**
 * @openapi
 * /:
 *   get:
 *     description: Welcome to swagger-jsdoc!
 *     responses:
 *       200:
 *         description: Returns a mysterious string.
 */
app.get('/', (req, res) => {
  res.send('Hello World!');
});

The library will take the contents of @openapi (or @swagger) with the following configuration:

const swaggerJsdoc = require('swagger-jsdoc');

const options = {
  definition: {
    openapi: '3.0.0',
    info: {
      title: 'Hello World',
      version: '1.0.0',
    },
  },
  apis: ['./src/routes*.js'], // files containing annotations as above
};

const openapiSpecification = swaggerJsdoc(options);

The resulting openapiSpecification will be a swagger tools-compatible (and validated) specification.

swagger-jsdoc example screenshot

System requirements

  • Node.js 12.x or higher

You are viewing swagger-jsdoc v6 which is published in CommonJS module system.

Installation

npm install swagger-jsdoc --save

Or

yarn add swagger-jsdoc

Supported specifications

  • OpenAPI 3.x
  • Swagger 2
  • AsyncAPI 2.0

Validation of swagger docs

By default swagger-jsdoc tries to parse all docs to it's best capabilities. If you'd like to you can instruct an Error to be thrown instead if validation failed by setting the options flag failOnErrors to true. This is for instance useful if you want to verify that your swagger docs validate using a unit test.

const swaggerJsdoc = require('swagger-jsdoc');

const options = {
  failOnErrors: true, // Whether or not to throw when parsing errors. Defaults to false.
  definition: {
    openapi: '3.0.0',
    info: {
      title: 'Hello World',
      version: '1.0.0',
    },
  },
  apis: ['./src/routes*.js'],
};

const openapiSpecification = swaggerJsdoc(options);

Documentation

Click on the version you are using for further details: