Start with Real-World Examples: Show complete request/response cycles, including auth headers and errors. For example, show what a GET /users call returns in JSON.
Modern Tools
Redocly: Offers Redoc for API docs plus additional tools like Revel for flexible branding without rigid templates, Reef for API monitoring, and an API registry to manage multiple OpenAPI definitions.
Theneo: Uses AI to generate API references automatically, cutting down manual work. Started with docs but now expands its AI tools to streamline the whole API development process.
Stoplight: Helps with API design and governance through tools like Stoplight Studio (visual OpenAPI editor), Prism (open-source HTTP mock server), and Spectral (linting tool to enforce API standards). Works best for teams taking a design-first approach.
Postman: Goes beyond basic docs by providing workspaces, automated testing, monitoring, and governance. Connects deeply with GitHub, GitLab, and CI/CD pipelines as a complete API lifecycle tool.
SwaggerHub: Lets teams collaborate on APIs using OpenAPI or AsyncAPI specs while managing them throughout their lifecycle. Built by the same team behind Swagger.
Zuplo: Runs as a lightweight, fully-managed API platform built for developers, featuring GitOps, quick deployment, and unlimited preview environments. Works for both hobbyists and engineering leaders implementing auth systems.
Gravitee.io: Works as an open-source API management platform with a full ecosystem including API Gateway, Management, Access Management, and observability tools.
APIdog: Simplifies creating, managing, and testing APIs for both developers and testers. Focuses on building reliable, secure, and fast APIs.
ReadMe: Helps companies create, manage, and publish API docs through a user-friendly interface that makes documentation accessible to users.
dapperdox.io: Generates and serves open-source API docs for OpenAPI Swagger specs. Combines specs with docs, guides, and diagrams using GitHub Flavored Markdown.
Docusaurus: Built by Meta as an open-source documentation platform. Lets developers write in Markdown or MDX and, being React-based, allows extensive customization.
Scalar: Turns OpenAPI specs into interactive docs with an integrated API playground for testing endpoints directly in the documentation.