Documentation and testing of the software developed in software development processes is very important. For example, it is very important to explain the documentation of the Rest APIs developed in a backend application, the explanations of their functions and how to test them. A frontend developer should obtain information about these Rest APIs from the documentation without referring to the backend code.
Swagger and Open API concepts are frequently heard in today’s Rest API applications. In this article, we will examine these two concepts and touch on their differences.
Table of Contents
What is OpenAPI
Open API is a certain standard for machines to communicate. Like SOAP for example. It is written with the OPEN API Specification in Swagger, one of the technologies we hear about most recently.
The OpenAPI Specification’s goal is; is to define a language-independent standard for the interfaces of Rest APIs so that humans and computers can understand them. OpenAPI allows us not to rewrite an existing API, but it is necessary to determine the capabilities of the services defined in the structure of the OpenAPI Specification.
For more information about OpenAPI, click here.
What is Swagger
Swagger is a technology that provides a contractual standard and ancillary tools that function within this framework for developing the Rest API. Swagger uses the OpenAPI standard. Swagger provides convenience in API design, development, documentation and testing with the standards and tools it offers.
Imagine you are developing an application. Consider that you have created a Rest API so that this application can work in integration with other applications. When giving this Rest API to client applications, you need to provide it with a document.
Over time, your Rest API will improve and change itself. Maybe you will delete some functions in Rest API, maybe you will add new functions. You will have to go and update your document after each change you have made on the Rest API. Swagger comes to your rescue to save you from this hassle.
Thanks to Swagger, the documentation of Rest APIs becomes easier and all of them are documented with a standard. Swagger creates an interface for Rest APIs.
Swagger also lets you test services much more easily. Without the need for applications such as Postman, you can process a web service with Swagger via direct HTTP methods through the browser.
For more information about Swagger, click here.
Difference Between Swagger and OpenAPI
Basically, comparing this concept will lead to confusion. One is apple, one is pear. The most fundamental difference between these two concepts is that one is the set of rules and the other is the enforcer of these rules.
OpenAPI: Specification
Swagger: Tool that implements the specification
OpenAPI is the official name of the specification. The development of the specification is supported by the OpenAPI initiative, which today hosts the giants of the tech world. Smartbear Software, the company that led the development of Swagger tools, is also a member of the OpenAPI Initiative.
Conclusion
Swagger, which implements the OpenAPI specification, is currently responsible for documentation and testing of many projects. You can find more information about these two concepts on their official websites.
