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springdoc/springdoc-openapi

Analysis updated 2026-07-03

3,706JavaAudience · developerComplexity · 2/5Setup · easy

TLDR

A Java library that automatically generates interactive API documentation for Spring Boot apps without any manual writing, just add one dependency and get a Swagger UI page and OpenAPI JSON at standard URLs.

Mindmap

mindmap
  root((springdoc-openapi))
    What it does
      Auto-generates API docs
      Reads code and annotations
      No manual writing needed
    Outputs
      Swagger UI HTML page
      OpenAPI 3 JSON and YAML
      Interactive test interface
    Integrations
      Spring Security
      OAuth 2 flows
      Java validation annotations
    Setup
      One Maven or Gradle dep
      Zero required config
      Optional URL customization
    Versions
      v2 for Spring Boot 3
      v1 for Spring Boot 1 and 2
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What do people build with it?

USE CASE 1

Add auto-generated Swagger UI documentation to a Spring Boot REST API with a single Maven dependency

USE CASE 2

Document OAuth 2 authentication flows in a Spring Security app through the interactive Swagger UI

USE CASE 3

Generate an OpenAPI 3 JSON spec from a running Spring Boot app to share with frontend or mobile teams

USE CASE 4

Automatically document input validation constraints like @NotNull and @Min on your API endpoints

What is it built with?

JavaSpring BootMavenGradleSwagger UIOpenAPI 3

How does it compare?

springdoc/springdoc-openapiwillowtreeapps/spruce-androidgrpc-ecosystem/grpc-spring
Stars3,7063,7043,709
LanguageJavaJavaJava
Setup difficultyeasyeasymoderate
Complexity2/52/53/5
Audiencedeveloperdeveloperdeveloper

Figures from each repo's GitHub metadata at analysis time.

How do you get it running?

Difficulty · easy Time to first run · 5min

Version 2 requires Spring Boot 3 and Java 17, use version 1 for older Spring Boot projects.

License information was not described in the explanation.

In plain English

springdoc-openapi is a Java library that automatically generates API documentation for Spring Boot applications. When you add it to a Spring Boot project, it inspects your application while it runs, reads the structure of your code and any annotations you have added, and produces a complete description of your API endpoints. You do not have to write the documentation manually. The documentation it produces follows the OpenAPI 3 standard, which is a widely used format for describing REST APIs. The library outputs the documentation as a JSON or YAML file, and it also serves an interactive HTML page using Swagger UI. That page shows all your endpoints, what parameters they accept, what they return, and lets you make test requests directly from the browser. By default the HTML page appears at /swagger-ui.html and the raw JSON at /v3/api-docs. Setting it up takes one step: add a single dependency to your Maven or Gradle build file and the library activates automatically. There is no required configuration, though optional properties let you move the documentation to a different URL path. It integrates with Spring Security and supports OAuth 2 flows, so authentication can be documented and tested through the Swagger UI as well. It also recognizes standard Java validation annotations like @NotNull and @Min to document input constraints. Version 2 of the library targets Spring Boot 3 and Java 17. Version 1 covered Spring Boot 1 and 2, and extended paid support for version 1 is available beyond its 2023 end-of-life. The project is community-maintained and independent from the Spring Framework team at Pivotal. Sponsors include Mercedes-Benz and several other companies.

Copy-paste prompts

Prompt 1
I have a Spring Boot REST API and want to add auto-generated Swagger UI documentation using springdoc-openapi. Show me the Maven dependency to add and the default URL where the docs appear.
Prompt 2
My Spring Boot app uses Spring Security with OAuth 2. How do I configure springdoc-openapi so the Swagger UI lets testers authenticate with OAuth 2 before making test requests?
Prompt 3
I want to move the springdoc-openapi Swagger UI from /swagger-ui.html to a custom path. What property do I set in application.properties and what other URL properties can I configure?
Prompt 4
My Spring Boot 3 app uses Java validation annotations like @NotNull and @Min. Show me how springdoc-openapi v2 picks these up and displays them as constraints in the generated API docs.

Frequently asked questions

What is springdoc-openapi?

A Java library that automatically generates interactive API documentation for Spring Boot apps without any manual writing, just add one dependency and get a Swagger UI page and OpenAPI JSON at standard URLs.

What language is springdoc-openapi written in?

Mainly Java. The stack also includes Java, Spring Boot, Maven.

What license does springdoc-openapi use?

License information was not described in the explanation.

How hard is springdoc-openapi to set up?

Setup difficulty is rated easy, with roughly 5min to a first successful run.

Who is springdoc-openapi for?

Mainly developer.

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