Springdoc OpenAPI for API documentation in Spring Boot. Covers Swagger UI configuration, annotations, schema customization, and security documentation. Based on production patterns from castellino and gestionale-presenze projects. USE WHEN: user mentions "Springdoc", "Spring Boot OpenAPI", "Swagger in Spring", "@Operation", "@Schema", "Swagger UI Spring", asks about "Spring Boot API documentation", "Spring REST documentation", "OpenAPI in Java" DO NOT USE FOR: General OpenAPI specs - use `o...
Scanned 9/8/2026
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---
name: springdoc-openapi
description: |
Springdoc OpenAPI for API documentation in Spring Boot. Covers Swagger UI
configuration, annotations, schema customization, and security documentation.
Based on production patterns from castellino and gestionale-presenze projects.
USE WHEN: user mentions "Springdoc", "Spring Boot OpenAPI", "Swagger in Spring",
"@Operation", "@Schema", "Swagger UI Spring", asks about "Spring Boot API documentation",
"Spring REST documentation", "OpenAPI in Java"
DO NOT USE FOR: General OpenAPI specs - use `openapi` instead; GraphQL - use `graphql` instead;
Non-Spring Boot projects; Frontend OpenAPI generation - use `openapi-codegen` instead
allowed-tools: Read, Grep, Glob, Write, Edit
---
# Springdoc OpenAPI (Swagger)
> **Deep Knowledge**: Use `mcp__documentation__fetch_docs` with technology: `springdoc-openapi` for comprehensive documentation.
## Maven Configuration
```xml
<dependency>
<groupId>org.springdoc</groupId>
<artifactId>springdoc-openapi-starter-webmvc-ui</artifactId>
<version>2.6.0</version>
</dependency>
```
## Application Configuration
```yaml
springdoc:
api-docs:
path: /v3/api-docs
enabled: true
swagger-ui:
path: /swagger-ui.html
enabled: true
operationsSorter: method
tagsSorter: alpha
displayRequestDuration: true
filter: true
packages-to-scan: com.example.controller
paths-to-match: /api/**
```
## OpenAPI Configuration
```java
@Configuration
public class OpenApiConfig {
@Bean
public OpenAPI customOpenAPI() {
return new OpenAPI()
.info(new Info()
.title("My API")
.version("1.0.0")
.description("REST API Documentation")
.contact(new Contact()
.name("API Support")
.email("support@example.com"))
.license(new License()
.name("MIT")
.url("https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT")))
.externalDocs(new ExternalDocumentation()
.description("Wiki Documentation")
.url("https://wiki.example.com"))
.addSecurityItem(new SecurityRequirement().addList("bearerAuth"))
.components(new Components()
.addSecuritySchemes("bearerAuth",
new SecurityScheme()
.type(SecurityScheme.Type.HTTP)
.scheme("bearer")
.bearerFormat("JWT")
.description("JWT token authentication")));
}
}
```
## Controller Documentation
```java
@RestController
@RequestMapping("/api/v1/users")
@RequiredArgsConstructor
@Tag(name = "Users", description = "User management endpoints")
public class UserController {
private final UserService userService;
@Operation(
summary = "Get all users",
description = "Returns a paginated list of all users"
)
@ApiResponses({
@ApiResponse(responseCode = "200", description = "Success",
content = @Content(schema = @Schema(implementation = PageUserResponse.class))),
@ApiResponse(responseCode = "401", description = "Unauthorized",
content = @Content(schema = @Schema(implementation = ErrorResponse.class)))
})
@GetMapping
public ResponseEntity<Page<UserResponse>> findAll(
@Parameter(description = "Page number (0-indexed)")
@RequestParam(defaultValue = "0") int page,
@Parameter(description = "Page size")
@RequestParam(defaultValue = "10") int size) {
return ResponseEntity.ok(userService.findAll(page, size));
}
@Operation(summary = "Get user by ID")
@ApiResponses({
@ApiResponse(responseCode = "200", description = "User found"),
@ApiResponse(responseCode = "404", description = "User not found")
})
@GetMapping("/{id}")
public ResponseEntity<UserResponse> findById(
@Parameter(description = "User ID", required = true, example = "1")
@PathVariable Long id) {
return ResponseEntity.ok(userService.findById(id));
}
@Operation(summary = "Create new user")
@ApiResponses({
@ApiResponse(responseCode = "201", description = "User created"),
@ApiResponse(responseCode = "400", description = "Invalid input")
})
@PostMapping
@ResponseStatus(HttpStatus.CREATED)
public ResponseEntity<UserResponse> create(
@io.swagger.v3.oas.annotations.parameters.RequestBody(
description = "User creation data",
required = true,
content = @Content(schema = @Schema(implementation = CreateUserRequest.class)))
@Valid @RequestBody CreateUserRequest dto) {
return ResponseEntity.status(HttpStatus.CREATED)
.body(userService.create(dto));
}
}
```
## Schema Documentation
```java
@Data
@Schema(description = "User creation request")
public class CreateUserRequest {
@Schema(
description = "User's full name",
example = "John Doe",
minLength = 2,
maxLength = 100,
requiredMode = Schema.RequiredMode.REQUIRED
)
@NotBlank
@Size(min = 2, max = 100)
private String name;
@Schema(
description = "User's email address",
example = "john.doe@example.com",
format = "email",
requiredMode = Schema.RequiredMode.REQUIRED
)
@NotBlank
@Email
private String email;
@Schema(
description = "User's password",
example = "SecurePass123!",
minLength = 8,
requiredMode = Schema.RequiredMode.REQUIRED,
accessMode = Schema.AccessMode.WRITE_ONLY
)
@NotBlank
@Size(min = 8)
private String password;
@Schema(
description = "User's role",
example = "USER",
defaultValue = "USER",
allowableValues = {"ADMIN", "MANAGER", "USER"}
)
private UserRole role;
}
@Data
@Builder
@Schema(description = "User response")
public class UserResponse {
@Schema(description = "User ID", example = "1")
private Long id;
@Schema(description = "User's name", example = "John Doe")
private String name;
@Schema(description = "User's email", example = "john@example.com")
private String email;
@Schema(description = "User's role", example = "USER")
private UserRole role;
@Schema(description = "Account status", example = "ACTIVE")
private UserStatus status;
@Schema(description = "Creation timestamp", example = "2024-01-15T10:30:00")
private LocalDateTime createdAt;
}
```
## Enum Documentation
```java
@Schema(description = "User roles")
public enum UserRole {
@Schema(description = "System administrator with full access")
ADMIN,
@Schema(description = "Department manager")
MANAGER,
@Schema(description = "Regular user")
USER
}
```
## Security Documentation
```java
// Mark endpoint as public (no auth required)
@Operation(summary = "Login", security = {})
@PostMapping("/auth/login")
public ResponseEntity<AuthResponse> login(@RequestBody LoginRequest request) {
return ResponseEntity.ok(authService.login(request));
}
// Require specific roles in documentation
@Operation(
summary = "Delete user",
security = @SecurityRequirement(name = "bearerAuth")
)
@PreAuthorize("hasRole('ADMIN')")
@DeleteMapping("/{id}")
public ResponseEntity<Void> delete(@PathVariable Long id) {
userService.delete(id);
return ResponseEntity.noContent().build();
}
```
## Group APIs by Tag
```java
@Configuration
public class OpenApiConfig {
@Bean
public GroupedOpenApi publicApi() {
return GroupedOpenApi.builder()
.group("public")
.pathsToMatch("/api/v1/public/**")
.build();
}
@Bean
public GroupedOpenApi adminApi() {
return GroupedOpenApi.builder()
.group("admin")
.pathsToMatch("/api/v1/admin/**")
.build();
}
}
```
## Hide Endpoints
```java
@Hidden // Hide entire controller
@RestController
public class InternalController { }
// Hide specific endpoint
@Operation(hidden = true)
@GetMapping("/internal")
public void internal() { }
```
## Key Annotations
| Annotation | Purpose |
|------------|---------|
| `@Tag` | Group endpoints |
| `@Operation` | Describe endpoint |
| `@Parameter` | Document path/query param |
| `@Schema` | Document model/field |
| `@ApiResponse` | Document response |
| `@Hidden` | Hide from docs |
| `@SecurityRequirement` | Security scheme |
## When NOT to Use This Skill
- General OpenAPI specification writing (use `openapi` skill)
- GraphQL API documentation (use `graphql` skill)
- Non-Spring Boot Java projects
- Frontend OpenAPI client generation (use `openapi-codegen` skill)
- Node.js/TypeScript APIs (use `openapi` or framework-specific skills)
## Anti-Patterns
| Anti-Pattern | Why It's Bad | Solution |
|--------------|--------------|----------|
| Missing @Operation on endpoints | Poor documentation, no descriptions | Add @Operation to all endpoints |
| No examples in @Schema | Hard to understand API | Add example values to all schemas |
| Exposing DTOs without @Schema | Missing field descriptions | Document all DTO fields with @Schema |
| Not hiding internal endpoints | Exposes implementation details | Use @Hidden for internal endpoints |
| Missing security requirements | Unclear auth requirements | Add @SecurityRequirement where needed |
| No error response documentation | Incomplete API contract | Document all 4xx/5xx responses |
| Using entity classes as API models | Leaks database structure | Create separate DTO classes |
| Hardcoding API info in code | Configuration not externalized | Use application.yml for API metadata |
| Missing @Parameter descriptions | Poor API usability | Document all path/query parameters |
## Quick Troubleshooting
| Issue | Possible Cause | Solution |
|-------|----------------|----------|
| Swagger UI not loading | Incorrect springdoc configuration | Check springdoc.swagger-ui.path in application.yml |
| Endpoints not showing | Controller not in scan path | Check springdoc.packages-to-scan |
| Schema missing fields | Field is private without getter | Add getters or use @Schema on field |
| Security not working in UI | Security scheme not configured | Add @SecurityScheme in config |
| Wrong base path in UI | Server URL not configured | Set servers in OpenAPI config |
| Type errors in generated schema | DTO field type not supported | Use @Schema to specify format |
| Circular reference errors | Self-referencing DTOs | Use @Schema(ref = "#/components/schemas/X") |
| Missing enum values | Enum not documented | Add @Schema to enum fields |
| 404 on /v3/api-docs | springdoc not enabled | Add springdoc dependency, check api-docs.enabled |
## Reference Documentation
- [Springdoc OpenAPI](https://springdoc.org/)
- [OpenAPI 3 Specification](https://swagger.io/specification/)
- [Swagger Annotations](https://github.com/swagger-api/swagger-core/wiki/Swagger-2.X---Annotations)
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