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Code & Deliveryabbreviation · /ˈoʊpənˌeɪpiː/

OpenAPI

In simple English

OpenAPI is an open standard that defines how API specifications should be written and structured. It was originally called Swagger and is now maintained by the OpenAPI Initiative. Teams use OpenAPI specifications to document their APIs in a way that both humans and machines can understand, which enables automatic code generation, testing, and integration across different systems. In real workplaces, you will hear developers discuss OpenAPI when they are designing new APIs, documenting existing endpoints, or generating client libraries automatically from the API specification.

Understand the OpenAPI specification standard and how it documents REST APIs in a standardized format.

At a glanceCEFR B2
Commonness4/5
Versatility4/5
FormalityCasualFormalFormal
Spoken ↔ WrittenSpokenWrittenBoth
Directness ↔ DiplomaticDirectDiplomaticDirect
RegionUS and UK
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Say it like this

✓Let us publish the OpenAPI spec to our documentation portal.
✓This service follows the OpenAPI 3.0 standard.
✓Can you validate the OpenAPI definition before merging?

Real examples

in a standup

"We finished the OpenAPI specification for the payment service, so the mobile team can start integration today."

in a code review

"The OpenAPI schema needs to be updated to reflect the new error response format."

in a team meeting

"We should adopt OpenAPI for all microservices to make integration testing easier."

Don't say this

Handle with care. OpenAPI is a specification, not a tool or product. Do not use it as a verb or to mean general API documentation.

✕We need to OpenAPI our application.
✓We need to document our API using the OpenAPI specification.— OpenAPI is a noun (specification), not a verb. You cannot OpenAPI something.
✕OpenAPI is a tool for building APIs.
✓OpenAPI is a specification for documenting APIs.— OpenAPI is a standard format, not a tool or framework for building APIs.
✕We are using OpenAPI instead of REST.
✓We are documenting our REST API using the OpenAPI specification.— OpenAPI and REST are not alternatives. OpenAPI documents REST APIs.

Other forms

noun

OpenAPI

"The OpenAPI specification makes it easy to generate documentation."

adjective

OpenAPI

"We need an OpenAPI validator to check our schema."

Often used with

OpenAPI specificationThe most common phrase, referring to the standard format itself.
OpenAPI schemaThe actual document or definition that describes an API following the OpenAPI standard.
OpenAPI documentThe file or definition containing the API specification in OpenAPI format.
OpenAPI versionRefers to different versions like OpenAPI 3.0 or OpenAPI 3.1.

Similar words

SwaggerThe original name for OpenAPI before it was standardized by the OpenAPI Initiative; some teams still use the term informally.
API specificationA broader term that can refer to any documented API format, not specifically OpenAPI.

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Practice

Try it

4 quick exercises

Spot the mistake

1. Which sentence uses OpenAPI incorrectly?

Complete the sentence

2. The _______ specification helps us generate client libraries automatically from the API definition.

Pick the most natural phrasing

3. Your team needs to document a new REST API. What do you say in a meeting?

Rewrite naturally

4. Rewrite this in natural tech English using OpenAPI: 'We made a document showing what our API can do, and other teams can use it to write code that talks to our API.'

Questions

Quick poll

Have you said "openapi" in a standup this week?

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