API Blueprint - A Guide to Fully Understanding APIs

API Blueprint allows developers to describe web APIs with clarity. Through displaying API documentation using a human-readable structure to define data resources and data formats, PAI Blueprint is optimal for developers that wish to collaborate with one another.

Steven Ang Cheong Seng

Steven Ang Cheong Seng

15 May 2025

API Blueprint - A Guide to Fully Understanding APIs

A critical step in API development is creating proper documentation for consumers to refer to. This article will therefore introduce a simple and sleek API tool used for describing and documenting web APIs.

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API Blueprint is another API documenting tool that developers can utilize to create corresponding documentation for their APIs. However, the tool may not be the friendliest to start with.

If you want an API tool that has an intuitive and easy-to-learn user interface, you should consider using Apidog, a comprehensive API development platform that facilitates processes for users to build, test, mock, and document APIs all within a single application.

If this sounds interesting to you, start with Apidog today by clicking on the button below. 👇 👇 👇
Apidog An integrated platform for API design, debugging, development, mock, and testing
REAL API Design-first Development Platform. Design. Debug. Test. Document. Mock. Build APIs Faster & Together.
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This article will introduce a powerful tool used for describing and documenting web APIs with a design-first approach, called API Blueprint.

What is API Blueprint?

API Blueprint | API Blueprint

URL: https://apiblueprint.org/

Quoted from their website, API Blueprint is a powerful high-level API description language for web APIs, allowing anybody within a team to be involved in the API lifecycle.

API Blueprint Key Features

There are a few things that API Blueprint excels in, mainly for these characteristics:

Communication and Collaboration

Design-first Approach

Focus on Documentation

Additional Features

How to Use API Blueprint?

Firstly, you will need to have a plain-text editor ready, and if available, switch syntax-highlighting to Markdown or directly to API Blueprint if supported.

If in case you still do not have a plain-text editor and are still searching for one, you can check out their recommended list of editors, and make sure to devote your time to familiarizing yourself with the chosen editor!

API Blueprint Tools | API Blueprint

Next, you will have to learn the basic syntax of API Blueprint. As API Blueprint leverages Markdown for its structure and readability, and with MSON for defining data structures, you will have to refer to the official API Blueprint website for more tutorials and references.

API Blueprint Tutorial | API Blueprint

Is API Blueprint Free?

Yes, as API Blueprint is an open-source tool that you can find on GitHub, anyone can start using API Blueprint without paying a single penny!

Do I Need to Install Any Other Apps?

Aside from a plain-text editor, you may want to consider installing other tools that work well together with API Blueprint. To see the full list of compatible tools with API Blueprint, check out their recommended list of tools.

API Blueprint Tools | API Blueprint

API Blueprint Code Samples

Here are some code samples that you can refer to in case you are unsure of what to do. Remember that these code samples may not 100% work on your code editor, so make sure to apply the proper modifications to ensure that it fits right in with your API.

Sample 1 - Simple Resource with GET Action:

# My Simple API

This API provides access to a list of users.

## Users

A collection of user objects.

### GET /users

Retrieves a list of all users.

Returns:

* Status: 200 OK
* Content-Type: application/json

The code sample above defines a simple API with a single resource named Users, which allows a GET request to /users to retrieve a list of all users. The response section specifies a success status code 200 OK and the content type (JSON) for the response body.

Sample 2 - Resource with Multiple Actions:

## Products

A collection of product objects.

### GET /products

Retrieves a list of all products.

Returns:

* Status: 200 OK
* Content-Type: application/json

### GET /products/{id}

Retrieves a specific product by its ID.

Path Parameters:

* id (string) - The unique identifier of the product.

Returns:

* Status: 200 OK
* Content-Type: application/json

 This code example expands on the concept of resources by showing how to define multiple actions (GET) for a single resource Products. One action retrieves all products, while the other retrieves a specific product based on its ID defined as a path parameter.

Sample 3 - Data Structures with MSON:

## Users

A collection of user objects.

**User**

{
	"id": "string",
	"name": "string",
	"email": "string"
}
### GET /users

Retrieves a list of all users.

Returns:

* Status: 200 OK
* Content-Type: application/json

Response:

```json
[
  {
    "id": "user-1",
    "name": "John Doe",
    "email": "[email address removed]"
  },
  {
    "id": "user-2",
    "name": "Jane Smith",
    "email": "[email address removed]"
  }
]

The code example above demonstrates defining a data structure named User using MSON syntax. It specifies the properties and their data types within the user object.

The response section also includes an example JSON payload adhering to the defined data structure.

Apidog - All-in-one API Development Tool

Aside from API Blueprint, there is another API development tool that is equipped for the entire API lifecycle - Apidog. Apidog is an API platform that has its own intuitive and simplistic user interface, designed for new users to quickly adapt to the new working environment.

apidog user interface
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Apidog An integrated platform for API design, debugging, development, mock, and testing
REAL API Design-first Development Platform. Design. Debug. Test. Document. Mock. Build APIs Faster & Together.
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With Apidog, you can build, mock, test, and document APIs all within the platform. To see how Apidog operates, take a look at the sections below!

Building Your New API With Apidog

With Apidog, you can create APIs by yourself. It might even save you time - without having to endlessly search the Internet to find "the one true" answer, you can just create it by yourself.

new api apidog

Begin by pressing the New API button, as shown in the image above.

add details new api apidog

Next, you can select many of the API's characteristics. On this page, you can:

To provide some assistance in creating APIs in case this is your first time creating one, you may consider reading these articles to understand the best practices for making REST APIs (or APIs in general):

REST API URL - Best Practices and Examples
REST API URLs have an optimal and standardized structure. Most developers mutually agree to conform to the standard in order to increase predictability and familiarity to REST API URLs, allowing them to work around them more efficiently.
Tutorial: How to Pass Multiple Parameters in REST API URLs?
Two commonly seen parameter types are widely used in modern websites. Although they slightly differ based on their functions, parameters help developers identify specific resources found within a collection or system.

Generate Descriptive API Endpoint Documentation with Apidog

Similarly, with API Blueprint, Apidog can generate beautiful, descriptive API documentation based on what you have designed and included during your API development stage.

step by step process sharing api documentation apidog

Arrow 1 - First, press the Share button on the left side of the Apidog app window. You should then be able to see the "Shared Docs" page, which should be empty.

Arrow 2 - Press the + New button under No Data to begin creating your very first Apidog API documentation.

Select and Include Important API Documentation Properties

input api details and select api doc properties apidog

Apidog provides developers with the option of choosing the API documentation characteristics, such as who can view your API documentation and setting a file password, so only chosen individuals or organizations can view it.

View or Share Your API Documentation

open share edit api documentation apidog

You can now distribute your API endpoint to anyone you want, or post the URL on your API's website to allow potential consumers to see how your API works.

If more details are required, read this article on how to generate API documentation using Apidog:

How to Generate API Documentation Using Apidog
API documentation plays a pivotal role in contemporary software development, serving as a vital resource for understanding how to effectively utilize a RESTful API.

Conclusion

API Blueprint emerges as a valuable tool for anyone involved in the web API ecosystem.  Promoting a design-first approach and fostering clear communication among developers, designers, and consumers, ensures well-structured and well-documented APIs.  

API Blueprints act as a single source of truth, capturing all aspects of the API from functionalities and data models to examples and comments. This not only simplifies API development but also streamlines collaboration and knowledge sharing across teams.

If API Blueprint is too complicated for you and you want to opt for a simpler, more straightforward choice, consider downloading Apidog. Apidog is a wonderful option if you wish to develop APIs from scratch or create modifications on existing APIs. You can also test APIs on Apidog, making it a very convenient choice for API developers.

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