Flask REST API Documentation with Flask-RESTPlus
Creating REST APIs with Flask is simple and powerful, but when it comes to documenting them, many developers struggle with clarity and consistency. That’s where Flask-RESTPlus comes in. It not only extends Flask with useful tools for building RESTful APIs but also makes documenting your endpoints seamless and interactive. In this blog, we’ll explore how to create clean API documentation using Flask-RESTPlus.
What is Flask-RESTPlus?
Flask-RESTPlus is an extension for Flask that helps you build REST APIs quickly while automatically generating Swagger documentation. Swagger (OpenAPI) provides a UI-based interface that allows developers to view, test, and understand your APIs. Flask-RESTPlus integrates Swagger UI out-of-the-box and offers features like request parsing, response marshalling, and endpoint grouping through namespaces.
Why Use Flask-RESTPlus?
✅ Automatic Swagger Documentation
✅ Input Validation & Type Checking
✅ Organized Code with Namespaces
✅ Support for Models and Serializers
✅ Integrated Testing Interface
These features make it easy for frontend developers, testers, and clients to interact with the API without needing detailed documentation elsewhere.
Getting Started
First, install Flask-RESTPlus:
bash
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pip install flask-restplus
Then, set up a simple Flask app with API routes.
python
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from flask import Flask
from flask_restplus import Api, Resource
app = Flask(__name__)
api = Api(app, version='1.0', title='Todo API',
description='A simple Todo API')
ns = api.namespace('todos', description='TODO operations')
TODOS = {
'1': {'task': 'Learn Flask'},
'2': {'task': 'Build REST API'}
}
@ns.route('/<id>')
@api.doc(params={'id': 'An ID'})
class Todo(Resource):
def get(self, id):
'''Fetch a task given its identifier'''
return TODOS.get(id)
if __name__ == '__main__':
app.run(debug=True)
Once you run this app, go to http://localhost:5000/ and you’ll see a fully interactive Swagger UI where each endpoint is automatically documented!
Using Models for Structured Responses
You can define models to structure and validate your input/output data.
python
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from flask_restplus import fields
todo_model = api.model('Todo', {
'task': fields.String(required=True, description='The task details')
})
@ns.route('/')
class TodoList(Resource):
@api.marshal_list_with(todo_model)
def get(self):
'''List all tasks'''
return list(TODOS.values())
@api.expect(todo_model)
def post(self):
'''Create a new task'''
new_id = str(len(TODOS) + 1)
TODOS[new_id] = api.payload
return TODOS[new_id], 201
This not only validates incoming requests but also makes the documentation even richer and more understandable.
Conclusion
Flask-RESTPlus is a powerful extension that bridges the gap between functional API development and excellent API documentation. It helps you stay DRY (Don’t Repeat Yourself) by eliminating the need to write separate docs. Plus, its Swagger UI makes API testing and understanding easy for everyone on the team.
Whether you’re building a prototype or a production-grade backend, Flask-RESTPlus ensures your APIs are clean, validated, and well-documented from day one. If you're looking for a seamless experience in documenting REST APIs with Flask, this tool is a must-learn.
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