# API Design — Routebase

> A visual OpenAPI editor for the whole contract — endpoints, schemas, versions — with the workflow of code.

Canonical page: https://routebase.dev/api-design/

## Design without the YAML

Endpoints, parameters, and responses in a structured editor — the spec stays valid OpenAPI underneath.

- Three-panel editor: tree, form, live preview
- Path, query, header, and cookie parameters
- Undo/redo, keyboard shortcuts, auto-save

## Model schemas once, reuse everywhere

Nested objects, arrays, enums, and references — with examples generated as you type.

- Visual JSON Schema builder with validation rules
- Reusable components via $ref
- Auto-generated examples per schema

## Branch, review, merge

Draft on a spec branch, open a merge request, ship what survives review.

- Spec branches isolate work in progress
- Merge requests with review and approval flow
- Conflict and breaking-change detection before merge

## Governance built in

Lint rules and breaking-change checks keep every spec on your style guide — automatically.

- 53+ style guide rules with auto-fix suggestions
- 21 breaking-change rules across versions
- Tag-based endpoint grouping with descriptions

## OpenAPI in, OpenAPI out

Import existing specs, export anytime. No lock-in — the spec is yours.

- OpenAPI 3.0 and 3.1, YAML or JSON
- Validation against the spec schema on import
- Tag grouping preserved on export

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