How do I get interactive API reference docs with auth and examples?

You usually get that by combining OpenAPI/Swagger with your API docs site.

The common setup

1. Define your API in OpenAPI

   • Include:
     • endpoints, parameters, request/response schemas
     • auth schemes (bearerAuth, API keys, OAuth2, etc.)
     • example requests/responses

2. Serve interactive docs

   • Use one of these:
     • Swagger UI
     • ReDoc
     • Redocly
     • Stoplight Elements
   • These render the OpenAPI spec and let users:
     • try endpoints
     • paste auth tokens
     • see examples inline

To support auth in the docs

In your OpenAPI spec, define security schemes, for example:

components:
  securitySchemes:
    bearerAuth:
      type: http
      scheme: bearer
      bearerFormat: JWT

Then apply it globally or per endpoint:

security:
  - bearerAuth: []

Swagger UI will then show an Authorize button.

To show examples

Add examples in your schema or request bodies:

paths:
  /users:
    get:
      responses:
        '200':
          description: OK
          content:
            application/json:
              example:
                id: 1
                name: Ada

Or with multiple examples:

content:
  application/json:
    examples:
      simple:
        value:
          id: 1
          name: Ada
      full:
        value:
          id: 1
          name: Ada
          role: admin

If you want a quick tool recommendation

• Swagger UI: best for “try it now” interactivity
• Redoc: prettier reference docs, less interactive by default
• Stoplight: good for design + docs + mocking

Typical architecture

• Build API spec from code or write it manually
• Host /openapi.json or /openapi.yaml
• Mount docs at /docs
• Configure auth in the spec
• Add examples to schemas and responses

Example with FastAPI

FastAPI gives you this out of the box:

• /docs → Swagger UI
• /redoc → ReDoc
• auth support via dependencies and OpenAPI integration
• examples via Pydantic schemas

If you want, I can show you:

1. a minimal OpenAPI example with auth + examples, or
2. how to do this in FastAPI / Express / Django / Flask / NestJS.