API Documentation Visual Guides
Automate screenshots for API reference docs — Swagger UI, OpenAPI explorers, and endpoint response previews. Keep API docs visually current.
Overview
API reference documentation is easier to follow with visuals. Screenshotly captures Swagger UI pages, OpenAPI explorer interfaces, and endpoint response previews so developers see exactly what your API looks like in action.
Point the API at your Swagger or Redoc URL to capture the full endpoint reference. Screenshot individual endpoint sections using CSS selectors. Capture Postman collection screenshots showing request/response pairs. Keep all images version-tagged so your v1 and v2 docs each show the correct interface.
Trigger automated captures in your CI/CD pipeline whenever the OpenAPI spec changes. Technical writers no longer need to manually screenshot every endpoint after each release. Product teams maintain accurate, version-specific API documentation images without lifting a finger.
Key Benefits
Results You Can Expect
How It Works
Identify pages to capture for documentation
Set up capture triggers on deployment
Generate screenshots for each API version
Embed in documentation platform
Archive previous versions for reference
Code Example
// Capture API playground for docs
const captureApiDocs = async (pages) => {
const docImages = {};
for (const page of pages) {
docImages[page.name] = await fetch('https://api.screenshotly.app/screenshot', {
method: 'POST',
headers: {
'Authorization': 'Bearer YOUR_API_KEY',
'Content-Type': 'application/json',
},
body: JSON.stringify({
url: page.url,
device: 'desktop',
format: 'png',
aiRemoval: { enabled: true, types: ['cookie-banner', 'chat-widget'] },
}),
});
}
return docImages;
};Frequently Asked Questions
Can I capture authenticated admin interfaces for docs?
Yes! Pass session cookies to capture logged-in views of dashboards, admin panels, and API management interfaces.
How do I handle API version-specific documentation images?
Tag captures with version numbers and maintain separate image sets for each API version. Serve the appropriate images based on the documentation version being viewed.
How do I keep documentation screenshots up to date automatically?
Add a Screenshotly capture step to your CI/CD pipeline that triggers whenever your OpenAPI spec or docs site is deployed. The script compares new screenshots against the previous set and commits only the changed images, so documentation stays current without manual effort.
What viewport size is best for API documentation screenshots?
Use 1280×800px for Swagger UI and Redoc captures — it mirrors most developer laptop screens and avoids horizontal scrolling. For Postman-style request/response screenshots, 1440×900px provides extra width for side-by-side panels without making the image too large to embed.
Want a step-by-step walkthrough?
Read: Documentation Screenshot Automation Guide →Ready to automate api docs?
Get started with 100 free screenshots. No credit card required.
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