API Extractor

API Extractor

API Extractor is a tool for analyzing TypeScript program files and emitting .api.json files with information about the API surface of the program.
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documentation typescript api

ApiExtractor: Analyze TypeScript Programs

Extract .api.json files with API surface information from TypeScript program files, a powerful tool for analyzing and documenting your codebase.

What is API Extractor?

API Extractor is an open-source tool developed by Microsoft to help track and manage public APIs in TypeScript libraries. It analyzes TypeScript code to detect exported symbols, validates documentation comments, and emits an .api.json file containing metadata about the library's API surface.

Some key features of API Extractor include:

  • Detects classes, interfaces, enums, functions, etc. that are exported from TypeScript code
  • Validates JSDoc comments and ensures documentation stays in sync with code
  • Emits a machine-readable .api.json file containing API surface metadata
  • Integrates with API review tools like api-documenter to generate documentation
  • Configurable to handle complex project structures with multiple packages
  • Helps identify and track API changes and stability over time

By using API Extractor, TypeScript library authors can define their public API surface, validate documentation coverage, and produce human-readable documentation pages. It improves maintainability and catches API changes early during development.

API Extractor Features

Features

  1. Analyzes TypeScript program files
  2. Emits .api.json files with information about the API surface of the program
  3. Supports various output formats including JSON, XML, and Markdown
  4. Allows for customization of the extraction process through configuration files
  5. Provides options for filtering and excluding specific API elements

Pricing

  • Open Source

Pros

Simplifies the process of documenting and understanding TypeScript APIs

Generates structured data that can be easily consumed by other tools

Supports a wide range of TypeScript language features

Provides a consistent and standardized way to extract API information

Cons

Requires additional setup and configuration for complex projects

May not capture all nuances of the API surface, especially for dynamic or advanced TypeScript features

Limited customization options compared to more comprehensive documentation tools


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