AsyncAPI vs. OpenAPI: Which Specification Is Right for Your App?

The choice between OpenAPI and AsyncAPI specifications for an API depends on whether the application uses synchronous or asynchronous communication protocols. Synchronous APIs, which are typically RESTful, respond to client requests with minimal delay and use HTTP or HTTPS transport protocols. Asynchronous APIs allow clients to continue functioning without waiting for a response from the server and may use pub-sub messaging queues like MQTT and RabbitMQ, data streams like Kafka, or bidirectional communication protocols like WebSockets. Both OpenAPI and AsyncAPI are open-source specifications that provide standard methods for designing and implementing APIs, with a focus on creating comprehensive documentation.