OpenAPI is a popular format for describing HTTP APIs, but managing large OpenAPI files can be challenging due to their complexity and size. To improve workflow efficiency, developers can optimize their integrated development environments (IDEs) with specific plugins, such as the Redocly extension for VSCode, which provides yaml and OpenAPI validation and real-time documentation previews. Breaking down extensive API descriptions into smaller, manageable sections using the OpenAPI standard's $ref syntax can enhance readability and maintainability, allowing for efficient reuse of data structures across multiple API descriptions. Organizations can structure their API components in separate files, which can be reassembled using tools like the Redocly CLI command 'redocly split' to maintain clarity during development and 'redocly bundle' to create a single file for tools that do not support multiple files. This approach allows teams to work collaboratively and efficiently, ensuring a seamless transition between development and deployment stages.