How to Reference Files in SpringDoc OpenAPI 3?

What is the best way to reference files when using SpringDoc OpenAPI 3?

@OpenAPIDefinition(
    info = @Info(title = "My API", version = "v1"),
    servers = {@Server(url = "http://localhost:8080")}
)

SpringDoc OpenAPI 3 is a powerful tool for generating API documentation for Spring applications. Referencing files—such as images, PDF documents, or other external resources—in your OpenAPI specifications can enhance your API documentation and provide additional context for users.

@Schema(description = "User Profile Picture",
       type = "string",
       format = "binary")
MultipartFile profilePicture;

Causes

• Lack of knowledge about OpenAPI file reference specifications.
• Missing or incorrect file path configurations in SpringDoc.
• Improper use of annotations in API definitions.

Solutions

• Use the `@OpenAPIDefinition` annotation to define API metadata, including file references.
• Employ `@Schema` annotations to link to file resources in your API models.
• Ensure your file paths are correctly configured and publicly accessible.

Mistake: Using incorrect file paths in the `@Schema` annotation.

Solution: Double-check the file paths for accuracy and ensure they point to correctly accessible resources.

Mistake: Neglecting to specify the correct MIME type for files.

Solution: Always specify the MIME type using the `format` attribute based on the file type.