Unlock the Power of Docusaurus: Customize Sidebar Items with docusaurus-plugin-openapi

Are you tired of a cluttered and unorganized sidebar in your Docusaurus documentation? Do you want to take your API documentation to the next level by providing a seamless user experience? Look no further! In this article, we’ll dive into the world of docusaurus-plugin-openapi and explore how to customize sidebar items to transform your documentation.

What is docusaurus-plugin-openapi?

docusaurus-plugin-openapi is a powerful plugin for Docusaurus that enables you to generate API documentation from OpenAPI definitions. With this plugin, you can create stunning documentation that is easy to navigate and understand. But, did you know that you can also customize the sidebar items to fit your needs?

Why Customize Sidebar Items?

• Improved User Experience: A well-organized sidebar helps users quickly find the information they need, reducing frustration and increasing engagement.
• Enhanced Discoverability: Customizing sidebar items allows you to highlight important features, APIs, or sections, making it easier for users to discover what they’re looking for.
• Increased Conversions: By providing a clear and intuitive navigation, you can increase the chances of users taking the desired action, whether it’s signing up for a trial or purchasing a product.

Setting Up docusaurus-plugin-openapi

Before we dive into customizing sidebar items, let’s ensure you have docusaurus-plugin-openapi set up correctly. Follow these steps:

1. yarn add docusaurus-plugin-openapi or npm install docusaurus-plugin-openapi
2. Add the plugin to your docusaurus.config.js file:

         module.exports = {
           plugins: [
             [
               '@docusaurus/plugin-openapi',
               {
                 // Your OpenAPI definition file
                 specification: 'path/to/openapi.yaml',
               },
             ],
           ],
         };
       

3. Restart your Docusaurus server with yarn start or npm run start

Customizing Sidebar Items

Now that you have docusaurus-plugin-openapi set up, let’s explore how to customize sidebar items. You can do this by creating a custom sidebar item component and registering it with the plugin.

Step 1: Create a Custom Sidebar Item Component

Create a new file called mySidebarItem.js in your project’s root directory:

import React from 'react';

const MySidebarItem = () => {
  return (
    <div>
      <p>Custom Sidebar Item</p>
    </div>
  );
};

export default MySidebarItem;

Step 2: Register the Custom Sidebar Item Component

In your docusaurus.config.js file, add the following code:

module.exports = {
  plugins: [
    [
      '@docusaurus/plugin-openapi',
      {
        // Your OpenAPI definition file
        specification: 'path/to/openapi.yaml',
        // Register the custom sidebar item component
        sidebarItems: [
          {
            type: 'custom',
            component: require.resolve('./mySidebarItem'),
          },
        ],
      },
    ],
  ],
};

Step 3: Add the Custom Sidebar Item to Your Sidebar

In your sidebar.js file, add the following code:

module.exports = {
  sidebar: {
    mySidebar: [
      {
        type: 'custom',
        text: 'My Custom Sidebar Item',
        link: 'my-custom-sidebar-item',
      },
    ],
  },
};

Configuring Sidebar Items

docusaurus-plugin-openapi provides several configuration options to customize sidebar items. Let’s explore some of the most useful ones:

Option	Description
title	Specifies the title of the sidebar item.
text	Specifies the text of the sidebar item.
link	Specifies the link associated with the sidebar item.
icon	Specifies the icon associated with the sidebar item.

Use Cases for Customizing Sidebar Items

Customizing sidebar items with docusaurus-plugin-openapi opens up a world of possibilities. Here are some use cases to get you started:

• Highlighting Important Features: Create custom sidebar items to highlight critical features, such as new releases or deprecated APIs.
• Creating a Getting Started Section: Design a custom sidebar item to guide new users through your API documentation, providing a clear onboarding experience.
• Providing Additional Resources: Use custom sidebar items to link to external resources, such as tutorials, webinars, or community forums.

Conclusion

In this article, we’ve explored the power of customizing sidebar items with docusaurus-plugin-openapi. By following the steps outlined above, you can transform your API documentation, providing a seamless user experience and increasing engagement. Remember to experiment with different configuration options and use cases to unlock the full potential of docusaurus-plugin-openapi.

Ready to take your API documentation to the next level? Start customizing your sidebar items today and discover the difference it can make for your users!

Frequently Asked Question

Get the most out of customizing your sidebar items with Docusaurus-plugin-openapi by checking out these frequently asked questions!