API Spectral

Q: What is a Claude Code skill and how does the API Spectral skill fit in?

A Claude Code skill is a SKILL.md file that lives under ~/.claude/skills/<name>/ and tells the Claude Code CLI agent how to perform a specific task (instructions, prompts, allowed tools). Skills are auto-discovered at session start. API Spectral is one of 67,000+ skills indexed in the open ClaudSkills catalog, classified under the Security category. Learn more at https://claudskills.com/learn/what-is-skill-md/.

Category: Security · Sub-category: web-security · Last updated: 2026-05-21

API specification linting and security validation using Stoplight's Spectral with support for OpenAPI, AsyncAPI, and Arazzo specifications. Validates API definitions against security best practices, OWASP API Security Top 10, and custom organizational standards. Use when: (1) Validating OpenAPI/AsyncAPI specifications for security issues and design flaws, (2) Enforcing API design standards and governance policies across API portfolios, (3) Creating custom security rules for API specifications in CI/CD pipelines, (4) Detecting authentication, authorization, and data exposure issues in API definitions, (5) Ensuring API specifications comply with organizational security standards and regulatory requirements.

About this skill (catalog notes)

API Spectral includes a dedicated installation section; pricing or quota commentary; 25 code blocks for direct copy-paste. At roughly 2,432 words the SKILL.md is on the longer end of the catalog distribution.

License: NOASSERTION
Original author: SirAppSec
Indexed lastmod: 2026-05-21
Catalog position: Security · web-security
Indexed related skills: 10

How API Spectral fits the catalog

API Spectral sits in the Security category under the web-security sub-topic in the ClaudSkills catalog. There are 10 related skills indexed alongside it; comparing a few before installing usually reveals which fits your workflow best.

These notes are auto-generated from features detected in the SKILL.md file and from this catalog's structure — they aren't part of the source repository.

What this skill does

API Spectral is a community-contributed Claude Code skill in the web-security sub-category. It ships as a SKILL.md file that Claude Code auto-discovers under ~/.claude/skills/api-spectral/ and loads when your prompt matches the skill's trigger.

When to invoke it: Use when: (1) Validating OpenAPI/AsyncAPI specifications for security issues and design flaws, (2) Enforcing API design standards and governance policies across API portfolios, (3) Creating custom security rules for API specifications in CI/CD pipelines, (4) Detecting authentication, authorization, and data exposure issues in API definitions, (5) Ensuring API specifications comply with organizational security standards and regulatory requirements.

Who uses this skill

The API Spectral Claude Code skill is built for security engineers, penetration testers, DevSecOps practitioners, and development teams hardening codebases and infrastructure. It's part of ClaudSkills (also referred to as Claude Skills or Claude Code Skills) — the open community-curated registry of 116,000+ SKILL.md files for Anthropic's Claude Code agent and the wider Claude ecosystem (Claude API, Claude Agent SDK).

How to install

Free

Manual install (2 steps)

mkdir -p ~/.claude/skills/api-spectral
curl -L https://claudskills.com/skills/api-spectral/SKILL.md \
  -o ~/.claude/skills/api-spectral/SKILL.md

Or just download SKILL.md directly and drop it into ~/.claude/skills/api-spectral/. Claude Code auto-discovers it on next session.

Skills live at ~/.claude/skills/api-spectral/SKILL.md on macOS/Linux, or %USERPROFILE%\.claude\skills\api-spectral\SKILL.md on Windows. See the full install guide for step-by-step instructions.

📱 Install from your phone or desktop Telegram

Open @claudskills_bot on Telegram, tap Open Desktop App, and the desktop app installs this skill for you. Or share the bot link with a colleague — they get the same one-tap install. Learn more →

Pro

One-click install via the desktop app

The ClaudSkills desktop app installs any skill directly into ~/.claude/skills/ with one click — no terminal required. Pro starts at $9/mo or $149 lifetime.

Pro

For the full experience including quality scoring and one-click install features for each skill — upgrade to Pro.

See pricing → Download desktop app

Frequently asked questions

How do I install the API Spectral Claude Code skill?

Install via the ClaudSkills desktop app (one click) or copy SKILL.md from the source repository to ~/.claude/skills/api-spectral/SKILL.md and restart Claude Code. Both flows are detailed at claudskills.com/install/.

What does the API Spectral skill do?

Is this skill free to install?

Yes. ClaudSkills is an open registry — every skill keeps its source repository's license, and manual install via copy is free. ClaudSkills Pro ($9/mo, $79/yr, or $149 one-time) adds one-click install via the desktop app and a multi-signal Quality Score.

When should I use the API Spectral skill?

Use API Spectral when your Claude Code task falls under the Security category — specifically in the web security area. Claude Code auto-discovers installed skills and invokes the right one based on the task description, so you can also ask Claude directly (e.g. "use API Spectral" or describe the task and let Claude pick). Browse related skills at /category/security/.

What is a Claude Code skill and how does the API Spectral skill fit in?

A Claude Code skill is a SKILL.md file that lives under ~/.claude/skills/<name>/ and tells the Claude Code CLI agent how to perform a specific task (instructions, prompts, allowed tools). Skills are auto-discovered at session start. API Spectral is one of 67,000+ skills indexed in the open ClaudSkills catalog, classified under the Security category. Learn more at /learn/what-is-a-claude-skill/.

Attribution & license

Source: https://github.com/AgentSecOps/SecOpsAgentKit/blob/6e25a4bc57432437889bda57da52ce4c414b9e82/skills/appsec/api-spectral/SKILL.md
License: NOASSERTION
Author: SirAppSec

Cite this skill

If you reference this skill in a blog post, paper, or documentation, you can cite it as:

APA

SirAppSec. (2026). API Spectral [Claude Code skill]. ClaudSkills. https://claudskills.com/skills/api-spectral/

BibTeX

@misc{api-spectral-2026,
  author    = {SirAppSec},
  title     = {API Spectral [Claude Code skill]},
  year      = {2026},
  publisher = {ClaudSkills},
  url       = {https://claudskills.com/skills/api-spectral/}
}

Embed this skill

Promote, attribute, or link this skill from your own README, blog post, or documentation. All three snippets are free to use — no sign-up, no API key. More distribution surfaces →

Badge

[![ClaudSkills](https://claudskills.com/badge/api-spectral.svg)](https://claudskills.com/skills/api-spectral/?utm_source=badge&utm_medium=readme&utm_campaign=skill_badge)

More Security skills

Browse all Security skills in the ClaudSkills registry, or explore these other picks from the same category:

Browse all Security skills → Top 100 skills

Part of ClaudSkills — the open registry for Claude Skills & Claude Code Skills. · What's New · Install guide · About · llms.txt

Part of Acreator Store — Adam Lankamer's AI tools: PerfectStudio · Ucaption · UTagger · AutoXPoster · TestYourSkills · AutomationFlows · Au Naturel · Telegram @acreatorstore