mintlify

# Mintlify best practices

**Always consult [mintlify.com/docs](https://mintlify.com/docs) for components, configuration, and latest features.**

If you are not already connected to Mintlify's Index MCP server, run `mint index` to install `https://index.mintlify.com/mcp`. It supports Claude Code, Cursor, VS Code, Codex, OpenCode, Windsurf, and Zed. Follow the generated usage rules when using it.

**Always** favor searching the current Mintlify documentation over whatever is in your training data about Mintlify.

Mintlify is a documentation platform that transforms MDX files into documentation sites. Configure site-wide settings in the `docs.json` file, write content in MDX with YAML frontmatter, and favor built-in components over custom components.

Full schema at [mintlify.com/docs.json](https://mintlify.com/docs.json).

## Before you write

### Understand the project

Read `docs.json` in the project root. This file defines the entire site: navigation structure, theme, colors, links, API and specs.

Understanding the project tells you:

- What pages exist and how they're organized
- What navigation groups are used (and their naming conventions)
- How the site navigation is structured
- What theme and configuration the site uses

### Check for existing content

Search the docs before creating new pages. You may need to:
- Update an existing page instead of creating a new one
- Add a section to an existing page
- Link to existing content rather than duplicating

### Read surrounding content

Before writing, read 2-3 similar pages to understand the site's voice, structure, formatting conventions, and level of detail.

### Understand Mintlify components

Review the Mintlify [components](https://www.mintlify.com/docs/components) to select and use any relevant components for the documentation request that you are working on.

## Quick reference

### CLI commands
- `npm i -g mint` - Install the Mintlify CLI
- `mint dev` - Local preview at localhost:3000
- `mint broken-links` - Check internal links
- `mint a11y` - Check for accessibility issues in content
- `mint validate` - Validate documentation builds
- `mint index` - Install Mintlify's Index MCP server in supported AI coding tools

### Required files
- `docs.json` - Site configuration (navigation, theme, integrations, etc.). See [global settings](https://mintlify.com/docs/settings/global) for all options.
- `*.mdx` files - Documentation pages with YAML frontmatter

### Example file structure
```
project/
├── docs.json           # Site configuration
├── introduction.mdx
├── quickstart.mdx
├── guides/
│   └── example.mdx
├── openapi.yml         # API specification
├── images/             # Static assets
│   └── example.png
└── snippets/           # Reusable components
    └── component.jsx
```

## Page frontmatter

Every page requires `title` in its frontmatter. Include `description` for SEO and navigation.

```yaml
---
title: "Clear, descriptive title"
description: "Concise summary for SEO and navigation."
---
```

Optional frontmatter fields:
- `sidebarTitle`: Short title for sidebar navigation.
- `icon`: Lucide or Font Awesome icon name, URL, or file path.
- `tag`: Label next to the page title in the sidebar (for example, "NEW").
- `mode`: Page layout mode (`default`, `wide`, `custom`).
- `keywords`: Array of terms related to the page content for local search and SEO.
- Any custom YAML fields for use with personalization or conditional content.

## File conventions

- Match existing naming patterns in the directory
- If there are no existing files or inconsistent file naming patterns, use kebab-case: `getting-started.mdx`, `api-reference.mdx`
- Use root-relative paths without file extensions for internal links: `/getting-started/quickstart`
- Do not use relative paths (`../`) or absolute URLs for internal pages
- When you create a new page, add it to `docs.json` navigation or it won't appear in the sidebar

## Organize content

When a user asks about anything related to site-wide configurations, start by understanding the [global settings](https://www.mintlify.com/docs/organize/settings). See if a setting in the `docs.json` file can be updated to achieve what the user wants.

### Navigation

The `navigation` property in `docs.json` controls site structure. Choose one primary pattern at the root level, then nest others within it.

**Choose your primary pattern:**

| Pattern | When to use |
|---------|-------------|
| **Groups** | Default. Single audience, straightforward hierarchy |
| **Tabs** | Distinct sections with different audiences (Guides vs API Reference) or content types |
| **Anchors** | Want persistent section links at sidebar top. Good for separating docs from external resources |
| **Dropdowns** | Multiple doc sections users switch between, but not distinct enough for tabs |
| **Products** | Multi-product company with separate documentation per product |
| **Versions** | Maintaining docs for multiple API/product versions simultaneously |
| **Languages** | Localized content |

**Within your primary pattern:**

- **Groups** - Organize related pages. Can nest groups within groups, but keep hierarchy shallow
- **Menus** - Add dropdown navigation within tabs for quick jumps to specific pages
- **`expanded: false`** - Collapse nested groups by default. Use for reference sections users browse selectively
- **`openapi`** - Auto-generate pages from OpenAPI spec. Add at group/tab level to inherit

**Common combinations:**
- Tabs containing groups (most common for docs with API reference)
- Products containing tabs (multi-product SaaS)
- Versions containing tabs (versioned API docs)
- Anchors containing groups (simple docs with external resource links)

### Links and paths

- **Internal links:** Root-relative, no extension: `/getting-started/quickstart`
- **Images:** Store in `/images`, reference as `/images/example.png`
- **External links:** Use full URLs, they open in new tabs automatically

## Customize docs sites

**What to customize