Confluent Schema Registry

aid: confluent-schema-registry
name: Confluent Schema Registry
description: >-
  Confluent Schema Registry is the open-source serving layer for schema
  metadata used in Apache Kafka data pipelines. It exposes a RESTful interface
  for storing and retrieving Avro, JSON Schema, and Protobuf schemas, manages
  schema evolution through configurable compatibility rules (BACKWARD,
  FORWARD, FULL, and transitive variants), supports schema references and
  contexts, and integrates with Kafka producers and consumers via shipped
  serializers and deserializers. Schema Registry is distributed under the
  Confluent Community License and is a core component of both Confluent
  Platform and Confluent Cloud.
type: Index
position: Provider
access: Open Source
image: https://kinlane-productions2.s3.amazonaws.com/apis-json/apis-json-logo.jpg
url: >-
  https://raw.githubusercontent.com/api-evangelist/confluent-schema-registry/refs/heads/main/apis.yml
created: '2026-03-26'
modified: '2026-04-28'
specificationVersion: '0.19'
x-type: opensource
tags:
  - Apache Kafka
  - Avro
  - Compatibility
  - Confluent
  - Data Governance
  - Data Streaming
  - JSON Schema
  - Open Source
  - Protobuf
  - REST
  - Schema Evolution
  - Schema Registry
apis:
  - aid: confluent-schema-registry:schema-registry-rest-api
    name: Confluent Schema Registry REST API
    description: >-
      The Confluent Schema Registry REST API provides programmatic management
      of schemas, subjects, schema versions, schema references, compatibility
      modes, and operating mode. Producers and consumers use it to register
      and look up Avro, JSON Schema, and Protobuf schemas, while platform
      teams use it to enforce schema evolution policies through subject- and
      cluster-level compatibility settings. The API uses the
      application/vnd.schemaregistry.v1+json content type and supports
      authentication via HTTP Basic, mTLS, or OAuth depending on deployment.
    humanURL: https://docs.confluent.io/platform/current/schema-registry/develop/api.html
    baseURL: http://localhost:8081
    image: https://kinlane-productions2.s3.amazonaws.com/apis-json/apis-json-logo.jpg
    tags:
      - Compatibility
      - REST
      - Schemas
      - Subjects
    properties:
      - type: Documentation
        url: https://docs.confluent.io/platform/current/schema-registry/develop/api.html
      - type: OpenAPI
        url: openapi/schema-registry.yml
      - type: JSONSchema
        url: json-schema/schema-registry-schema.json
      - type: JSON-LD
        url: json-ld/confluent-schema-registry-context.jsonld
      - type: Spectral
        url: rules/confluent-schema-registry-rules.yml
      - type: Naftiko Capabilities
        url: capabilities/confluent-schema-registry-capabilities.yml
      - type: GitHub
        url: https://github.com/confluentinc/schema-registry
    x-features:
      - Avro Schema Support
      - JSON Schema Support
      - Protobuf Schema Support
      - Schema Versioning
      - Compatibility Levels (BACKWARD, FORWARD, FULL)
      - Transitive Compatibility
      - Schema References
      - Schema Contexts
      - Schema Normalization
      - Soft and Hard Delete
      - Subject-Level and Global Configuration
      - Operating Modes (READWRITE, READONLY, IMPORT)
      - Schema Linking via Exporters
      - HTTP Basic, mTLS, and OAuth Auth
    x-use-cases:
      - Register schemas for Kafka producers and consumers
      - Evolve schemas safely with compatibility checks
      - Reference shared schemas across subjects
      - Migrate schemas between clusters with Schema Linking
      - Govern data contracts in streaming pipelines
common:
  - type: Website
    url: https://www.confluent.io/
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://docs.confluent.io/platform/current/schema-registry/
  - type: Getting Started
    url: https://docs.confluent.io/platform/current/schema-registry/develop/using.html
  - type: API Reference
    url: https://docs.confluent.io/platform/current/schema-registry/develop/api.html
  - type: GitHub
    url: https://github.com/confluentinc/schema-registry
  - type: License
    url: https://www.confluent.io/confluent-community-license/
  - type: Blog
    url: https://www.confluent.io/blog/
  - type: Pricing
    url: https://www.confluent.io/pricing/
  - type: JSON-LD
    url: json-ld/confluent-schema-registry-context.jsonld
  - type: Spectral
    url: rules/confluent-schema-registry-rules.yml
  - type: Naftiko Capabilities
    url: capabilities/confluent-schema-registry-capabilities.yml
maintainers:
  - FN: Kin Lane
    email: [email protected]