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Doxygen
What it is
Doxygen is a free documentation generator for Windows, Linux, and macOS. It creates documentation from source-code comments while parsing classes, functions, and variables. Output formats include HTML, PDF through LaTeX, Word through RTF, and XML for use by external tools. Supported languages include C/C++, Lex, Java, Python, VHDL, PHP IDL, C#, Fortran, Objective-C 2.0, and some D sources. Doxygen can use Graphviz's dot tool to create include-dependency, collaboration, call, directory-structure, and class-hierarchy diagrams. Its Doxywizard graphical interface lets users edit options and run the generator on Windows, Linux, and macOS. It also supports HTML Help, docsets, Qt-Help, and Eclipse Help formats, and provides more than 100 configurable options. The software runs without registration and does not collect personal or usage data. It is licensed under the GNU General Public License and provided without express or implied warranty. Users can seek help through Stack Overflow and the doxygen users mailing list; commercial support for features or bug fixes has limited capacity. The listed plan is free.
For and against
For
- Generates HTML, PDF, Word, and XML documentation.
- Supports a range of programming and markup languages.
- Doxywizard provides a graphical interface on Windows, Linux, and macOS.
- Runs without registration and collects no personal or usage data.
Against
- Provided without an express or implied warranty.
- Commercial support for features or bug fixes has limited capacity.
- Graphviz diagrams require Graphviz's dot tool.
The verdict
Doxygen offers configurable source-comment documentation generation with multiple output formats and optional diagrams. Users should note its warranty terms and the limited capacity for commercial support.
Who it suits
Doxygen suits developers who want to generate documentation from source comments across its supported languages and platforms. Its XML output and help formats may also suit projects that use external documentation tools.
Plans and prices
Free and open source software
GNU General Public License · Windows, Linux and macOS downloads
Read 1 Oct 2026 · doxygen.nl
On the record
- Compliance
- Doxygen's privacy policy describes handling of website data under the European Union General Data Protection Regulation.doxygen.nl · read 1 Oct 2026
- Configuration
- Doxygen provides more than 100 configurable options for fine-tuning output.doxygen.nl · read 1 Oct 2026
- Cross-platform
- Doxygen works on Windows and many Unix flavors, including Linux and macOS.doxygen.nl · read 1 Oct 2026
- Diagrams
- Doxygen uses Graphviz's dot tool to generate include-dependency, collaboration, call, directory-structure and class-hierarchy graphs.doxygen.nl · read 1 Oct 2026
- GUI
- Doxygen includes the Doxywizard GUI for editing options and running Doxygen, available on Windows, Linux and macOS.doxygen.nl · read 1 Oct 2026
- Help integrations
- Doxygen supports HTML Help, docsets, Qt-Help and Eclipse Help formats.doxygen.nl · read 1 Oct 2026
- Languages
- Doxygen supports C/C++, Lex, Java, Python, VHDL, PHP IDL, C#, Fortran, Objective-C 2.0 and some D sources.doxygen.nl · read 1 Oct 2026
- License
- Doxygen is licensed under the GNU General Public License and is provided without express or implied warranty.doxygen.nl · read 1 Oct 2026
- Output formats
- Doxygen generates HTML, PDF via LaTeX, Word via RTF and XML documentation.doxygen.nl · read 1 Oct 2026
- Privacy
- The Doxygen tool does not collect personal or usage data and operates without user registration.doxygen.nl · read 1 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Doxygen is a documentation generator that creates documentation from source-code comments and parses classes, functions and variables.doxygen.nl · read 1 Oct 2026
- Support
- Users are directed to Stack Overflow and the doxygen users mailing list, while commercial feature or bug-fix support has limited capacity.doxygen.nl · read 1 Oct 2026
- XML integration
- Doxygen generates structured XML output for parsed sources that can be used by external tools.doxygen.nl · read 1 Oct 2026
