A normal JSON response is parsed after the whole document arrives, while a streaming media type yields items in sequence. OpenAPI 3.2 can describe individual sequential items with itemSchema and covers event streams such as SSE. Consumers can display each arrival without waiting for completion.
The demo compares one complete JSON block with events arriving over time. Real streams also need rules for disconnection, partial messages, and reconnection.
When to use
Use it when documenting SSE or JSON Lines items for consumers and tooling.