# `extends`

## Introduction

The `extends` configuration entry allows your project configuration to extend an existing configuration set.
Multiple values are supported, and can include:

- the name of a [built-in ruleset](/docs/cli/rules#rulesets)
- configuration defined in a [custom plugin](/docs/cli/custom-plugins)
- a path or URL to another `redocly.yaml` file


Extends is useful if you use a common ruleset across multiple projects.
Define a ruleset in one location, and each project can `extend` it, with or without modification.

Default ruleset: recommended
If there is no `redocly.yaml` configuration file, the [recommended ruleset](/docs/cli/rules/recommended) is used by default.

## Options

The `extends` configuration is an array of strings.

The array is parsed in the order it is defined, so the later entries in the array overwrite the earlier ones.

## Examples

To get started, try the following example to configure your project to be based on the [minimal ruleset](/docs/cli/rules/minimal):


```yaml
extends:
 - minimal
```

## Related options

- [apis](/docs/cli/configuration/reference/apis) configuration options allow setting per-API configuration in `redocly.yaml`.
- [rules](/docs/cli/configuration/reference/rules) settings define the linting rules that are used.


## Resources

- Detailed documentation and examples on [extending configuration](/docs/cli/configuration/extends).