Using the Camel API directly would need you to write a lot of plumbing code. You will need to create all the objects and load a lot of objects into different ones.

Therefore, the direct usage of API would be very time consuming. Moreover, as a flexible and easy-to-use integration framework, Camel doesn't have to force the use of one language (Java) to write the routing logic. Users may not be familiar with Java and might prefer to write their routing logic using another language.

That's why Camel provides a set of languages to directly write the routes: the Camel Domain Specific Languages (DSL).

Using a DSL, the user directly writes their routes and describes the Camel context using a DSL. Camel will load and interpret the DSL to create and instantiate all the objects.

The DSL is used to wire processors and endpoints together to define and form routes.

Using a DSL, you mostly define the following: