White Paper

The Definitive Guide to Creating API Documentation

The Definitive Guide to Creating API Documentation

Pages 25 Pages

This white paper outlines 10 best practices for creating clear, useful API documentation. It emphasizes using a standard reference page template covering method name, syntax, parameters, return values, examples, and errors. Writers should adopt a terse, factual style—avoiding adjectives—and provide full details for each API component. Error messages must be listed alphabetically with explanations and fixes. Working code snippets, flowcharts, and sample programs help developers quickly apply methods. A “Getting Started” guide eases onboarding, while performance tuning details support advanced users. Finally, documentation should include a direct contact for technical support.

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