{"id":5740,"date":"2021-01-13T04:18:05","date_gmt":"2021-01-13T04:18:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.digital-web-services.com\/?p=5740"},"modified":"2022-04-05T07:09:36","modified_gmt":"2022-04-05T07:09:36","slug":"a-beginners-guide-to-understanding-api-documentation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.digital-web-services.com\/a-beginners-guide-to-understanding-api-documentation.html","title":{"rendered":"A Beginner\u2019s Guide to Understanding API Documentation"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"p2\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">If you\u2019re new to the world of application programming interfaces or APIs, you may be surprised how often the term \u201cAPI documentation\u201d comes up. In fact, few API companies in the industry today market their product <i>without <\/i>mentioning how their documentation is done. To many who are choosing between software products like APIs, which by their very design are intangible, great API documentation seals the deal. The API\u2019s user should be able to see how it ticks\u2014and how easy it is to maintain, upgrade, and integrate with other software systems. With that knowledge assured to them, they\u2019ll be happy onboarding the product and speaking highly about it to others.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">To learn more about the purpose of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.digital-web-services.com\/a-beginners-guide-to-understanding-api-documentation.html\">API documentation, read this simple beginner\u2019s guide<\/a>. Below are five of the most commonly asked questions about API docs. This should be of great help to rookie developers or technical writers of an API company, as well as future consumers of the product. Seasoned developers may also use this as reference when <a href=\"https:\/\/stoplight.io\/api-documentation-guide\/basics\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\"><span class=\"s1\">writing an API documentation guide<\/span><\/a> for newbies.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_58 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title \" >Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\" role=\"button\"><label for=\"item-656585a682bc7\" ><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input aria-label=\"Toggle\" aria-label=\"item-656585a682bc7\"  type=\"checkbox\" id=\"item-656585a682bc7\"><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.digital-web-services.com\/a-beginners-guide-to-understanding-api-documentation.html\/#What_Exactly_Is_API_Documentation\" title=\"What Exactly Is API Documentation?\">What Exactly Is API Documentation?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.digital-web-services.com\/a-beginners-guide-to-understanding-api-documentation.html\/#What_Is_API_Documentation_Meant_to_Do\" title=\"What Is API Documentation Meant to Do?\">What Is API Documentation Meant to Do?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.digital-web-services.com\/a-beginners-guide-to-understanding-api-documentation.html\/#What_Should_API_Documentation_Contain\" title=\"What Should API Documentation Contain?\">What Should API Documentation Contain?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.digital-web-services.com\/a-beginners-guide-to-understanding-api-documentation.html\/#What_Format_Does_API_Documentation_Come_In\" title=\"What Format Does API Documentation Come In?\">What Format Does API Documentation Come In?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.digital-web-services.com\/a-beginners-guide-to-understanding-api-documentation.html\/#How_Do_You_Compile_API_Documentation\" title=\"How Do You Compile API Documentation?\">How Do You Compile API Documentation?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.digital-web-services.com\/a-beginners-guide-to-understanding-api-documentation.html\/#Conclusion_On_What_Distinguishes_Great_API_Documentation\" title=\"Conclusion: On What Distinguishes Great API Documentation\">Conclusion: On What Distinguishes Great API Documentation<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h3 class=\"p2\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Exactly_Is_API_Documentation\"><\/span><b>What Exactly Is API Documentation?<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p class=\"p2\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">The simplest way to describe API documentation is this: it\u2019s a user manual of sorts that comes with an API product. It teaches stakeholders in the API\u2019s acquisition\u2014like third-party developers or chief technology officers of client companies\u2014what the API does and how it works.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">To emphasize the importance of API documentation, let\u2019s compare it to the user manual of a kitchen appliance you\u2019re using for the first time. This manual would inform you about how to use it to prepare various types of food and how to keep it in good condition. If the manual didn\u2019t seem very complete or very clear in its instructions, would it affect your impression of the product? The rationale is exactly the same for an API and its corresponding documentation.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"p2\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Is_API_Documentation_Meant_to_Do\"><\/span><b>What Is API Documentation Meant to Do?<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p class=\"p2\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">Let\u2019s further explore the point made above. What is the API\u2019s documentation meant to do? What purpose should it serve the technical team that\u2019s keeping the documentation, and what value should it add to the consumers?<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">For those in charge of keeping API documentation, their docs should do the following:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"ul1\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li class=\"li2\">List down the various ways that the API should be used<\/li>\n<li class=\"li2\">Stay true to a certain format for describing the API<\/li>\n<li class=\"li2\">Help them account for all of the API\u2019s resources<\/li>\n<li class=\"li2\">Track the different versions the API has been through<\/li>\n<li class=\"li2\">Track the updates that have been made to the API throughout various stages of development<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"p2\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">Consumers who receive the API documentation, on the other hand, should it use it for the following:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"ul1\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li class=\"li2\">Getting to know the product<\/li>\n<li class=\"li2\">Finding instructions on how to use it and integrate it with their existing software ecosystem<\/li>\n<li class=\"li2\">Finding the best use cases and applications for the API<\/li>\n<li class=\"li2\">Learning how to leverage the API to increase their business value<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 class=\"p2\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Should_API_Documentation_Contain\"><\/span><b>What Should API Documentation Contain?<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p class=\"p2\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">The exact content of the API documentation really varies according to the company, the type of API, and the intended application. But most great pieces of API documentation contain the following elements:<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"ul1\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li class=\"li2\">An overview of the product and the business goals it\u2019s meant to achieve<\/li>\n<li class=\"li2\">Information on updates and versioning<\/li>\n<li class=\"li2\">An authentication section that details how to keep the API and its data secure<\/li>\n<li class=\"li2\">A list of the API\u2019s resources, including its endpoints, its parameters, and its schemas<\/li>\n<li class=\"li2\">A list of error messages that users may encounter when using the API, what these messages mean, and how to fix their problem<\/li>\n<li class=\"li2\">In-depth discussions of use cases and relevant examples<\/li>\n<li class=\"li2\">Additional tutorials<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"p2\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">The goal is to compile API docs that have an \u201ceverything-there-in-the-manual\u201d kind of feel and that inspire confidence in the users. If you\u2019re in charge of writing documentation, you can follow this strategy for the sections\u2014it\u2019ll make your docs look professional and complete. <span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"p2\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Format_Does_API_Documentation_Come_In\"><\/span><b>What Format Does API Documentation Come In?<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p class=\"p2\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">Before documentation became such an important part of the API development process, many API companies were happy to keep static docs. That meant that API docs were compiled in word processors or using simple <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/List_of_markup_languages\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">markup languages<\/a> like HTML. That style of compiling API docs is still commonplace, as some companies like the \u201cclean and simple\u201d approach to documenting their APIs. But other companies now favor more interactive methods of API documentation, like using hosted toolsets. Aside from keeping all the necessary info about the API, these toolsets allow users to play around more with the docs. That includes testing the API code in the toolset\u2019s editor and modifying the code \u201crecipes\u201d for themselves.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">There are pros and cons for both the static and the interactive formats of API documentation. It often just depends on what the developers prefer.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"p2\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Do_You_Compile_API_Documentation\"><\/span><b>How Do You Compile API Documentation?<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p class=\"p2\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">Many rookie developers wonder how they should go about documenting their APIs. In truth, much of the documentation work can be done alongside actual coding, and it gets easier over time. But the following quick tips have proved timeless for developers of all levels:<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"ul1\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li class=\"li2\">Settle on a platform for compiling the docs, whether it\u2019s the static kind or interactive kind. Once you\u2019ve aligned with your platform for API documentation, a lot of the work will be cut out for you.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"li2\">Stay consistent to a particular style of documenting the API, for example in terms of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.digital-web-services.com\/make-career-in-programming-language.html\">programming language<\/a> you use. If you don\u2019t already have a style guide for documenting your APIs, you may want to start making one now.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"li2\">See which part of the documentation process you can automate, for example generating headers or sample requests. This will save you a lot of time and help keep the content of your API documentation accurate and up to date.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"li2\">Always make sure that your documentation is updated whenever something in your API design changes. Obsolete or inaccurate API documentation serves no one, and your readers deserve API documentation that they can rely on for every moment they\u2019re using it.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 class=\"p2\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Conclusion_On_What_Distinguishes_Great_API_Documentation\"><\/span><b>Conclusion: On What Distinguishes Great API Documentation<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p class=\"p2\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">Now that you know the value and purpose of API documentation, it may be time to read or write some docs on your own. Remember that excellent <a href=\"https:\/\/www.digital-web-services.com\/a-beginners-guide-to-understanding-api-documentation.html\">API documentation<\/a> clarifies what the API is meant to be used for, and how exactly to use it. It also helps a lot for the documentation to be well-written, easy to understand, and easy to navigate between sections.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">If you\u2019re reading API docs, this is what you should expect out of them. And if you\u2019re writing API docs, this is what you should aspire for.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you\u2019re new to the world of application programming interfaces or APIs, you may be surprised how often the term \u201cAPI documentation\u201d comes up. In fact, few API companies in the industry today market their product without mentioning how their documentation is done. To many who are choosing between software products like APIs, which by [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5742,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_gspb_post_css":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[13,1],"tags":[],"offerexpiration":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v21.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>A Beginner\u2019s Guide to Understanding API Documentation - Digital Web Services<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.digital-web-services.com\/a-beginners-guide-to-understanding-api-documentation.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"A Beginner\u2019s Guide to Understanding API Documentation - Digital Web Services\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"If you\u2019re new to the world of application programming interfaces or APIs, you may be surprised how often the term \u201cAPI documentation\u201d comes up. 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