Rather than sitting within your documentation (there are other options for that type of content), these guides help explain problemsand solutionswithout leveraging a specific product. How to Write API Documentation: A Step-by-Step Guide. All successful requests to this API return a success parameter set to true and a data parameter containing the response object of that request: Some requests result in more matching responses than can be returned on a single API call. A prerequisite to generating any meaningful documentation is an OpenAPI document. Your ride-hailing app uses Google Maps API (or a similar service) to access real-time tracking information. Instead of bundling too much secret information into the main explanation, all the most common questions are in those FAQ pages. The name can contain alpha characters, digits and next symbols: .-_~. However, such auto-generated documentation lacks good explanations that only a good developer or technical writer can provide. Writing API documentation requires technical skills and an understanding of how APIs work. However, this method is an ineffective method of teaching and learning. The DocumentationSamplesJava template allows you to customize that code sample in the code samples section of the operation page. Sample Web Rest Api Documentation Template Examples from blog.stoplight.io. The following are some of the important sections for API documentation. Instead, click . As a writer, feedback is important to improve the quality of your API documentation. . API Docs, api documentation, dev docs, dev experience, developer experience, docs, documentation, Dropbox, dx, FAQ, GitHub, Stripe, Twilio, Twitter. The company backs up these use cases with solid documentation that would fit well in other sections of this post. 5. name. It will also reduce the learning curve of the API in the long run. That means you use the same terminology, formatting, and reference points throughout the document. In truth, there arent any shiny bells and whistles and thats probably what makes the Stripe API reference so good. But theres no quicker way to get up to speed than providing an SDK in the developers preferred language. Examples - Give examples of how the API call . However, its blog topics are much more expansive. The version of an API should be explicitly stated as well as the appropriate revisions. This post will cover these common areas of documentation, plus some areas you might not typically see called docs. However, one place many developers agree is the most annoying part of using a new API or dev tool: dealing with its documentation, which is often outdated and inaccurate. To embed the documentation of an API module, use the template below. Render gets started quickly. The best way to ensure consistency is to proofread each section after writing it and then proofread the entire document once complete. Name of the template being stored. For you, it might be a single API call or a code snippet that can be controlled from your dashboard. If any new features have been added to the API, ensure all relevant information appears in the documents. GET request to get a list of all pages (typically templates) transcluded in the provided pages. One way of teaching and learning concepts is in isolation. And the size of the API economy keeps growing: In other words, APIs make the world go round. Just look over to the side navigation panel: theyve included pages like Whats a REST API, anyway? and How Twilios API uses webhooks. Their answers to these questions give developers a quick, bottom-up insight into everything they need to know. How 30 Dev Tool Homepages Put Developers First. So make API docs easy to find and easy to use. Clearly state all methods that are allowed. Another example of a way to use it. It is a collaborative process between developers, technical writers, and other stakeholders. There are tons of good docs to explore and learn from. These JSON or YAML documents are intended to be machine-readable and can be used in many ways. Conventions. Instead of bombarding you with information spanning the entire page, it gives you specific implementation advice for your chosen language. This first example wont be deployed to production but helps show whats possible. The answer to this all-important question is that your smartphone apps access data through APIs. You will also have to consider what API documentation tools you will use, such as Postman, SwaggerHub, or apiDoc. You could also have a look at API:Errors and warnings#Standard error messages and API:REST API/Reference to see how errors are presented in MediaWiki APIs. This template pack includes detailed examples, guidelines, and screenshots. They need to know: Additionally, it would be really nice to take advantage of the Special:ApiSandbox, so the audience can test each endpoint without having to set up anything or write any code. Based on great examples of each, you can implement some of these ideas today. This document, a FrameMaker document matching the client's FrameMaker template, was almost entirely created by my custom doclet. The simple menu at the top-right directs developers in the right general direction, with links to reference material, guides, and libraries, and then its down to well-ordered, blog post-esque articles to direct developers from there. To make the easier, weve focused on one primary lesson for each: While nobody makes bad documentation on purpose, everybody can help make it better. Good API documentation makes it easy for developers to use, reference, and explore. If you are new to technical writing, we recommend taking our Technical Writing Certification Course. Its hard to point to a single, cool feature of the Stripe API documentation. The latest iteration (shown above) uses a more enterprise term, solutions, but eases naturally from high-level discussion to code-packed tutorials. API Blueprint - gives you awesome tools for your whole API lifecycle. Your blog is not documentation itself but plays an important role in educating and inspiring your audience. A unique feature is preview functionality: you can preview every branch or pull request to ensure your changes are reviewed and discussed before pushing to production. Perhaps you have a getting started guide, but it needs some updates to be simpler or focus on a different area of your developer product. What we love about the Twilio Docs is just how much depth they provide even for beginners. I illustrated to the client how I could create 1200 pages of skeleton API documentation from their Java code in a day or so, saving them at least 3 weeks of typical technical . Sometimes organizations dont have dedicated technical writers, and the responsibility for writing API documentation falls on product owners, content writers, or even the startup founder. of all Internet traffic belongs to API-based services. Ask 10 developers a question and youll usually get 10 different answers. Sample API Reference Page For a sample API reference page for the SessionLogin method, which shows the organization and content discussed in this section, see "Appendix: Sample API Reference Page" on page 19. Twilio is attempting to hit a wide audience with its current messaging, but its developer roots remain. He had his first job in technical writing for a video editing software company in 2014. What does the expected response look like? Postman pulls sample requests, headers, code snippets, and more to populate the documentation with dynamic examples and machine-readable instructions. Using DotLiquid syntax and the editor of your choice, such as DotLiquid for Designers, and a provided set of localized String resources, Glyph resources, and Page controls, you have great . Your API keys carry many privileges, so be sure to keep them secure! Its a good idea to list status codes and error messages on a separate page as it allows you to describe each code in detail without crowding the other documentation. You can view the live default templates in the developer portal by navigating to the desired individual templates. Template . You want to share best practices for your specific technical area. You can connect with him on, Sreeranjani Pattabiraman, Senior Technical Writer. The Most API docs look and feel the same. How to contact the author and maintainers of this project (only share public information here, like Zulip or IRC). This is where deep, educational guides can take over. SwaggerHub is an integrated API design and documentation platform, built for teams to drive consistency and discipline across the API development workflow. The version of the API (if the API has versions). This article will go over the best way to write API documentation. Technical blog posts are a key piece of developer marketing that works. Instead of using the same two-panel design as other contenders on this list, Dropbox gets you to choose your programming language of choice first, and then provides tailored documentation for that language. Its best not to assume that everyone who reads the API document understands all about APIs. Furthermore, it can help users understand any new features that pop out. You may have missed out on some things or were unclear; therefore, its best to use the feedback to make continuous improvements. Versions. API docs are written by the people with the best understanding of the APIs, i.e., software developers. The Dropbox API documentation is yet another fantastic example of excellent reference documentation. Then, ensure you clearly communicate the main benefits of your API or platform. It is easy to create API documentation with document generation tools. Next, you can show how your product is used in real-life situations. . You tap on your smartphones weather app, and a few seconds later, you see the latest weather updates for your location. The API list template may use the following page controls. Maybe you have a list of use cases already in mind that you can share to stoke your audiences imagination. Remember to replace "module name" with the name of an actual module. If you can, avoid using technical jargon unless it is necessary. The following documentation is the output of Special:ApiHelp/Module name, automatically generated by the pre-release version of MediaWiki that is running on this site (MediaWiki . Thats because it will help you decide on your documentations structure, language, and overall design. Description. Signup to the Nordic APIs newsletter for quality content. MediaWiki API for example returns an error object with an error code and error message; you can read about it at API:Errors and warnings. Increasingly, API references are built from OpenAPI documents or other API descriptions. Its ideal if you have some knowledge of programming languages, such as PHP, Java, and Python, along with some technical writing experience. The purpose of this document is to provide a high level specification for the cordell "costing" web service api (application programming . When you write a block of text, theres a good chance people will avoid reading all of it. For more information about working with templates, see How to customize the API Management developer portal using templates. If developers are running into issues with their implementation, one glance tells them whether it may or may not be server-related. Creating a smooth and enjoyable experience for those implementing your APIs is essential with just how much competition there is nowadays, and API documentation is one of the keys to success. This can be done in a table: The above shows how the status codes and types should be displayed to the audience. The lesson: save developer time wherever you can. Update descriptions for any features that are added or removed. When changes to the API are published into the OpenAPI document, SendGrid automatically runs scripts to generate correct user-facing reference documentation for its API. # (MavenGradle) Flink Flink Flink API KafkaCassandra . Includes a 16-page How to Write API Document tutorial that explains how to write each section in your API reference documentation. You can check out API documentation from major companies, such as Microsoft, to better understand the format and content. LogRocket treats its blog like a publication that developers would read even when they arent shopping for monitoring. Your API documentation can help them decide. At first glance, Vimeo's documentation looks a lot like our other API documentation examples, especially the Google Maps APIs. If you get this error, retry your request until it succeeds or returns a more informative error message, Pages in the Special namespace can't be edited, You're not allowed to edit interface messages, You're not allowed to edit pages in the ", You're not allowed to edit custom CSS and JavaScript pages. All main modules are here . If youve been spending much time on the Nordic APIs blog, youll know that developer experience is something were passionate about. It also updates documentation when you make changes to your collection. 5. That way, when they do have a problem that LogRocket solves, theyll remember who taught them important front-end lessons. Of course, these API docs have a lot more going for them than what theyve discussed, but you need to read our article 7 Items No API Documentation Can Live Without if you want to get the rundown on all the core features you need for great API docs. Samples. Renders developer homepage gets right to the point with quickstarts for every language and framework it supports. Another oft-cited favorite of developers is the Twilio docs. Compared to other items on this list, this one is a bit of an outlier. If the template content is provided, a new version is automatically created and becomes the active version. Its best to use standard terminology so that everyone can understand the terms. You should discuss in detail how pagination is handled in your API. We built the API to be as self-documenting as possible, but if you find yourself overwhelmed, we organized this site into four major areas. This guide ranks well for relevant, high-volume topics, so it likely brings evergreen traffic. Here's an example: All responses from this API have a JSON response body with the Content-Type set to application/json in the response header. Its one thing to see whats possible in a referenceits even better to experience it. Take one or two of these areas on to improve your documentation today. 2. Include related information in this section if you use different license tiers to provide different access to the API calls. APIMatic (where Im an advisor) offers a product that generates SDKs and examples across about a dozen languages and frameworks. The best API documentation reaches beyond simple accuracy. It features a sleek and cool two-panel design, with explanations written in plain English on the left and handy code snippets on the right. In this API documentation guide, we'll cover the basics of how to document APIs and different types of documentation. Examples of the structure of requests and responses. motivation letter environmental engineering; present tense conjugation; used concrete forms for sale; role of teacher in special education ppt; a doll's house nora quotes act 1 Keep in mind that this is the homepage for the whole company. Then, focus your efforts to make it successful. API Specification Doc (Chilly Recipes App) Version Date Author Description 1.0 05-Oct-2012 Saurabh (rebugged.com) Initial draft 1.1 17-Nov-2012 Saurabh (rebugged.com) Added version number in response NOTE: Please don't request edit access to this demo document. High When youve figured out the sections and start writing the API document, you need to ensure youre consistent. Even though programming experience is not essential, technical writers with programming experience write the best API documentation. This can be in the form of technical writing, code samples and examples for better understanding how to consume an API. For documentation, you can use OpenAPI to generate references. . At over 18,000 words, its treated like an entire section of Gremlins site. You don't necessarily have to use this format. Here, you would share useful information about the following: "the message as-is, with parameter substitution but without any parsing", API:Errors and warnings#Standard error messages, Talk:Documentation/API Documentation Template, https://www.mediawiki.org/w/index.php?title=Documentation/API_Documentation_Template&oldid=4999546, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, The request was unacceptable this is often due to missing parameters, Incorrect permissions to perform this request, Unknown error: This usually means something unusual like a rare race condition occurred. It supports version control, collaboration, user roles, try-it authentication, and other security features. The DocumentationSamplesPhp template allows you to customize that code sample in the code samples section of the operation page. You should also state if some endpoints require authorization before access is provided. You can generate documentation automatically and much more with this tool. The templates in this section allow you to customize the content of the API pages in the developer portal. Authentication guide Quickstart guide Endpoint definitions Code snippets Example responses . This template is suitable for writing any form of REST API documentation and is limited to just that. The DocumentationSamplesRuby template allows you to customize that code sample in the code samples section of the operation page. Also, check out aglio, the API blueprint renderer. How requests should be made to your API should be clearly defined here. API documentation should start with a detailed description of what the API is about, what is it used for, and who should make use of it. The current version of the API lives at https://api.gsa.gov/v3/path. Parameter. People who consume an API need to have an understanding of what kind of data is returned from that API and how the data is structured. Sample Call: <Just a sample call to your endpoint in a runnable format ($.ajax call or a curl request) - this makes life easier and more predictable.> Notes: <This is where all uncertainties, commentary, discussion etc. Writing any other form of API documentation is well beyond the scope of this template. Output document contents as JSON: Outputs a JSON dump of the complete contents of a documentthis can help you understand the structure of Google Docs files or troubleshoot issues. Additionally, templates can contain tracking images so that gophish knows when the user opens the email. There are three types of API documentation: reference, tutorial, and conceptual. One example of a way to use it. can go. Apiary has put together several API Blueprint examples that can help document an API without having to start from scratch. The Stripe API uses API keys to authenticate requests. Dont make them flex their creativity muscles. Find the quick win or hello world for your developer product, then create a short tutorial to support this basic use case. Upgrade to Microsoft Edge to take advantage of the latest features, security updates, and technical support. Twilio Docs. Obsolete API documentation will lead to frustrated users, reduced retention, and increased support costs as developers turn to your teams again and again for help. Tutorials provide step-by-step guides for using APIs to accomplish specific tasks. You can also consider using online sources and tutorials from sites like GitHub. From where did your ride-hailing app get this data? REST API Documentation Templates, Tools, and Examples. Writing great API documentation can be hard, but you can do it well if you follow a process based on best practices. It has all the information you need to get started, presented cleanly and sensibly. It is a concise reference manual with all the information required to work with the API such as classes, functions, arguments, return types, functions, and more. But this is a blog post not a book so well give you a quick run-down of the example and then focus in on just one of their best-executed features. Querying data over an API requires making some sort of requests and sending some payload or data with that request. Since then, he has written several books on software documentation, personal branding, and computer hacking. The API template includes the following chapters: 1.0 Overview. Copyright 2022 Technical Writer HQ, All Rights Reserved. Personally, I love working with a FAQ where I know I can find answers to my inevitable questions. In addition to the examples we've shared throughout the article, here are . The first and foremost step is to plan out your API documentation process. Below is the provided template for this particular genre and is to be duly followed when creating documentation. Application Programming Interface or API is a concept in software technology that defines the interactions between multiple applications and data exchange. API calls gives you a hands-on experience of those operations with an interactive console. Between these two pages, developers can figure out in a hurry (and without even signing up) whether theyll be able to solve their problem with Plaid. Table of Contents. You should explain how you authenticate endpoints here and how authenticated requests should be made. Call-outs that share important information with developers, including warnings and errors. Since the API is core to everything the company does, you can also find docs in the global navigation. . More info about Internet Explorer and Microsoft Edge, How to customize the API Management developer portal using templates, Learn how to migrate to the new developer portal, Azure API Management new developer portal overview, Access and customize the new developer portal. Can't make it to the event? The DocumentationSamplesCurl template allows you to customize that code sample in the code samples section of the operation page. The code samples for the current operation.. That way, your documentation will benefit users with different levels of experience. Status codes and error messages can be helpful when it comes to troubleshooting. Select File > Download as > , from the open template. As you might have noticed, every page of GitHubs API reference has a little widget that tells you the status of the API. Among the many uses of an OpenAPI document is to generate API reference docs. As youd expect, it has all the crucial information you need to get going right away. In contrast to tutorials that provide specifics, conceptual documentation provides higher-level information, such as how to use APIs to build applications and integrate APIs into a single application. The Twitter API docs have a FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) section for almost every page. Thomas Bush is an enthusiastic freelance writer from the United Kingdom, who loves breaking down tough topics into bite-sized articles. With a lot of web services emerging, the need to have clear API documentation for adopting these services became clear. The lesson: be beginner-friendly. Azure API Management provides you the ability to customize the content of developer portal pages using a set of templates that configure their content. The technology is enabled by OpenAPI and other API descriptions (see generate API references below). Make it easy to find your portal or developer homepage. An API specification is like a template of your future docs, the unified language that describes the design of your API, explains how it functions and what to expect from it. Using an API documentation tool can provide many benefits. Use this 28-page MS Word template to document your REST/Web APIs. What query parameters are necessary to add to this request? Perform an audit of your existing developer portal and content, making a list of potential areas for attention. The structure of the body solely depends on the endpoint being queried. Its not hard to maintain your API documentation; you can do the following to make sure it stays updated: Here are some best practices that will improve the developer experience for your API documentation. This section presents a set of sample applications and utilities that demonstrate how to translate an intended Docs action into an API request. Tools help to reduce the time it takes for developers and technical writers to write and maintain API documentation by automating or simplifying some tasks. Its a small touch, but as we recently covered, small tweaks like this become very helpful. API documentation is the information that is required to successfully consume and integrate with an API. The DocumentationSamplesCsharp template allows you to customize that code sample in the code samples section of the operation page. When a request is successful, the audience should have an idea of what the expected response looks like. Even though developers have the best technical knowledge of APIs, they might not have the best writing skills or give the highest priority to writing documentation. It's free to sign up and bid on jobs. The Stripe API documentation, or the Stripe API Reference, is a work of art. API Documentation Rev 1/5/17 Contents: I n te g r a ti o n Co n s i d e r a ti o n s 1 . Paradoxically, these examples help developers become more creative once youve seeded their imagination in the right direction. Sample default templates are included in the following documentation, but are subject to change due to continuous improvements. Different APIs respond to errors differently. Furthermore, good communication skills are essential for effective coordination between team members and developers. A developer wants to quickly answer whether your solution will solve their problem. This is the most important type of API documentation as developers spend most of their time on reference documentation. The sample above shows what the error responses look like. Technical writers collaborate with developers and other stakeholders to create API documentation. Gremlins product helps teams implement the chaos monkey pattern, but this guide *does not* dig into its implementation. How to Write a Grant Proposal Cover Letter, Google Technical Writer Interview Questions. If you still arent sure where to start, assess the current state of your developer experience with our free DX Quiz. Make sure that all content is uniform in all aspects, including formatting and language. You can use Postmans API documentation tool to generate machine-readable documentation for your API and keep it up to date. Share your insights on the blog, speak at an event or exhibit at our conferences and create new business relationships with decision makers and top influencers responsible for API solutions. Whether your API is meant for internal use, exposed to partners, or fully public, developers will need both complete and accurate REST and OpenAPI documentation examples to best complete their integrations.
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