Reference Documentation Patterns
Reference documentation is information-oriented - helping experienced users find precise technical details quickly. This skill provides patterns for writing clear, scannable reference pages.
Dependency: Always use this skill in conjunction with docs-style for core writing principles.
Purpose and Audience
- Who: Experienced users seeking specific information
- Goal: Quick lookup of technical details
- Mode: Not for learning, for looking up
- Expectation: Brevity, consistency, completeness
Document Structure Template
Use this template when creating reference documentation:
---
title: "[Symbol/API Name]"
description: "One-line description of what it does"
---
# [Name]
Brief description (1-2 sentences). State what it is and its primary purpose.
## Parameters
| Name | Type | Required | Description |
|------|------|----------|-------------|
| `param1` | `string` | Yes | What this parameter controls |
| `param2` | `number` | No | Optional behavior modification. Default: `10` |
## Returns
| Type | Description |
|------|-------------|
| `ReturnType` | What the function returns and when |
## Example
import { symbolName } from 'package';
// Complete, runnable example showing common use case const result = symbolName({ param1: 'realistic-value', param2: 42 });
console.log(result); // Expected output: { ... }
## Related
- [RelatedSymbol](https://github.com/reference/related-symbol) - Brief description
- [AnotherSymbol](https://github.com/reference/another-symbol) - Brief description
Writing Principles
Brevity Over Explanation
- State facts, not rationale
- Avoid "why" - save that for Explanation docs
- Cut unnecessary words
Do:
Returns the user's display name.Avoid:
This function is useful when you need to get the user's display name
because it handles all the edge cases for you automatically.Scannable Tables, Not Prose
Do:
| Name | Type | Description |
|------|------|-------------|
| `userId` | `string` | Unique user identifier |
| `options` | `Options` | Configuration object |Avoid:
The first parameter is `userId`, which should be a string containing
the unique user identifier. The second parameter is `options`, which
is an Options object containing the configuration.Consistent Format Across Entries
All reference pages for similar items should follow identical structure:
- Same heading order
- Same table columns
- Same code example format
- Same related links section
Every Example Must Be Runnable
- Include all imports
- Show complete, working code
- Use realistic values (not "foo", "bar", "test123")
- Include expected output when helpful
Code Example Patterns
Show Common Use Case First
## Example
### Basic Usage
const user = await getUser('user-123'); console.log(user.name);
### With Options
const user = await getUser('user-123', { includeMetadata: true, fields: ['name', 'email', 'role'] });
Include Setup and Context
import { Client } from '@example/sdk';
// Initialize client (required once per application) const client = new Client({ apiKey: process.env.API_KEY });
// Now use the function const result = await client.users.list();
Use Realistic Values
Do: userId: 'usr_a1b2c3d4' Avoid: userId: 'foo'
Do: email: 'jane.smith@company.com' Avoid: email: 'test@test.com'
Parameter Documentation Patterns
Required vs Optional
Clearly indicate which parameters are required:
| Name | Type | Required | Default | Description |
|------|------|----------|---------|-------------|
| `apiKey` | `string` | Yes | - | Your API key |
| `timeout` | `number` | No | `30000` | Request timeout in ms |
| `retries` | `number` | No | `3` | Number of retry attempts |Complex Types
For object parameters, document the shape:
## Parameters
| Name | Type | Required | Description |
|------|------|----------|-------------|
| `options` | `UserOptions` | No | Configuration options |
### UserOptions
| Property | Type | Required | Description |
|----------|------|----------|-------------|
| `includeDeleted` | `boolean` | No | Include soft-deleted users |
| `fields` | `string[]` | No | Fields to return |
| `limit` | `number` | No | Maximum results (default: 100) |Enum Values
Document allowed values clearly:
| Name | Type | Values | Description |
|------|------|--------|-------------|
| `status` | `string` | `active`, `pending`, `suspended` | User account status |Return Value Documentation
Simple Returns
## Returns
`User` - The requested user object, or `null` if not found.Complex Returns
## Returns
| Property | Type | Description |
|----------|------|-------------|
| `data` | `User[]` | Array of user objects |
| `pagination` | `Pagination` | Pagination metadata |
| `total` | `number` | Total matching records |Error Conditions
## Errors
| Error | Condition |
|-------|-----------|
| `NotFoundError` | User does not exist |
| `UnauthorizedError` | Invalid or expired API key |
| `RateLimitError` | Too many requests |API Reference Specifics
HTTP Endpoints
## Endpoint
GET /api/v1/users/{userId}
## Path Parameters
| Name | Type | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `userId` | `string` | The user's unique identifier |
## Query Parameters
| Name | Type | Required | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `fields` | `string` | No | Comma-separated list of fields |
## Headers
| Name | Required | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `Authorization` | Yes | Bearer token |
| `X-Request-ID` | No | Request tracking ID |
## Response
{ "id": "usr_a1b2c3d4", "name": "Jane Smith", "email": "jane@company.com" }
Component/Props Reference
For UI components:
## Props
| Prop | Type | Default | Description |
|------|------|---------|-------------|
| `variant` | `'primary' \| 'secondary'` | `'primary'` | Visual style |
| `size` | `'sm' \| 'md' \| 'lg'` | `'md'` | Button size |
| `disabled` | `boolean` | `false` | Disable interactions |
| `onClick` | `() => void` | - | Click handler |
## Slots
| Name | Description |
|------|-------------|
| `default` | Button content |
| `icon` | Icon to display before text |Related Links Section
Always include links to related content:
## Related
- [createUser](/reference/create-user) - Create a new user
- [updateUser](/reference/update-user) - Modify user properties
- [deleteUser](/reference/delete-user) - Remove a user
- [User Authentication Guide](/guides/authentication) - How authentication worksChecklist for Reference Pages
Before considering a reference page complete:
- Title matches the symbol/API name exactly
- Description is one clear sentence
- All parameters documented with types
- Required vs optional clearly marked
- Default values specified for optional parameters
- Return type and structure documented
- At least one complete, runnable example
- Example uses realistic values
- Related pages linked
- Format matches other reference pages in the docs