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

Returns

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 - Brief description

- AnotherSymbol - Brief description

## Writing Principles

### Brevity Over Explanation

- State facts, not rationale
- Avoid "why" - save that for Explanation docs
- Cut unnecessary words

**Do:**
```markdown
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

```typescript
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

```markdown
```typescript
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:

```markdown
| 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

```http
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:

```markdown
## 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 works

Checklist 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