What is the API Document and why is it important?

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We are in a multi-platform economy and APIs are the glue of digital land. Platform is a product that is extended by users for the benefit of other users. Any product can become a platform by providing ways for users to add services and functionality to it.

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The API supports platform economy and allows users to improve and add other services on available products. When a product transforms into a platform, it adds a new type of user: a third-party programmer.

Services for programmers need to be tight because they will analyze, summarize and try to solve important issues with your API. They want to know how to use your API effectively, which is where API document plays its role.

Let's join TipsMake.com to find out what API documentation (API Document) is and why it is necessary to have a good API Document in this article!

What is the API Document?

API Document is technically possible content, including instructions on how to effectively use and integrate with an API. It is a brief document, containing all the information required to work with the API, with detailed information about functions (functions), class (class), return type (return data type), arguments (parameters), . supported by tutorials and examples.

API Document documentation is often done using content creation, maintenance, and normal text editors. OpenAPI / Swagger Specification API-like format formats automate document processing, making it easier for teams to create and maintain them.

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Third-party programmers, users of your API, are too busy dealing with complex programming requirements. The API is a means to achieve the purpose for technical users and they want to integrate as quickly as possible to accelerate the software development process, which means they need to understand immediately value and usage. Use your API. Combining the experience of developers when exploring, learning how to use and eventually integrating with the API is called the Developer Experience (DX).

The API documentation is an important element to have a good programming experience.

Why is the Document API important?

In all life cycle stages of the API, documentation is probably the most developed area. This is especially true of ecosystem tools around the document. The interesting thing to note about this trend is that developers often pay less attention to the documentation when running the code. In fact, implementing code is much easier than writing a good guide.

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However, this directly affects the integration and use of APIs. Your product may have the best functionality, but no one will use it if they don't know how to use it. The documentation is the foundation for the developer to have a good experience.

Improve the user experience

One of the main reasons for having a good API guide is to improve the experience of developers using the API. This has a direct correlation to your API acceptance. People accept the products they like and that is similar to your API. If you have good documentation, many people will easily find value in your services, leading to better adoption and growth.

Help your API be known

User created user. Network effect is the phenomenon that when a service or product becomes more valuable, more people will use it. Satisfied users will be the biggest supporters for your API. When many people accept your APIs and reach a certain number, there will be a significant increase in word-of-mouth promotion of satisfied people and lead to network effects.

Think about your own experience - we always introduce great products that we have used and so do programmers. If programmers can easily and quickly learn how to use APIs, they will be the biggest supporters.

Save time and support costs

In addition to raising your awareness and acceptance of APIs, good documentation also reduces the amount of time it takes to support new users, new team members or partners. The documentation is not good or valuable, meaning that many users will be frustrated because it depends on your team to understand how to work with the API.

Conversely, when you provide users with the ability to test the API before deploying and provide them with detailed documentation to get started, you'll save time answering emails and supporting calls.

Easy maintenance

Finally, the documentation makes it easier to maintain products. It helps your team know the details of resources, methods, support requests, faster maintenance and updates.

Conclude

The documentation is an important factor to have a good experience when using the API. It not only pleases customers, but also helps increase the number of API users. Open source description formats such as the OpenAPI Specification and commercial platforms like SwaggerHub allow your team to automate document processing and provide a good experience when using the API.

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Having fun!