API Documentation

• •Helps onboard new API consumers quickly
• •Reduces support requests and questions
• •Enables self-service development
• •Increases adoption and proper usage
• •Serves as a contract between provider and consumer
• •Improves developer experience (DX)

• •API overview and purpose
• •Authentication methods
• •Base URL and endpoints
• •Request parameters and headers
• •Request body schemas
• •Response formats and status codes
• •Error handling
• •Rate limits and usage policies
• •Code examples in multiple languages
• •Interactive API explorer

• •API Blueprint
• •Swagger/OpenAPI Specification
• •RAML (RESTful API Modeling Language)
• •GraphQL Schema
• •Custom HTML/Markdown documentation

• •Create a Postman Collection for your API
• •Add detailed descriptions for the collection, folders, and requests
• •Include examples for request and response bodies
• •Set up environment variables
• •Export the collection and share it

• •Keep documentation in sync with code using automated tools
• •Include documentation updates in code review process
• •Version your documentation alongside your API
• •Get feedback from API consumers
• •Provide changelogs when API changes

• •Write clear, concise descriptions
• •Use consistent terminology
• •Include use cases and examples
• •Document error scenarios
• •Provide code snippets in multiple languages
• •Test your documentation with new users

Screenshots of a well-documented API using Swagger UI or Postman, showing

endpoint details, parameters, response schemas, and interactive testing

features.

• •[OpenAPI Specification](https://swagger.io/specification/)
• •[Documenting APIs: A guide for technical writers and engineers](https://idratherbewriting.com/learnapidoc/)
• •[Creating API Documentation with Swagger and JSDoc](https://medium.com/swlh/automatic-api-documentation-in-node-js-using-swagger-dd1ab3c78284)
• •[Best Practices in API Documentation](https://swagger.io/blog/api-documentation/best-practices-in-api-documentation/)