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. To confirm reference is the right type — rather than a tutorial, how-to, or explanation — see docs-style/references/diataxis-compass.md.

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:

markdown

---
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

```language
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

text

## Writing Principles

### Describe, and Only Describe

Reference is austere, neutral, and authoritative — a map the reader can trust without independent verification. Its one job is to describe the machinery: commands, options, parameters, return values, limits, warnings. It does not instruct (that's How-To), teach (Tutorial), or argue (Explanation). When you feel the urge to explain *why* or walk the reader through a task, link out instead of inlining it; a digression interrupts and obscures the facts the reader came to consult.

### Structure Mirrors the Product

> "The structure of the documentation should mirror the structure of the product."

Organise reference so a reader can navigate the code and the docs in parallel — one reference entry per module, class, endpoint, or command, in the product's own order. Don't impose a narrative or thematic structure the product doesn't have; consistency of placement is what makes reference fast to consult.

### 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:

markdown

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:

markdown

| Name | Type | Description |
|------|------|-------------|
| `userId` | `string` | Unique user identifier |
| `options` | `Options` | Configuration object |

Avoid:

markdown

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#

markdown

## Example

### Basic Usage

```typescript
const user = await getUser('user-123');
console.log(user.name);

With Options#

typescript

const user = await getUser('user-123', {
  includeMetadata: true,
  fields: ['name', 'email', 'role']
});

text

### 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();

text

### 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:

markdown

## 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:

markdown

| Name | Type | Values | Description |
|------|------|--------|-------------|
| `status` | `string` | `active`, `pending`, `suspended` | User account status |

Return Value Documentation#

Simple Returns#

markdown

## Returns

`User` - The requested user object, or `null` if not found.

Complex Returns#

markdown

## Returns

| Property | Type | Description |
|----------|------|-------------|
| `data` | `User[]` | Array of user objects |
| `pagination` | `Pagination` | Pagination metadata |
| `total` | `number` | Total matching records |

Error Conditions#

markdown

## Errors

| Error | Condition |
|-------|-----------|
| `NotFoundError` | User does not exist |
| `UnauthorizedError` | Invalid or expired API key |
| `RateLimitError` | Too many requests |

API Reference Specifics#

HTTP Endpoints#

markdown

## Endpoint

```http
GET /api/v1/users/{userId}

Path Parameters#

NameTypeDescriptionuserId``stringThe user's unique identifier

Query Parameters#

NameTypeRequiredDescriptionfields``stringNoComma-separated list of fields

Headers#

NameRequiredDescriptionAuthorizationYesBearer tokenX-Request-IDNoRequest tracking ID

Response#

json

{
  "id": "usr_a1b2c3d4",
  "name": "Jane Smith",
  "email": "jane@company.com"
}

text

## 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:

markdown

## 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

Gates (completion order)#

Use this sequenced workflow before treating a reference page as complete. Finish step n before n+1; each step has a Pass you can check on the written page alone (no “I verified internally”).

1. Structure — Sections match your project template (typically Parameters, Returns, Example, Related; HTTP docs add Endpoint, Path/Query, Headers, Response). Pass: every required section exists, or a one-line omission note appears under Related (e.g. “No query parameters”).
2. Tables — Parameters/returns/errors use tables with consistent columns per Consistent Format Across Entries and Required vs Optional. Pass: no blank Description cells; no TBD / ??? for shipped APIs.
3. Runnable example — At least one example meets Every Example Must Be Runnable and Use Realistic Values. Pass: imports included; user-visible strings are realistic (not generic foo/ bar unless the API is illustrative-only).
4. Related — Pass: ## Related contains ≥1 Markdown link to another reference or guide, or one explicit sentence that there are no related symbols.

Checklist for Reference Pages#

After the Gates (completion order) above, confirm:

• 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

When to Use Reference vs Other Doc Types#

User's mindsetDoc typeExample"I want to learn"Tutorial"Build your first integration""I want to do X"How-To"How to configure SSO""I want to understand"Explanation"How our caching works""I need to look up Y"Reference"API endpoint reference"

Reference and Explanation are the two cognition-oriented types and are easily confused: Reference states neutral facts to consult while working; Explanation discusses reasoning to read while reflecting. For the full compass procedure and distinctions, see docs-style/references/diataxis-compass.md.

Related Skills#

• docs-style: Core writing conventions and components
• Diataxis compass: Type selection, the 2×2 map, and the quality model
• tutorial-docs: Tutorial patterns for learning-oriented content
• howto-docs: How-To guide patterns for task-oriented content
• explanation-docs: Conceptual documentation patterns