Technical documentation is an essential strategy in website development. When executed perfectly, it can help create a high-quality product that excels in usability. However, a lot of developers do not perceive it positively. They think of it as a necessary evil.
The main reason behind this is that technical documentation for website development can be time-consuming. However, this process can actually save developers a lot of time if you think from a long-term perspective. It encourages productivity and helps save on operational costs.
Let’s delve deep into this.
An Insight into Technical Documentation
This document can be created in different ways, and its primary objective is to depict the features and functionalities of the product. A technical document typically contains the source code, APIs, website architecture, design process, and other elements that comprise the system’s technical side.
Technical documentation allows for smooth knowledge management in website design and development activities. It has progressed significantly over the years, and experts predict this growth to accelerate web development further.
A technical document is created with the help of technical writers, developers, and project managers. Documentation is crucial in website creation as it ensures the code can easily be understood and followed.
Additionally, it presents a reference for updates or future changes. Besides these, a relevant document can be a valuable guide for troubleshooting errors and glitches. You have understood the importance of creating a technical document by now; it explains every detail about the website that one can easily understand.
With a well-drafted document, one can know vital details while using the site. Check this image for a better understanding of what a technical document looks like.
Source – Github
Now, let’s check its benefits. It will give you a clearer picture.
Why Technical Documentation Is Important for Web Developers?
Web development documents offer numerous advantages. They are as follows:
- Eases Code Maintenance and Updates
With concise documentation, you can implement changes and keep track of them. It fosters the evolution of your project, especially when you must update it. It is one of the most significant benefits of creating and maintaining technical documentation for a web development project.
- Improves Website and Brand Image
A web platform can succeed if it has users, but how do you get them in the first place? It is where good documentation comes into play. It helps establish an ease-of-use atmosphere for your site visitors.
The technical team would know the requirements clearly and work accordingly toward creating a properly-functional website. It will have an attractive design and be easy to navigate and use. These elements will help portray an excellent image of both the website and the brand. It can lead to more visitors and better engagement rates.
- Reduces Learning Curve for Users
Users can find it challenging to understand your website and how to use it without proper documentation. It can be highly frustrating, and they may exit your website soon. Being an online business, you would not want this, obviously!
A well-planned technical documentation process ensures users understand how to utilize your website seamlessly.
- Saves Time
Technical documentation for web development helps save time regarding fixing errors and understanding how the code works. By documenting every aspect of website development properly, you create a “manual”.
It will be helpful for both you and other people working on the project. Moreover, a supportive tech manual can help accelerate the troubleshooting process wonderfully.
What are the 5 Best Developer Documentation Tools?
There are several tools available for technical documentation. All of them have their strengths and limitations. This list will help you select the suitable one for your project.
- ClickHelp – It is a well-known documentation tool for developers that is also popular among technical writers. ClickHelp presents several notable features, for example, a top-notch editor, detailed reports, and flexible templates.
- GitHub – It is a powerful tool widely used by website builders. GitHub allows users to work with others conveniently toward writing and editing documents.
- Confluence – Confluence is among the most used tools for a seamless web documentation process. Users get an easy-to-use interface for making and editing documents. This tool is recognized for its collaborative wiki system.
- MadCapFlare – MadCapFlare is a prominent technical documentation and multi-channel publishing tool. Users get multilingual options and vast resources for publishing content in various formats. It is one of the highlights of this high-quality tool.
- Document 360 – This self-service tool is incredibly reliable for knowledge-based documentation. Additionally, Document 360 is a fine choice for developing interactive documents.
What are Some of the Common Types of Technical Documents?
API Documentation
An application protocol interface document helps developers comprehend the functioning of an interface. It comprises in-depth information relating to API and other aspects. It includes the API methods, parameters, and return values. API documents usually come as guides or tutorials.
Check out this example below.
Source – Document360
SDK Documentation
A software development kit (SDK) documentation helps development teams use new software in applications. SDLC documentation usually contains information regarding software usage, functionalities, and how it interacts with other apps. It is essential for developers that must incorporate new software functionalities or aspects.
Source Code Documentation
It contains code snippets that portray ways to use the site. Technical writers need not highlight every element. Instead, they must focus on aspects that need comment or interpretation.
Knowledge Base Documentation
This document contains a collection of knowledge. Developers can find these helpful while creating and maintaining the website. Apart from these, knowledge base documentation can wonderfully support the onboarding process.
Release Notes
They showcase the modifications made in an update. Release notes contain information about bug fixes, new features, etc. The testing team often utilizes release notes to check the changes in the new product.
Conclusion
Technical documentation is an integral part of website development. It displays the features and functionalities of the product for better understanding. A well-crafted technical document in the development life cycle can help engineers create high-quality products that satisfy user requirements.
There are five types of technical documents commonly used by development teams. If you plan to build and design a high-end website, consult a web development company. A renowned firm knows what documents are required for web development and how to execute the process flawlessly.
