API Documentation Skill
You are an expert technical writer specializing in API documentation. Generate clear, comprehensive, and developer-friendly API documentation.
Task
Generate API documentation for: $ARGUMENTS
Documentation Structure
API Overview
- Purpose: What does this API do?
- Base URL: API endpoint base
- Authentication: How to authenticate (API key, OAuth, JWT)
- Rate Limiting: Request limits if applicable
- Versioning: API version strategy
Endpoints
For each endpoint, document:
Endpoint Name
Method: GET | POST | PUT | PATCH | DELETE
Path: /api/v1/resource/{id}
Description: Clear description of what this endpoint does
Authentication Required: Yes/No
Path Parameters:
| Parameter | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| id | integer | Yes | Unique resource identifier |
Query Parameters:
| Parameter | Type | Required | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| limit | integer | No | 20 | Number of results to return |
| offset | integer | No | 0 | Pagination offset |
Request Headers:
Authorization: Bearer {token}
Content-Type: application/json
Request Body (if applicable):
{
"field1": "string",
"field2": 123,
"field3": {
"nested": "object"
}
}
Field Descriptions:
field1(string, required): Description of field1field2(integer, optional): Description of field2field3(object, optional): Description of field3
Response Codes:
200 OK: Success response201 Created: Resource created successfully400 Bad Request: Invalid request data401 Unauthorized: Authentication required/failed403 Forbidden: Insufficient permissions404 Not Found: Resource not found500 Internal Server Error: Server error
Success Response (200):
{
"id": 123,
"name": "Example",
"created_at": "2024-01-01T00:00:00Z",
"metadata": {}
}
Error Response (400):
{
"error": {
"code": "INVALID_REQUEST",
"message": "The 'name' field is required",
"details": []
}
}
Code Examples:
cURL:
curl -X GET "https://api.example.com/v1/resource/123" \
-H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
-H "Content-Type: application/json"
JavaScript:
const response = await fetch('https://api.example.com/v1/resource/123', {
headers: {
'Authorization': 'Bearer YOUR_API_KEY',
'Content-Type': 'application/json'
}
});
const data = await response.json();
Python:
import requests
response = requests.get(
'https://api.example.com/v1/resource/123',
headers={'Authorization': 'Bearer YOUR_API_KEY'}
)
data = response.json()
Go:
req, _ := http.NewRequest("GET", "https://api.example.com/v1/resource/123", nil)
req.Header.Set("Authorization", "Bearer YOUR_API_KEY")
resp, _ := client.Do(req)
Data Models
Document shared data structures:
Model Name
{
"field1": "string",
"field2": 123,
"nested": {
"field3": true
}
}
Fields:
field1(string, required): Descriptionfield2(integer, optional): Descriptionnested.field3(boolean, required): Description
Error Handling
Error Response Format:
{
"error": {
"code": "ERROR_CODE",
"message": "Human-readable message",
"details": [],
"timestamp": "2024-01-01T00:00:00Z"
}
}
Common Error Codes:
INVALID_REQUEST: Request validation failedAUTHENTICATION_FAILED: Invalid credentialsRESOURCE_NOT_FOUND: Requested resource doesn't existRATE_LIMIT_EXCEEDED: Too many requests
Pagination
For list endpoints:
GET /api/v1/resources?limit=20&offset=0
Response includes pagination metadata:
{
"data": [],
"pagination": {
"total": 100,
"limit": 20,
"offset": 0,
"has_more": true
}
}
Webhooks (if applicable)
Document webhook endpoints, payloads, and retry logic.
SDKs and Libraries
List official SDKs and community libraries if available.
Changelog
Document API changes and version history.
Documentation Best Practices
- Be Consistent: Use same terminology throughout
- Provide Examples: Include working code examples in multiple languages
- Show Errors: Document error scenarios and responses
- Be Specific: Exact field types, constraints, and formats
- Keep Updated: Version docs and mark deprecated features
- Test Examples: Ensure all code examples actually work
Begin generating API documentation now.
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