Document Structure
Documentation Has No Table of Contents; Readers Wander Aimlessly for Hours
A well-structured document is like a well-organized codebase. You should be able to find what you need without reading everything. Here's how to structure your documents for maximum usability.
The Anatomy of a Technical Document
1. Title
Clear, descriptive, and specific. "API Documentation" is bad. "REST API Reference for User Authentication Service v2.0" is good.
2. Table of Contents
For any document over 3 pages. Readers should be able to jump to what they need.
3. Introduction/Overview
What is this document about? Who is it for? What will the reader learn? Set expectations upfront.
4. Prerequisites
What does the reader need to know before reading? What software/tools are required? Don't make them discover this halfway through.
5. Main Content (Sections)
Organized logically, building from simple to complex. Each section should be self-contained enough to be useful on its own.
6. Examples
Real, working examples. Not pseudo-code. Not "exercise left to reader." Copy-paste-able code that actually works.
7. Troubleshooting/FAQ
Common problems and solutions. This section will save you from answering the same questions repeatedly.
8. References/Further Reading
Links to related documentation, specifications, or resources for readers who want to go deeper.
Quick Check
What should come BEFORE the main content in a technical document?