You may think that technical documentation is just dry text (especially industry jargon) that only people with a relevant education can read and understand. That`s not true! Thanks to modernization and technology, technical documentation is more words – it can include screenshots, diagrams, videos, diagrams and other exciting visual elements. Just as the literary genre of poetry contains many forms – such as sonnets, haikus, epics, limericks, etc. – each with its own rules and conventions, technical writing also contains many forms, and each form has conventions that must be observed. This chapter discusses some of the most common document forms and covers general content, formatting, and style requirements. Process documents. These describe the development, testing, maintenance and improvement of systems. Process documents are used by managers, engineers, testers, and marketers. These documents contain technical terms and industry-specific jargon. Examples of these document types include the API, SDK, and code documentation. Internal development documentation, etc. Have you ever created a resume for a job, prepared a presentation, or emailed your boss? Then, you have already written technical documents. Probably the most common form of technical writing in a company`s mechanical maintenance department, assembly and repair manuals are another form of niche technical writing.

One of the main requirements of a technical document is its orientation towards the intended target audience. Depending on the target group, technical documentation is divided into two main types: Process documentation includes all activities related to product development. The value of process documentation is to make development more organized and planned. This branch of documentation requires some planning and paperwork before the project starts and during development. Common types of process documentation include: Ready to create your next technical paper with Scribe? Register here! If you can, it`s worth hiring a staff member to take care of your documentation. The person who typically does this work is called a technical writer. A technical writer with technical training can gather information from developers without anyone having to explain in detail what is going on. It`s also worth integrating a technical writer as a team member and placing that person in the same office to establish close collaboration. He or she may participate in regular meetings and discussions. Technical writing also includes marketing content. Technical writers can create easy-to-interpret and concise articles that help customers understand how to properly serve a product. White papers, case studies, suggestions are examples of technical marketing documentation.

This acronym, which seems like a second language to you because you say it every day, may seem foreign to executives who simply don`t know what you`re talking about. According to the report, 53% of customers use technical documentation to understand a product before buying it, and 94% of customers think it`s very important to have product information in one place. The many types of documents that a technical writer must write are so vast that there will always be an overlap with business writing and each task requires discernment and a logical process. A user scenario is a document that describes the steps a user persona takes to perform a specific task. User scenarios focus on what a user is going to do rather than describing the thought process. Scenarios can be visual or narrative and describe existing scenarios or future functions. A source code document is a technical section that explains how the code works. Although not necessary, the aspects that present the greatest risk of confusion should be covered.

The primary users of source code documents are software engineers. When developing a product, you also need technical documentation to comply with guidelines and allow your development team to have a successful test plan. To fully explore the range of different types of technical documentation, we`ll go over 12 of the most common types of technical documents to guide your users through your product, explain your process to internal staff, and even improve your business and marketing results. System documentation provides an overview of the system and helps engineers and stakeholders understand the underlying technology. It typically consists of the requirements document, architecture design, source code, validation documents, verification and test information, and a maintenance or help manual. It should be noted that this list is not exhaustive. So, let`s take a look at the details of the main types. A product manual explains the parts of a product, where you can find each part, and what each part is for. It basically describes everything a user needs to know about how a product works.

All types of technical documentation fall into three main categories: product documentation, process documentation, and sales and marketing documents. These technical writing skills will help you succeed in your career. Also, make sure that this type of content appeals to you as a technical writer and that you are willing to explore different aspects of your career. The product`s technical documentation includes operational procedures, including: Visually appealing, interesting, and easy-to-understand technical documents refine the user experience. They help them: API documentation is a result created by technical writers in the form of tutorials and instructions. This type of documentation should also include a list of all available APIs with specifications for each. Process engineering documents are technical documentation that describes the development and maintenance process. These technical documents focus on user needs and highlight development steps and process information. Market Requirements Documents (MRDs) are documents that describe your potential customer base, their needs, and your competitors. You must add documentation maintenance to your content. Many companies spend a lot of money to create documents.

Then they don`t maintain them, so the document becomes useless in weeks, months or years. No matter how technical your target audience is, you need technical documentation so your users can effectively use your API, product, app, or SDK. Writing technical books and long guides differs from the previous genre because of the length of the content, its conceptual nature, and the amount of detail they address. Like a museum guide highlighting the highlights of an exhibition, technical documents can create an enjoyable experience for your users and team. But poorly done, technical documents can also create a nightmare. Imagine showing up for your tour of the museum, only to find that your guide doesn`t speak a word of English, the only language you understand. This is how readers feel when confronted with long, boring walls of technical text. For example, if you are creating technical documentation for very knowledgeable readers, you can include technical language and jargon. A very well structured and informative article.

I agree with many other comments that have been made regarding other forms of documentation that should be considered for inclusion, such as test plans and results, product and process documentation. I would also suggest that the aspects of third-party solutions that make up the entire system be fully documented so that there is no doubt about what constitutes the entire solution. Read More » This is one of the reasons why technical documentation is important.