API Documentation
Writing API Documentation for Multiple User Roles
This prompt helps engineering teams create API documentation that addresses the needs of multiple user roles, such as developers, administrators, and analysts. It ensures tailored guidance for diverse audiences while maintaining consistency.
Responsible:
Engineering/IT
Accountable, Informed or Consulted:
Engineering, Product
THE PREP
Creating effective prompts involves tailoring them with detailed, relevant information and uploading documents that provide the best context. Prompts act as a framework to guide the response, but specificity and customization ensure the most accurate and helpful results. Use these prep tips to get the most out of this prompt:
Identify the different user roles that will interact with the API and their primary objectives.
Gather information on role-specific tasks, permissions, and typical use cases.
Review feedback or support tickets from users to identify role-specific challenges.
THE PROMPT
Help create API documentation for [specific API] that addresses the needs of multiple user roles, including developers, administrators, and analysts. Focus on:
Role-Based Sections: Recommending tailored guidance, such as, ‘Provide specific documentation sections for developers focusing on integration, administrators for configuration, and analysts for data usage and reporting.’
Access Control and Permissions: Suggesting clarity, like, ‘Explain role-specific permissions required for API calls, with examples of how roles like "admin" or "read-only user" interact with endpoints.’
Data Usage Examples: Including actionable insights, such as, ‘Provide examples of data queries or analytics-focused API calls for analysts to extract insights or generate reports.’
Configuration Workflows: Proposing setup guidance, such as, ‘Detail administrator tasks like creating API keys, managing quotas, or setting up webhooks.’
Multi-Audience Best Practices: Recommending tailored tips, such as, ‘Highlight common pitfalls or efficiency tips for each role to maximize API usability.’
Provide a comprehensive documentation structure that caters to different user roles while ensuring clarity and consistency. If additional details about the API’s audience or functionality are needed, ask clarifying questions to refine the content.
Bonus Add-On Prompts
Propose strategies for clearly delineating sections for each role within the documentation.
Suggest methods for integrating role-specific tutorials or walkthroughs into the API guide.
Highlight techniques for ensuring user feedback from all roles is incorporated into updates.
Use AI responsibly by verifying its outputs, as it may occasionally generate inaccurate or incomplete information. Treat AI as a tool to support your decision-making, ensuring human oversight and professional judgment for critical or sensitive use cases.
SUGGESTIONS TO IMPROVE
Focus on creating role-based documentation for APIs with heavy customization needs.
Include tips for using role-specific examples in interactive documentation platforms.
Propose ways to structure FAQs or troubleshooting sections for each role.
Highlight tools like Notion or Confluence for maintaining multi-audience documentation.
Add suggestions for creating downloadable quick-start guides tailored to specific roles.
WHEN TO USE
When APIs cater to multiple roles, each with unique objectives and tasks.
To improve the accessibility of APIs for non-developer roles like analysts or admins.
During updates to expand API adoption across diverse user groups.
WHEN NOT TO USE
For APIs intended for a single audience or role.
If role-specific functionality is not clearly defined within the API.