Introduction to Markdown for API Documentation

Markdown is a lightweight markup language that allows for easy formatting of text. It’s widely used for creating documentation due to its simplicity and readability. When documenting APIs, using Markdown can enhance clarity and make the documentation accessible to a broader audience. Below are three diverse examples of how to effectively use Markdown for API documentation.

Example 1: Basic API Endpoint Documentation

Context

In this example, we illustrate how to document a basic API endpoint for retrieving user information. This is a common use case in many applications.

# Get User Information

**Endpoint:** `GET /api/v1/users/{id}`

**Description:** Retrieves information about a specific user based on the provided user ID.

## Parameters

- `id` (string, required): The unique identifier for the user.

## Response

- **200 OK**: Returns the user object in JSON format.

### Example Response:

{
“id": “123”,
“name": “John Doe”,
“email": “john.doe@example.com"
}

### Notes

- Ensure that the `id` parameter is valid to avoid errors.
- You can test this endpoint using tools like Postman or cURL.

## Example 2: Error Code Documentation

### Context
This example explains how to document error codes and their meanings, which is crucial for developers to understand how to handle exceptions properly.

Error Codes

Common Error Codes

Notes

• This table helps developers quickly identify issues based on the error codes returned by the API.
• Consider adding more specific error codes as your API evolves.

Example 3: API Authentication Documentation

Context

In this example, we detail the authentication process for accessing the API, which is crucial for securing endpoints.

# API Authentication

**Authentication Method:** API Key  

To access this API, you must include your API key in the request header:

Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY

## Steps to Obtain an API Key
1. Sign up on our website.
2. Navigate to the API section in your account settings.
3. Generate a new API key.
4. Copy the API key and keep it secure.

### Notes

- Do not expose your API key in public repositories.
- Regenerate your API key immediately if you suspect it has been compromised.

Conclusion

Using Markdown for API documentation not only improves readability but also helps in maintaining structured content. These examples illustrate practical applications of Markdown in various API documentation scenarios.