Understanding The Importance of Documentation in Web Development

As a web development professional, you might be engaged in developing mobile, web, or desktop apps and JavaScript libraries; documentation is vital for various reasons. It explains certain features of a project, contains information about how to work with those features and code maintenance, and answers questions like the usage, functionality, and architecture of the features you have used in the website you have developed. Even though most web developers do not like documentation, it is important and has various advantages for our colleagues, users, and even yourself.

If you are a web developer, you should start documentation of the codes you use so that your fellow web developers and team members can use them as a reference point when the need arises. In addition, using user-friendly language while documenting the coding will help the users and your client understand the code better.

Importance of documentation in web development

The importance of documentation in web development is undeniable as it encourages knowledge sharing and empowers your team when you are using an application programming interface to communicate about your project. Here are a few reasons why documentation is important in web development:

1. Helps users: The primary focus while developing a website is to give the users a unique and enjoyable experience. Documentation helps a user understand how a code works within the website, and the rule of thumb is to make the documentation as clear-cut as possible. The documentation should not contain too much technical information, and an average person should understand this.
2. Helps fellow developers: When you start the documentation of the web development process, it will also help your fellow developers. Even though all the developers have their own coding styles, they will be able to use appropriate written documentation as their reference point. In addition, if you work with a team in your company, the documentation will help everyone in the team understand the complicated technical procedures, like code-naming convention, how the API works along with the code examples, and showing how particular pages should be constructed, etc.
3. Helps yourself, too: When you are working on a website for a long time involving complex codes, it is natural for you to be unable to comprehend what code you have written. Documentation will help you handle such complex codes, and when you revisit them, you will understand why you have written them and how it contributes to the website as a whole.
4. Adaptability: The adaptability factor in the documentation allows you to translate complex mechanical codes into specialized language that can be understood by someone who has little to no technical knowledge. It becomes extremely helpful when businesses and professionals need to understand the reason behind using a certain piece of coding.

The documentation process helps web developers learn more about the functional aspect of coding. Documentation will contain information about how the ones you have included work and their role in delivering an effective result. There are various benefits associated with the documentation process. Including the documentation while designing and developing the website from the start assures a better-integrated process and better results.