Overview
Brief description of the API, its purpose, and core capabilities.
Free Technical Template
Complete reference for [API] endpoints and authentication
Use this template to complete reference for [API] endpoints and authentication.
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Category | Technical |
| Owner | [Team or owner] |
| Version | [Version number] |
| Effective Date | [Date] |
| Review Cycle | [Monthly / Quarterly / Annual / Event-based] |
| Status | [Draft / In Review / Approved] |
Brief description of the API, its purpose, and core capabilities.
| Item | Details | Owner | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| [Item or requirement] | [Describe the relevant detail, evidence, or decision] | [Owner] | [Open / Complete] |
| [Item or requirement] | [Describe the relevant detail, evidence, or decision] | [Owner] | [Open / Complete] |
[Add context, assumptions, exceptions, evidence links, screenshots, calculations, or reviewer comments.]
Explain authentication methods (API keys, OAuth, JWT). Include code examples for each.
| Item | Details | Owner | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| [Item or requirement] | [Describe the relevant detail, evidence, or decision] | [Owner] | [Open / Complete] |
| [Item or requirement] | [Describe the relevant detail, evidence, or decision] | [Owner] | [Open / Complete] |
[Add context, assumptions, exceptions, evidence links, screenshots, calculations, or reviewer comments.]
Document the base URL, versioning scheme, and supported API versions.
| Item | Details | Owner | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| [Item or requirement] | [Describe the relevant detail, evidence, or decision] | [Owner] | [Open / Complete] |
| [Item or requirement] | [Describe the relevant detail, evidence, or decision] | [Owner] | [Open / Complete] |
[Add context, assumptions, exceptions, evidence links, screenshots, calculations, or reviewer comments.]
For each endpoint group, document: - HTTP method and path - Description - Request parameters (path, query, body) in a table - Request/response examples in code blocks - Status codes
| Item | Details | Owner | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| [Item or requirement] | [Describe the relevant detail, evidence, or decision] | [Owner] | [Open / Complete] |
| [Item or requirement] | [Describe the relevant detail, evidence, or decision] | [Owner] | [Open / Complete] |
[Add context, assumptions, exceptions, evidence links, screenshots, calculations, or reviewer comments.]
List error codes, their meanings, and recommended handling.
| Item | Details | Owner | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| [Item or requirement] | [Describe the relevant detail, evidence, or decision] | [Owner] | [Open / Complete] |
| [Item or requirement] | [Describe the relevant detail, evidence, or decision] | [Owner] | [Open / Complete] |
[Add context, assumptions, exceptions, evidence links, screenshots, calculations, or reviewer comments.]
Document rate limit policies, headers, and retry strategies.
| Item | Details | Owner | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| [Item or requirement] | [Describe the relevant detail, evidence, or decision] | [Owner] | [Open / Complete] |
| [Item or requirement] | [Describe the relevant detail, evidence, or decision] | [Owner] | [Open / Complete] |
[Add context, assumptions, exceptions, evidence links, screenshots, calculations, or reviewer comments.]
Link to SDKs and provide quick-start code examples. Use Markdown with code blocks for all examples. Be precise and complete.
| Item | Details | Owner | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| [Item or requirement] | [Describe the relevant detail, evidence, or decision] | [Owner] | [Open / Complete] |
| [Item or requirement] | [Describe the relevant detail, evidence, or decision] | [Owner] | [Open / Complete] |
[Add context, assumptions, exceptions, evidence links, screenshots, calculations, or reviewer comments.]
Document review conclusions, approvals, unresolved items, and next review date.
| Role | Name | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Preparer | [Name] | [Date] | [Notes] |
| Reviewer | [Name] | [Date] | [Notes] |
| Approver | [Name] | [Date] | [Notes] |
Template Structure
Use this technical template as a starting point, then customize each section to match your internal workflow, evidence, and signoff needs.
Brief description of the API, its purpose, and core capabilities.
Explain authentication methods (API keys, OAuth, JWT). Include code examples for each.
Document the base URL, versioning scheme, and supported API versions.
For each endpoint group, document: - HTTP method and path - Description - Request parameters (path, query, body) in a table - Request/response examples in code blocks - Status codes
List error codes, their meanings, and recommended handling.
Document rate limit policies, headers, and retry strategies.
Link to SDKs and provide quick-start code examples. Use Markdown with code blocks for all examples. Be precise and complete.
Write a professional API Reference Guide. Structure with these sections:
Brief description of the API, its purpose, and core capabilities.
Explain authentication methods (API keys, OAuth, JWT). Include code examples for each.
Document the base URL, versioning scheme, and supported API versions.
For each endpoint group, document: - HTTP method and path - Description - Request parameters (path, query, body) in a table - Request/response examples in code blocks - Status codes
List error codes, their meanings, and recommended handling.
Document rate limit policies, headers, and retry strategies.
Link to SDKs and provide quick-start code examples.
Use Markdown with code blocks for all examples. Be precise and complete.
The Acme Payments API provides a RESTful interface for processing payments, managing customers, and handling subscriptions. All requests and responses use JSON format.
All API requests require a Bearer token in the Authorization header:
curl -H "Authorization: Bearer sk_live_abc123..." \
https://api.acmepay.com/v2/charges
| Method | Header | Description |
|---|---|---|
| API Key | Authorization: Bearer sk_live_... |
For server-side requests |
| OAuth 2.0 | Authorization: Bearer oauth_... |
For user-delegated access |
https://api.acmepay.com/v2https://sandbox.acmepay.com/v2POST /v2/charges
| Parameter | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| amount | integer | Yes | Amount in cents |
| currency | string | Yes | Three-letter ISO currency code |
| source | string | Yes | Payment source token |
| description | string | No | Charge description |
Response (201 Created):
{
"id": "ch_1234567890",
"amount": 2000,
"currency": "usd",
"status": "succeeded"
}
| Code | Meaning | Action |
|---|---|---|
| 400 | Bad Request | Check request parameters |
| 401 | Unauthorized | Verify API key |
| 429 | Rate Limited | Retry after Retry-After header |
Rate limit headers are included in every response: X-RateLimit-Remaining, X-RateLimit-Reset.
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Template FAQ
Common questions about using and generating a aPI Reference Guide.
Q: What is a aPI Reference Guide?
A: A aPI Reference Guide is a structured document for complete reference for [api] endpoints and authentication.
Q: Can I download this aPI Reference Guide as Word or PDF?
A: Yes. This page includes free downloads in DOCX, PDF, and Markdown formats so you can edit, share, or import the template into your documentation system.
Q: Can Docsie generate this from a video?
A: Yes. Upload a process walkthrough, training recording, or screen capture to Docsie, then use this template structure to generate a first draft automatically.