What are some best practices for documenting SOAP and REST web services?

1 Define the scope and purpose

Before you start documenting your web service, you should define its scope and purpose. What problem does it solve? Who are the intended users? What are the expected inputs and outputs? What are the main features and functions? These questions will help you to set the context and goals of your web service and to identify its key requirements and specifications.

2 Use a standard format and tool

To ensure consistency and readability, you should use a standard format and tool for documenting your web service. For SOAP web services, you can use the Web Services Description Language (WSDL), which is an XML-based document that describes the structure, operations, and bindings of a web service. You can also use tools like SoapUI or Postman to generate and test SOAP requests and responses. For REST web services, you can use the OpenAPI Specification (OAS), which is a JSON or YAML-based document that defines the paths, parameters, responses, and security of a web service. You can also use tools like Swagger or Redoc to create and display interactive documentation from your OAS file.

3 Provide examples and samples

One of the most effective ways to document your web service is to provide examples and samples of how to use it. Examples and samples can illustrate the syntax, format, and logic of your web service requests and responses, as well as demonstrate the expected outcomes and possible errors. You can use code snippets, screenshots, diagrams, or mock data to show how your web service works in different scenarios and contexts.

4 Explain the conventions and rules

Another important aspect of documenting your web service is to explain the conventions and rules that govern its behavior and interaction. Conventions and rules can include the naming, style, and structure of your web service elements, such as URIs, methods, headers, parameters, and resources. They can also include the validation, authentication, authorization, and error handling mechanisms that your web service implements. You should provide clear and concise descriptions of these conventions and rules, as well as the rationale behind them.

5 Update and maintain the documentation

Finally, you should update and maintain your web service documentation regularly and frequently. As your web service evolves and changes, so should your documentation. You should keep track of the version history, changes, and feedback of your web service and reflect them in your documentation. You should also review and test your documentation periodically to ensure its accuracy, completeness, and usability.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?