Diataxis Documentation Skill

Turn a documentation request into the right document type, at the right level of detail, for the right reader. Classify before writing.

The Diataxis compass

Diataxis separates documentation by two questions — action or cognition, acquiring or applying skill — and yields four forms.

To use the compass, ask two questions:

• Is the content about action (practical steps, doing) or cognition (propositional knowledge, thinking)?
• Is the user acquiring skill (study) or applying skill (work)?