Valerie's Tech Writer Garden

Interactive Documentation

2 min read

The term “interactive documentation” emerged as static documents became insufficient for modern digital needs. As technology advanced, more participatory content became necessary. Interactive documentation goes beyond static text and images. Users can move through content at their own pace, jump to relevant sections, and participate in quizzes or polls.

Interactive documentation can include:

  • videos
  • audio clips
  • animations
  • buttons
  • embedded forms
  • Interactive Infographics
  • live API clients
  • interactive code sandboxes

Examples:

Challenges

  • Engineering cost: Interactive elements require web development skills and increase the complexity of your documentation system.
  • Maintenance: As products evolve, keeping interactive elements up-to-date takes more effort than static documentation.
  • Performance impact: Heavy use of interactive elements can cause poor performance, especially on slower connections.
  • Cognitive load: Too many (or too confusing) interactive elements risk distracting users from core content.

Best Practices

  • Purposeful interactivity: Add interactive elements that provide value, not for the sake of novelty.
  • Accessibility first: Ensure all interactive elements are usable by everyone and work with assistive technologies.
  • Meaningful visual aids: Use images, diagrams, and videos that improve comprehension (always with alt text).
  • Prioritize the user: Tailor content and features to your users’ needs and technical skills.

Tools

  • MDX - React components in Markdown
  • CodeHike - Interactive code walkthroughs with MDX
  • Markdoc - Templating language that extends Markdown with custom tags.
  • Custom CSS and JavaScript
  • Embed Interactive Infographics as iframes exported from tools like Adobe, Sketch, Figma, PowerPoint, and Google Slides

Resources

Graph View

Backlinks