Technical Document
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A Technical Document is a specialized formal document that communicates technical information through technical communication.
- AKA: Technical Documentation, Technical Communication Document, Technical Information Document, Technical Specification.
- Context:
- It can typically communicate Technical Information through structured technical content and technical terminology.
- It can typically provide Technical Instructions through procedural documentation and step-by-step guides.
- It can typically establish Technical Specifications through requirement documentation and constraint definitions.
- It can typically preserve Technical Knowledge through systematic documentation and knowledge repositorys.
- It can typically facilitate Technical Understanding through technical explanations and conceptual diagrams.
- It can typically ensure Technical Accuracy through precise terminology and verified information.
- It can typically support Technical Decision Making through technical analysis and option evaluations.
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- It can often be produced by Technical Writers solving technical writing tasks.
- It can often contain Technical Diagrams, technical illustrations, and technical schematics.
- It can often include Technical Specifications, technical standards, and technical requirements.
- It can often incorporate Technical References, technical citations, and technical glossarys.
- It can often address Technical Audiences including engineers, developers, and technical specialists.
- It can often follow Technical Documentation Standards and industry conventions.
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- It can range from being a Simple Technical Document to being a Comprehensive Technical Document, depending on its technical documentation depth.
- It can range from being a User-Oriented Technical Document to being a Developer-Oriented Technical Document, depending on its technical audience type.
- It can range from being a Descriptive Technical Document to being a Prescriptive Technical Document, depending on its technical communication purpose.
- It can range from being a Static Technical Document to being a Living Technical Document, depending on its technical documentation maintenance approach.
- It can range from being a Formal Technical Document to being an Informal Technical Document, depending on its technical communication style.
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- It can integrate with Document Management Systems for version control and access management.
- It can connect to Knowledge Management Systems for organizational knowledge preservation.
- It can interface with Review Processes for technical validation and quality assurance.
- It can communicate with Compliance Frameworks for regulatory requirements and standard adherence.
- It can synchronize with Product Lifecycle Management Processes for documentation updates.
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- Example(s):
- Software Technical Documents documenting software systems, such as:
- Software Design Documents capturing software design decisions and software implementation approaches.
- Software System Architecture Design Documents defining software system architecture structures and software system architecture decisions.
- Source Code Documentation describing code implementations and programming interfaces.
- API Documentation specifying application programming interfaces and integration methods.
- Engineering Technical Documents supporting engineering practices, such as:
- Design Specifications establishing engineering requirements and technical constraints.
- Technical Drawings communicating engineering designs through standardized notations.
- Test Reports documenting test results and performance measurements.
- User-Facing Technical Documents enabling system usage, such as:
- User Guides providing usage instructions and operational procedures.
- Online Help offering contextual assistance and troubleshooting guidance.
- Installation Manuals detailing setup procedures and configuration steps.
- Legal Technical Documents establishing formal agreements, such as:
- Legal Contracts defining legal obligations and technical requirements.
- Patent Documents describing technical innovations and invention claims.
- Compliance Documents demonstrating regulatory adherence and standard compliance.
- Organizational Technical Documents guiding organizational practices, such as:
- Guidelines Documents establishing best practices and recommended approaches.
- White Papers presenting technical analysis and solution recommendations.
- Technical Standards defining industry conventions and technical requirements.
- Domain-Specific Technical Documents serving specialized fields, such as:
- ...
- Software Technical Documents documenting software systems, such as:
- Counter-Example(s):
- Prose Items, which emphasize literary expression rather than technical communication.
- Software Source Code Items, which are executable instructions rather than technical documentation.
- Marketing Documents, which focus on promotional content rather than technical information.
- Creative Content Items, which prioritize artistic expression rather than technical accuracy.
- Narrative Works, which tell storys rather than convey technical specifications.
- See: Technical Communication, Technical Writing, Document, Technical Writer, Technical Writing Task, Documentation Standard, Knowledge Management, Formal Document, Domain-Specific Document.
References
2022
- (Wikipedia, 2022) ⇒ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/technical_writing Retrieved:2022-1-4.
- Technical writing is writing or drafting technical communication used in technical and occupational fields, such as computer hardware and software, engineering, chemistry, aeronautics, robotics, finance, medical, consumer electronics, biotechnology, and forestry. Technical writing encompasses the largest sub-field in technical communication.[1]
The Society for Technical Communication defines technical communication as any form of communication that exhibits one or more of the following characteristics: "(1) communicating about technical or specialized topics, such as computer applications, medical procedures, or environmental regulations; (2) communicating by using technology, such as web pages, help files, or social media sites; or (3) providing instructions about how to do something, regardless of how technical the task is".
- Technical writing is writing or drafting technical communication used in technical and occupational fields, such as computer hardware and software, engineering, chemistry, aeronautics, robotics, finance, medical, consumer electronics, biotechnology, and forestry. Technical writing encompasses the largest sub-field in technical communication.[1]
- ↑ What is Technical Communications? TechWhirl. Accessed December 9, 2014.