Learn how to approach How To Document A WordPress Plugin with maintainable, native WordPress practices.
The most frequent reader of your code is you, six months from now. Write for that person, who remembers nothing.
Explain the Why, Not Just the What
Code already says what it does. Good WordPress plugin documentation records why it does it that way: the constraint, the trade-off, the bug that shaped a decision. Those notes are the first thing lost when a project changes hands.
Keep a short architecture note that lists entry points, hooks used, options stored and tables created.
Keep Docs Next to the Code
Documentation that lives in the repository changes in the same commit as the code it describes. A readme, a changelog and inline docblocks cover most needs without a separate tool.
Public documentation, like the pages in our own documentation hub, should be written for users and updated only when behaviour changes.
The Minimum Useful Set
These four documents cover almost every plugin.
- Readme: what it does, requirements and installation.
- Changelog: every release, grouped by type.
- Architecture note: structure, hooks and data.
- Hook reference: filters and actions you expose.
Review Docs Like Code
Add documentation checks to your release routine. A plugin without accurate notes is a plugin waiting to be rewritten.
Quick Answers
What is the minimum documentation a plugin needs?
A README with purpose, install steps and requirements, a documented list of hooks and settings, and a changelog.
Should I comment every function?
No. Comment intent and non-obvious decisions, not what the code already says. Keep comments short and current.
Cart Abandonment Often Starts With a Slow Fragment
Leave a Reply