Writing Authentication Guides
Practice writing authentication flow documentation for API consumers.
Authentication guide essentials
- Flow explanation: name each actor, artifact, and step in sequence
- Setup steps: numbered, with exact UI paths and security warnings
- "Before you begin": specific, checkable prerequisites with locations
- Error docs: list cause variants with resolution paths
- Guide structure: outcome → prerequisites → steps → usage → next steps
Question 0 of 5
Which excerpt best explains an OAuth 2.0 Authorization Code flow in a developer guide?
A clear OAuth flow explanation follows the sequence of events from the consumer's perspective, naming each actor and artifact.
- Actors named: your application, the authorization server, the user.
- Artifacts named: authorization code, access token, callback URL.
- Sequence preserved: redirect → user logs in → code issued → code exchanged → token received.
Which instructions best guide a developer through setting up an API key?
API key setup guides must use numbered steps, exact navigation paths, UI element names, and a storage recommendation.
- Numbered steps — let the reader track progress and resume after interruption.
- Exact navigation path — "Settings → API Keys", not just "the settings".
- "Only shown once" warning — critical: if the developer misses this, they cannot recover without regenerating and updating all integrations.
- Environment variable pattern — best-practice security guidance prevents keys appearing in source code.
- Exact header format — removes ambiguity about how to send the key.
Which phrasing correctly opens a "Before you begin" prerequisites section in an auth guide?
A "Before you begin" section uses a bulleted list of concrete, checkable prerequisites — not vague verbs.
- Each item is specific enough to verify: "Pro plan or higher" tells users which tier they need; "available in Settings → OAuth Apps" tells them where to find it.
- The redirect URI prerequisite includes the constraint "publicly accessible" — critical for OAuth to work, and easy to miss.
- "To complete this guide, you will need:" sets clear expectations upfront, preventing the frustration of getting halfway through and hitting a blocker.
Which passage best documents a common authentication error in an API reference?
Auth error documentation must name the cause variants, explain why each one happens, and provide a concrete resolution path.
- Multiple causes listed — a 401 can mean three different things; lumping them as "bad token" means the developer must guess.
- Time constraint specified — "tokens are valid for 3,600 seconds" lets developers design their token refresh logic correctly.
- Environment mismatch — this is the hardest-to-debug variant; naming it saves hours.
- Resolution is actionable — the exact endpoint to call, not just "get a new one".
Which structure best organises a "Getting your first token" guide?
A "Getting your first token" guide follows the task-completion structure: outcome → prerequisites → steps → application → next steps.
- "What you'll build" — a one-sentence outcome anchors the reader. They know what success looks like before they start.
- Prerequisites — surfaces blockers before the developer starts, not in the middle of step 4.
- Numbered steps with expected responses — the developer can verify at each step that they are on track. Showing the expected response body is especially important for auth — if the token looks different, something is wrong.
- "What to do with your token" — closes the loop. Guides that end after issuing the token leave the reader stranded.
- Next steps — token refresh and scopes are the next natural questions; proactively answering them reduces support load.