Docs vs. tutorials: Knowing when each works best
Understanding how different formats serve developers at various stages of their journey
Every developer has been there: you're excited about a new tool or API, you visit the company's website, and you're immediately faced with a choice. Do you dive into the comprehensive documentation, or do you start with the "Getting Started" tutorial?
The answer depends entirely on what you're trying to accomplish and where you are in your relationship with the product. Yet many companies treat documentation and tutorials as interchangeable, missing opportunities to guide developers more effectively.
The fundamental difference
At their core, documentation and tutorials solve different problems:
Documentation is reference material. It's comprehensive, organized by feature, and designed for developers who already know what they want to do. Docs answer "How do I use this specific feature?"
Tutorials are learning experiences. They're sequential, narrative-driven, and designed to take developers from zero to a working solution. Tutorials answer "How do I solve this problem?"
Think of it this way: documentation is like a dictionary, while tutorials are like stories. You reference a dictionary when you need a specific word, but you read a story from beginning to end.
When documentation works best
Documentation shines in several key scenarios:
For experienced users who need quick answers. Developers familiar with your product don't want explanatory text. They need to quickly find the specific method or parameter they're looking for.
For comprehensive feature coverage. Not every feature needs a tutorial, but every feature needs documentation. Your API might have dozens of endpoints - tutorials would be overwhelming, but good docs make this information accessible.
For troubleshooting and edge cases. When things go wrong, developers need detailed reference material. Error codes and debugging guides help developers solve problems independently.
For integration and customization. Once developers understand the basics, they need detailed information about configuration options, webhook specifications, and advanced features.
When tutorials work best
Tutorials excel in different situations:
For first-time users and onboarding. When developers are evaluating your product, they need a guided experience that shows what's possible. A tutorial that builds something concrete is far more effective than comprehensive docs.
For demonstrating real-world use cases. Documentation shows what's technically possible, but tutorials show what's practically useful. A tutorial demonstrating how to add payments or set up authentication helps developers understand your product's value.
For learning new concepts. If your product introduces new paradigms, tutorials are essential. Developers need context, decision points, and best practices - not just technical specifications.
For building confidence. Starting with a working example gives developers confidence to explore further. A successful tutorial creates momentum that encourages deeper engagement.
Common mistakes to avoid
Understanding the difference helps avoid several pitfalls:
Treating tutorials like documentation. Many "tutorials" are just lists of API endpoints with minimal context. These fail to serve either purpose well.
Making documentation too tutorial-heavy. Embedding too much explanatory text in reference docs makes it difficult for experienced users to find information quickly.
Assuming one format fits all users. Different developers have different preferences. Some learn by doing, others by reading. Provide multiple pathways to the same information.
Designing for different developer journeys
Effective developer content acknowledges that developers are on different journeys:
The evaluator needs tutorials that demonstrate clear value quickly with realistic use cases.
The implementer needs step-by-step tutorials that result in functioning code, followed by clear documentation for customization.
The integrator needs comprehensive documentation with detailed examples and edge case coverage.
The troubleshooter needs searchable documentation with clear error messages and debugging guidance.
Building a content strategy that works
The most effective strategies don't choose between docs and tutorials - they use both strategically:
Start with tutorials for new users and major features
Support with comprehensive docs that cover all features and use cases
Bridge the gap with code examples and how-to guides
Measure what matters - tutorials by completion rates, documentation by findability
The payoff of getting it right
When you match the right format to the right use case, developers have better first experiences, your support team fields fewer questions, and product adoption deepens. Most importantly, you build trust by respecting developers' time and meeting them where they are in their journey.
Remember: the goal isn't to create perfect documentation or perfect tutorials - it's to create the right content for the right moment in the developer's journey
