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documentation

n.
US //ˌdɑkjəmɛnˈteɪʃən// UK //dˌɒkjuːməntˈeɪʃən// doc·u·men·ta·tion
  1. 1 official records or evidence (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    official papers or digital records that prove something is true or provide information about a person or event.

    the provision or use of documentary evidence to support a claim or record a process.

    Example

    You must provide the correct documentation, such as a passport, to apply for the visa.

    Example

    The legal team spent weeks gathering the necessary documentation to substantiate their claims regarding the property's ownership history.

    Usage

    Usually uncountable when referring to the general collection of evidence.
  2. 2 software or hardware manuals (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Computing

    the written instructions or help files that explain how to use a computer program or a machine.

    the set of documents, including manuals and help files, that describe the design, operation, and maintenance of software or hardware.

    Example

    The software is powerful, but the documentation is very difficult for beginners to understand.

    Example

    The developers were praised for their comprehensive documentation, which included detailed API references and clear installation tutorials.

    Usage

    Often uncountable in a collective sense; can be modified by 'technical' or 'user'.
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  1. 3 code comments (n.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Computing

    notes written inside a computer program to explain how the code works to other programmers.

    internal comments and annotations within source code that explain the logic and function of specific code blocks.

    Example

    Good documentation in your code makes it much easier for your teammates to fix bugs later.

    Example

    The project lead insisted on rigorous documentation within the source files to ensure long-term maintainability of the legacy system.
  2. 4 a documentary film (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Archaic

    a film or television programme that tells a true story about real people or events.

    a non-fictional motion picture intended to document reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction, education, or maintaining a historical record.

    Example

    The museum showed an old documentation about the lives of coal miners in the 1920s.

    Example

    The archive contains several early examples of documentation that captured the rapid industrialisation of the region through a series of short films.

    Teacher's tip

    This sense is very rare in modern English; students should use the word 'documentary' instead.
Etymology 1

From document + -ation or Medieval Latin documentātio.

Etymology 2

From German Dokumentation.

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