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As developers, we often prioritize writing code that works over code that’s easy to understand and maintain. However, neglecting documentation can come back to haunt us, especially when we need to revisit a project after some time or collaborate with others.
In this article, we’ll explore the importance of documentation in JavaScript projects and share best practices to ensure your codebase remains accessible and comprehensible.
Before we dive into the specifics, let’s define what we mean by “documentation.” Documentation refers to the explanatory information that accompanies your code, providing context, describing functionality, and guiding others (including your future self) on how to use and maintain the codebase effectively.
One of the primary reasons documentation is crucial in JavaScript projects is the language’s flexibility and dynamic nature. Unlike statically typed languages, JavaScript allows for a wide range of coding styles and patterns, making it easier for code to become convoluted and difficult to understand without proper explanations.