Explore the Javadoc output
The Javadoc output hasn’t changed much in the past 20 years, so in some sense, it’s predictable and familiar. On the other hand, the output is dated and lacks some critical features, like search, or the ability to add more pages. In this topic, we’ll explore how the Javadoc is organized.
Class summary
Open the index.html file in the Javadoc folder you generated in Activity: Generate a Javadoc from a sample project.
The class summary page shows a short version of each of the classes. The description you write for each class (up to the period) appears here. It’s kind of like a quick reference guide for the API.
You click a class name (in this case, ACMESmartphone or Dynamite) to dive into the details.
Class details
When you view a class page, you’re presented with a summary of the fields, constructors, and methods for the class. Again, this is just an overview. When you scroll down, you can see the full details about each of these elements.
Other navigation
If you click Package at the top, you can also browse the classes by package. Or you can go to the classes by clicking the class name in the left column. You can also browse everything by clicking the Index link.
For more information about how the Javadoc is organized, click the Help button in the Javadoc top navigation bar.
About Tom Johnson
I'm an API technical writer based in the Seattle area. On this blog, I write about topics related to technical writing and communication — such as software documentation, API documentation, AI, information architecture, content strategy, writing processes, plain language, tech comm careers, and more. Check out my API documentation course if you're looking for more info about documenting APIs. Or see my posts on AI and AI course section for more on the latest in AI and tech comm.
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