Editing Skeleton (computer programming) (section)

=== Programming language documentation ===
Most, if not all programming languages have skeleton code used to assist in the definition of all built-in functions and [[Method (software engineering)|methods]]. This provides a simple means for newer programmers to understand the syntax and intended implementation of the written methods.

[[Java (programming language)|Java]], an [[Object-oriented programming|object oriented language]], focuses heavily on a structured documentation page with completely separated methods for each object part of Java's packages.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Object (Java Platform SE 8 )|url=https://docs.oracle.com/javase/8/docs/api/java/lang/Object.html|access-date=2020-10-02|website=docs.oracle.com}}</ref> Object oriented languages focus on a hierarchy based structure to their implementations, rather than a simple top-down approach found in other languages. ‘Objects’ store data and variables in them, allowing for a typically more efficient program to be written. These objects have individual functions that can access internal variables, known as methods.

Each method is defined in the same format, with the name of the method as well as the syntax to be used in an [[integrated development environment]] clearly visible at the top of a block. With Java's focus on [[Scope (computer science)|scope]], [[data type]]s and [[Inheritance (object-oriented programming)|inheritance]], this syntax is extremely useful for new, if not all programmers. This is followed by an in-depth explanation of the operation of the method, with errors below.

[[Python (programming language)|Python]] has a similar approach to document its in-built methods, however mimics the language's lack of fixation on scope and data types.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2009-02-14|title=Built-in Functions — Python v3.0.1 documentation|url=https://docs.python.org/3.0/library/functions.html|access-date=2020-10-03|website=docs.python.org}}</ref> This documentation has the syntax of each method, along with a short description and an example of the typical use of the method or function. The skeleton code provided in the example gives programmers a good understanding of the function at a quick glance.