documentation

Etymology 1

From document + -ation or Medieval Latin documentātio.

noun

1. Something transposed from a thought to a document; the written account of an idea.
2. Documentary evidence and sources.
3. (computing, mechanical engineering) Documents that explain the operation of a particular machine or software program.
4. (programming) Comments that explain the usage of individual functions, libraries and blocks of code.

Etymology 2

From German Dokumentation.

noun

1. (non-native speakers' English) A documentary.
   Yesterday I saw a documentation about Hitler and Stalin and the way Hitler cheated Stalin by suggesting him, he would NOT attack UdSSR but Great Britain. It was a very nice documentation, they showed that the whole bolschevism was just an arranged idea of germans, using Lenin/Stalin for own ideas. Aug 10, 1997, mclane, “Chess Analysis Software”, in rec.games.chess.computer (Usenet), retrieved 2022-05-01
   Yesterday I watched a documentation about the Dresden fire storm. Apr 8, 1999, Friedrich Vystrcil, “The plan to invade Japan”, in soc.history.war.world-war-ii (Usenet), retrieved 2022-05-01
   Yesterday, I watched a documentation about the "boss" of a German allot settlement who told other gardeners what plants to grow and what weed to cut. GEEZE! GET A LIVE! I felt tempted paying a visit to them and leave a bunch of knobby tire marks on this sucker's lawn... Sep 16, 2010, Volker Bartheld, “This is Germany calling...”, in rec.motorcycles.dirt (Usenet), retrieved 2022-05-01