Guidyy

Documentation glossary

Plain-English definitions of the terms that come up most in process and operational documentation.

What is a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)?

A standard operating procedure (SOP) is a documented set of step-by-step instructions for performing a routine task. Here's what makes a good one — and how to write yours in 60 seconds.

What is a Runbook?

A runbook is a step-by-step playbook for responding to a specific operational event — like an alert, an incident, or a scheduled maintenance task.

What is Process Documentation?

Process documentation describes how a cross-functional workflow runs end-to-end — including the handoffs between teams.

What is a Knowledge Base?

A knowledge base is a centralized library of documentation — internal (team wikis) or external (help centers). It's the surface; SOPs, runbooks, and process docs are the content.

What is a Work Instruction?

A work instruction is the operator-level detail nested inside an SOP — the exact clicks, keystrokes, and decisions needed to complete one task step.

What is an Interactive Demo?

An interactive demo is a clickable, guided walkthrough of a product — recorded once, replayed endlessly, with no live environment required.