Read the Docs

Read the Docs is a free and open-source platform for hosting technical documentation, primarily for software projects. It automatically builds, versions, and hosts documentation from version control systems like Git, supporting formats such as Sphinx, MkDocs, and Jupyter Book. It provides features like search, versioning, and PDF generation to make documentation accessible and maintainable.

Also known as: RTD, Readthedocs, ReadTheDocs, Read the Docs platform, Readthedocs.org

Why learn Read the Docs?

Developers should use Read the Docs when they need a reliable, automated solution for hosting documentation for open-source or private projects, as it integrates seamlessly with CI/CD pipelines and reduces manual overhead. It is ideal for projects using Python-based documentation tools like Sphinx, but also supports other formats, making it versatile for teams wanting to keep documentation in sync with code changes.

Learning Resources

• docs: Read the Docs Documentation
• tutorial: Getting Started with Read the Docs Tutorial
• tutorial: Hosting Your Docs on Read the Docs - Real Python
• video: Read the Docs YouTube Channel
• book: Building Documentation with Sphinx and Read the Docs - Book