---
title: "Practice"
description: "Learn how to operate the product in daily, standard operation."
doc_version: "2025-01-09"
last_updated: "2026-08-08"
canonical_url: "https://7act.org/actions/practice/"
language: "en"
license: "CC BY 4.0"
---

# Practice

Users need to learn how to operate most parts of a product they're concerned with. For example, admins must learn to create and remove users. The Practice action describes the need for learning procedural knowledge, that is, how to use the product in daily, standard operation.

Examples of docs that address practice are [Generating a new SSH key (GitHub)](https://docs.github.com/en/authentication/connecting-to-github-with-ssh/generating-a-new-ssh-key-and-adding-it-to-the-ssh-agent), [Import contacts to MailChimp](https://mailchimp.com/help/import-contacts-mailchimp/), and [User management (Dynatrace)](https://docs.dynatrace.com/docs/manage/identity-access-management/user-and-group-management/access-user-management). They offer various how-to or tutorial patterns, with or without audiovisual materials, sharing the same goal of helping users master a procedure.

When users can confidently perform tasks, they're more likely to explore advanced features and become product advocates. This type of docs often serves as the backbone of user enablement programs and certification paths, turning theoretical knowledge into practical competence.


## What the user wants to do

Users need to learn how to operate most parts of a product. Practice describes the need for procedural knowledge — how to use the product in daily, standard operation.

## Signals that your docs miss it

- The same how-to questions recur in support and community channels.
- Procedures exist only as tribal knowledge or in someone's head.
- There is no step-by-step guide for common administrative tasks.

## Two examples in the wild

- [Generating a new SSH key (GitHub)](https://docs.github.com/en/authentication/connecting-to-github-with-ssh/generating-a-new-ssh-key-and-adding-it-to-the-ssh-agent)
- [Import contacts to MailChimp](https://mailchimp.com/help/import-contacts-mailchimp/)

## Common content types

- DITA: <task>, <step>, <choicetable>
- Diataxis: How-to guide
- Good Docs Project: How-to guide

## One metric

task success — Share of users who complete a standard procedure without support.

## Sitemap

- [Seven-Action Documentation Model](https://7act.org/index.md)
- [Introduction](https://7act.org/rationale/index.md)
- [Actions](https://7act.org/actions/index.md)
- [Appraise](https://7act.org/actions/appraise/index.md)
- [Understand](https://7act.org/actions/understand/index.md)
- [Explore](https://7act.org/actions/explore/index.md)
- [Practice](https://7act.org/actions/practice/index.md)
- [Remember](https://7act.org/actions/remember/index.md)
- [Develop](https://7act.org/actions/develop/index.md)
- [Troubleshoot](https://7act.org/actions/troubleshoot/index.md)
- [Glossary](https://7act.org/glossary/index.md)
- [Seven-Action Documentation skill](https://7act.org/skill/index.md)