Feedback: api-reference-transcripts-delete

Documentation Feedback

Original URL: https://assemblyai.com/docs/api-reference/transcripts/delete
Category: api-reference
Generated: 05/08/2025, 4:31:34 pm

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Claude Sonnet 4 Feedback

Generated: 05/08/2025, 4:31:33 pm

Technical Documentation Analysis: AssemblyAI Delete Transcript API

Overall Assessment

This documentation has significant issues that would create a poor user experience. While it covers the basic endpoint information, it lacks essential details and contains multiple errors that would frustrate developers trying to implement this API.

Critical Issues to Address

1. Broken Examples (High Priority)

Problem: All 8 curl examples are duplicated and contain errors:

• First example has incorrect URL (missing /v2/transcript/{transcript_id})
• Remaining 7 examples are identical duplicates
• Inconsistent parameter syntax (:transcript_id vs {transcript_id})

Solution:

# Replace all examples with this single, correct example:
curl -X DELETE "https://api.assemblyai.com/v2/transcript/abc123def456" \
     -H "Authorization: YOUR_API_KEY"

2. Missing Response Examples (High Priority)

Problem: No examples of actual API responses, making it impossible for developers to know what to expect.

Solution: Add response examples for key scenarios:

// 200 Success Response
{
  "transcript_id": "abc123def456",
  "status": "deleted",
  "message": "Transcript successfully deleted"
}

// 404 Error Response
{
  "error": "Transcript not found",
  "transcript_id": "invalid_id"
}

3. Vague Response Descriptions (Medium Priority)

Problem: Status code descriptions like “Bad request” and “An error occurred” provide no actionable information.

Solution: Enhance with specific details:

• 400: Invalid transcript ID format or malformed request
• 401: Missing or invalid API key in Authorization header
• 404: Transcript ID does not exist or has already been deleted
• 429: Rate limit exceeded. Retry after the time specified in Retry-After header

4. Missing Critical Information (High Priority)

Add these essential sections:

Authentication Details

## Authentication
Include your API key in the Authorization header:
`Authorization: YOUR_API_KEY`

Get your API key from the AssemblyAI dashboard.

Important Behaviors

## Important Notes
- This action is irreversible. Deleted transcripts cannot be recovered.
- Deletion removes all associated data including the transcript text, metadata, and any additional features (speakers, sentiment, etc.).
- The transcript ID becomes invalid after deletion and will return 404 for future requests.

Rate Limiting

## Rate Limits
- Maximum 100 deletion requests per minute
- Check the `X-RateLimit-Remaining` header in responses

5. Structural Improvements (Medium Priority)

Reorganize content flow:

1. Brief description and endpoint
2. Authentication requirements
3. Path parameters with examples
4. Request examples
5. Response examples (success and error cases)
6. Important notes and limitations
7. Rate limiting information

6. Enhanced Path Parameters Section

Current: transcript_id (required): ID of the transcript

Improved:

## Path Parameters
| Parameter | Type | Required | Description |
|-----------|------|----------|-------------|
| transcript_id | string | Yes | The unique identifier of the transcript to delete. Example: `abc123def456` |

7. Missing SDK Examples (Low Priority)

Consider adding examples in popular programming languages:

# Python
import requests
response = requests.delete(
    f"https://api.assemblyai.com/v2/transcript/{transcript_id}",
    headers={"Authorization": "YOUR_API_KEY"}
)

User Pain Points Identified

1. Confusion from duplicate examples - Users won’t know which is correct
2. Authentication uncertainty - No clear guidance on API key format/placement
3. No success confirmation - Users can’t verify deletion worked
4. Missing error handling guidance - No help for troubleshooting failures
5. Irreversibility not emphasized - Critical limitation buried in brief description

Recommended Priority Order

1. Immediate: Fix curl examples and add response examples
2. High: Add authentication section and enhance error descriptions
3. Medium: Restructure content and add behavioral notes
4. Low: Add SDK examples and advanced features

This documentation needs significant revision to meet professional API documentation standards and provide a good developer experience.

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