Effect-TS API Documentation Lookup

Overview

Use WebFetch to retrieve API documentation directly from the official Effect-TS documentation site at https://effect-ts.github.io/effect/.

URL Patterns

Core Effect Modules

For modules in the main effect package:

https://effect-ts.github.io/effect/effect/{Module}.ts.html

Common modules:

Scoped Packages

For @effect/* packages:

https://effect-ts.github.io/effect/{package-name}/{Module}.ts.html

Examples:

How to Look Up Documentation

Step 1: Identify the Module

Determine which module contains the API:

• Effect.map → Effect module
• Schema.Struct → Schema module
• Stream.fromIterable → Stream module
• Layer.provide → Layer module

Step 2: Construct the URL

Use the URL pattern for the identified module:

// For Effect.retry
const url = "https://effect-ts.github.io/effect/effect/Effect.ts.html"

// For Schema.transform
const url = "https://effect-ts.github.io/effect/effect/Schema.ts.html"

Step 3: Fetch with Targeted Prompt

Use WebFetch with a specific prompt to extract the relevant information:

WebFetch(
  url: "https://effect-ts.github.io/effect/effect/Effect.ts.html",
  prompt: "Find the documentation for Effect.retry. Include the function signature, description, parameters, and any usage examples."
)

Example Queries

Looking up a specific function

User asks: “What are the parameters for Effect.retry?”

Action:

WebFetch(
  url: "https://effect-ts.github.io/effect/effect/Effect.ts.html",
  prompt: "Find documentation for the retry function. Include its complete type signature, all parameters and options, and usage examples."
)

Looking up a type/interface

User asks: “What fields does Schedule have?”

Action:

WebFetch(
  url: "https://effect-ts.github.io/effect/effect/Schedule.ts.html",
  prompt: "Describe the Schedule type and its main combinators. List common schedule functions like exponential, spaced, recurs, etc."
)

Looking up a module overview

User asks: “What functions are available in the Stream module?”

Action:

WebFetch(
  url: "https://effect-ts.github.io/effect/effect/Stream.ts.html",
  prompt: "List the main categories of functions in this module with brief descriptions of each category."
)

Looking up related functions

User asks: “What are all the catch* functions in Effect?”

Action:

WebFetch(
  url: "https://effect-ts.github.io/effect/effect/Effect.ts.html",
  prompt: "Find all error handling functions that start with 'catch'. Include catchAll, catchTag, catchTags, catchSome, etc. with their signatures and purposes."
)

Prompt Patterns

Use these prompt patterns for effective documentation extraction:

For function signatures:

"Find the complete type signature for {functionName}. Include all overloads if they exist."

For usage examples:

"Find documentation and code examples for {functionName}. Focus on practical usage patterns."

For understanding parameters:

"Explain the parameters and options for {functionName}. What does each parameter do?"

For finding related functions:

"List all functions related to {topic} in this module. Include brief descriptions."

For module overview:

"Provide an overview of this module. What are the main categories of functions and types?"

Tips

1. Be specific in prompts – Ask for exactly what you need (signature, examples, parameters)
2. Use the right module – Effect functions are in Effect.ts, Schema functions in Schema.ts, etc.
3. Check related functions – The docs include “See also” links to related functions
4. Look for examples – Most functions include practical code examples with expected output
5. Note version info – Functions show “Since v2.0.0” or similar version information

Documentation Site Index

The main documentation index is at:

https://effect-ts.github.io/effect/

Use this to discover available packages and modules if unsure which module contains a specific API.

Best Practices

1. Start with the right module – Identify which module contains the API before fetching
2. Use targeted prompts – Ask for specific information (signature, examples, parameters)
3. Check for overloads – Many Effect functions have multiple signatures
4. Look for “Since” annotations – Verify the API is available in your Effect version

Additional Resources

For comprehensive Effect documentation beyond API signatures, consult ${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/references/llms-full.txt which contains tutorials, guides, and in-depth explanations.