# Where to Find Documentation for google/skills: Complete Guide to Google's Learning Modules

> Find documentation for google/skills within the repository. Access the main README, module-specific SKILL.md files, and language references for a complete guide to Google's learning modules.

- Repository: [Google/skills](https://github.com/google/skills)
- Tags: how-to-guide
- Published: 2026-08-16

---

**You can find all documentation for google/skills directly in the repository itself, with the root [`README.md`](https://github.com/google/skills/blob/main/README.md), individual [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/google/skills/blob/main/SKILL.md) files in each learning module, and language-specific reference files under `references/` directories.**

The **google/skills** repository contains self-contained, step-by-step learning modules (called *Skills*) that help developers get started with Google Cloud services, Google Ads, Google Analytics, and more. All documentation is embedded in the repository—no external documentation site is required.

---

## Primary Documentation Entry Points

The google/skills documentation follows a consistent three-tier structure. Here are the files you need to know:

| File | Purpose | Location |
|------|---------|----------|
| **Root README** | Repository overview, contribution guidelines, and browsing instructions | [`README.md`](https://github.com/google/skills/blob/main/README.md) |
| **SKILL.md** | Core tutorial for each learning module (machine-readable, executable) | `skills/<category>/<skill>/SKILL.md` |
| **Reference docs** | Language-specific code snippets (Python, Java, Go, Ruby, etc.) | `skills/<category>/<skill>/references/*.md` |

---

## How Documentation Is Organized in google/skills

### 1. Category Folders

Skills are grouped by service domain under the `skills/` directory:

```

skills/
├── ads/           # Google Ads tutorials

├── analytics/     # Google Analytics tutorials

└── cloud/         # Google Cloud Platform tutorials

```

### 2. Individual Skill Sub-Folders

Each Skill focuses on a concrete use-case. For example, `google-ads-api-quickstart` contains everything needed to get started with the Google Ads API.

### 3. SKILL.md: The Core Tutorial

Every Skill includes a [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/google/skills/blob/main/SKILL.md) file written in a **machine-readable format** that can be:

- Rendered as a web page
- Consumed by the Skills runner for automated execution

According to the google/skills source code, this file serves as the **single source of truth** for each learning module.

### 4. References Directory

The optional `references/` folder contains per-language implementations. Path example: [`skills/ads/google-ads-api-quickstart/references/python.md`](https://github.com/google/skills/blob/main/skills/ads/google-ads-api-quickstart/references/python.md)

---

## Walking Through a Real Skill: Google Ads API Quickstart

Here's how documentation for google/skills works in practice. The following code mirrors the steps documented in [`skills/ads/google-ads-api-quickstart/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/google/skills/blob/main/skills/ads/google-ads-api-quickstart/SKILL.md) and its companion reference file.

```python

# Step 1️⃣: Install the Google Ads client library

# (see references/python.md for exact version)

!pip install google-ads==<VERSION>

# Step 2️⃣: Create configuration file (google-ads.yaml)

# Required fields are documented in the reference file

config = """
developer_token: INSERT_DEVELOPER_TOKEN_HERE
client_id: INSERT_OAUTH2_CLIENT_ID_HERE
client_secret: INSERT_OAUTH2_CLIENT_SECRET_HERE
refresh_token: INSERT_REFRESH_TOKEN_HERE
login_customer_id: INSERT_LOGIN_CUSTOMER_ID_HERE
"""
with open("google-ads.yaml", "w") as f:
    f.write(config)

# Step 3️⃣: Execute a live query using the client

from google.ads.googleads.client import GoogleAdsClient

client = GoogleAdsClient.load_from_storage("google-ads.yaml")
service = client.get_service("GoogleAdsService")

query = """
    SELECT campaign.id, campaign.name
    FROM campaign
    ORDER BY campaign.id
    LIMIT 5
"""
response = service.search_stream(customer_id="INSERT_CUSTOMER_ID", query=query)

for row in response:
    print(f"Campaign {row.campaign.id}: {row.campaign.name}")

```

Each numbered comment corresponds directly to a step in the Skill's markdown file. You can find the complete tutorial at: [`skills/ads/google-ads-api-quickstart/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/google/skills/blob/main/skills/ads/google-ads-api-quickstart/SKILL.md)

---

## Essential Files to Bookmark

Bookmark these paths to navigate google/skills documentation efficiently:

- **[`README.md`](https://github.com/google/skills/blob/main/README.md)** — Repository entry point and navigation guide
- **`skills/<category>/<skill>/SKILL.md`** — Core tutorial for every Skill (example: [`skills/analytics/google-analytics-data-api-basics/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/google/skills/blob/main/skills/analytics/google-analytics-data-api-basics/SKILL.md))
- **`skills/<category>/<skill>/references/*.md`** — Language-specific implementations (example: [`skills/ads/google-ads-api-quickstart/references/python.md`](https://github.com/google/skills/blob/main/skills/ads/google-ads-api-quickstart/references/python.md))
- **[`CONTRIBUTING.md`](https://github.com/google/skills/blob/main/CONTRIBUTING.md)** — Guidelines for creating or updating Skills
- **[`plugins/cloud/data-agent-kit/README.md`](https://github.com/google/skills/blob/main/plugins/cloud/data-agent-kit/README.md)** — Documentation for the optional Data Agent Kit plugin that executes Skills in cloud-native environments

---

## Summary

- **All google/skills documentation lives in the repository**—no external site needed
- Start with the **root [`README.md`](https://github.com/google/skills/blob/main/README.md)** for orientation
- Find tutorials in **`skills/<category>/<skill>/SKILL.md`** files
- Locate **language-specific code** in `references/` subdirectories
- Use **[`CONTRIBUTING.md`](https://github.com/google/skills/blob/main/CONTRIBUTING.md)** to understand how to add new Skills

---

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Does google/skills have external documentation or a dedicated website?

No. All documentation for google/skills is self-contained within the repository. The [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/google/skills/blob/main/SKILL.md) files use a machine-readable format that can be rendered as web pages, but the source files themselves serve as the canonical documentation.

### What is the difference between SKILL.md and files in the references folder?

[`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/google/skills/blob/main/SKILL.md) contains the **conceptual tutorial**—step-by-step instructions written in a machine-readable format. The `references/` directory contains **language-specific implementations** of those steps (Python, Java, Go, Ruby, etc.). You need both: SKILL.md explains what to do, while reference files show exactly how to code it.

### How do I find a specific Skill for Google Cloud or Google Ads?

Browse the `skills/` directory by category. Google Cloud Skills are under `skills/cloud/`, Google Ads Skills under `skills/ads/`, and Google Analytics Skills under `skills/analytics/`. Each subfolder name describes the use-case (e.g., `google-ads-api-quickstart`).

### Can I contribute new Skills or improve existing documentation?

Yes. The [`CONTRIBUTING.md`](https://github.com/google/skills/blob/main/CONTRIBUTING.md) file in the repository root contains the complete guidelines for adding new Skills, updating existing [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/google/skills/blob/main/SKILL.md) files, and submitting reference implementations in additional programming languages.