# How to Find Documentation for a Specific Google Skill: 2 Proven Methods

> Easily find Google Skill documentation in the SKILL.md file or via the programmatic index.json. Discover how to locate any skill's complete guide quickly.

- Repository: [Google/skills](https://github.com/google/skills)
- Tags: how-to-guide
- Published: 2026-09-05

---

**Google Skills stores complete documentation for every skill in the `skills/<category>/<skill-name>/SKILL.md` file, with a machine-readable catalog at [`index.json`](https://github.com/google/skills/blob/main/index.json) for programmatic discovery.**

The `google/skills` repository organizes learning resources as standalone, reusable skill modules. Each skill contains a primary [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/google/skills/blob/main/SKILL.md) file with workflow descriptions and usage details, plus supplemental materials in a `references/` folder. This guide shows you exactly where to find Google Skill documentation using either manual browsing or automated catalog queries.

---

## Browse the Repository Tree for Manual Lookups

The simplest way to locate documentation is to navigate the folder hierarchy directly. Every skill lives under `skills/<category>/<skill-name>/` with its main documentation in [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/google/skills/blob/main/SKILL.md).

### Directory Structure

```bash
skills/
├── cloud/
│   ├── cloud-run-basics/
│   │   ├── SKILL.md           # Primary documentation

│   │   ├── references/
│   │   │   └── commands.md    # Supplemental reference files

│   │   └── exercises/
│   └── ...
├── ads/
│   └── google-ads-api-quickstart/
│       └── SKILL.md
└── ...

```

### Real Example: Cloud Run Basics

The **Cloud Run Basics** skill lives at [`skills/cloud/cloud-run-basics/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/google/skills/blob/main/skills/cloud/cloud-run-basics/SKILL.md). Access it directly:

```bash

# View raw markdown in terminal

curl -sS https://raw.githubusercontent.com/google/skills/main/skills/cloud/cloud-run-basics/SKILL.md | head -50

```

Or open in a browser:

```bash
open https://github.com/google/skills/blob/main/skills/cloud/cloud-run-basics/SKILL.md

```

---

## Query the Skill Catalog for Programmatic Discovery

For automated workflows, use the **machine-readable catalog** at [`index.json`](https://github.com/google/skills/blob/main/index.json). This JSON file maps every skill name to its [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/google/skills/blob/main/SKILL.md) entrypoint, eliminating the need to guess category paths.

### Fetch and Search the Catalog

```bash

# Download the full catalog (~75 KB)

curl -sS https://raw.githubusercontent.com/google/skills/main/index.json > skills-index.json

```

### Find a Specific Skill's Entrypoint

```bash

# Query for "cloud-run-basics" documentation path

jq -r '.skills[] | select(.name=="cloud-run-basics") | .entrypoint' skills-index.json

```

**Output:**

```

skills/cloud/cloud-run-basics/SKILL.md

```

### One-Liner: Resolve and Open Documentation

```bash

# Resolve skill name to URL and open

SKILL_NAME="google-ads-api-quickstart"
ENTRYPOINT=$(curl -sS https://raw.githubusercontent.com/google/skills/main/index.json \
  | jq -r ".skills[] | select(.name==\"$SKILL_NAME\") | .entrypoint")
open "https://github.com/google/skills/blob/main/$ENTRYPOINT"

```

---

## Key Files for Finding Google Skill Documentation

| File | Location | Purpose |
|------|----------|---------|
| [`README.md`](https://github.com/google/skills/blob/main/README.md) | Repository root | Clickable overview of all published skills |
| [`index.json`](https://github.com/google/skills/blob/main/index.json) | Repository root | Machine-readable catalog: skill names → entrypoints |
| [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/google/skills/blob/main/SKILL.md) | `skills/<category>/<skill-name>/` | **Primary documentation** with workflows and examples |
| `references/` | `skills/<category>/<skill-name>/references/` | IAM roles, commands, Terraform snippets, and more |
| `plugins/` | `plugins/<harness>/` | Agent-specific bundles (Claude, Codex, etc.) |

---

## Advanced: Direct Raw Content Access

Skip the GitHub UI entirely by fetching raw content from `raw.githubusercontent.com`:

```bash

# Load any SKILL.md directly without cloning

wget -qO- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/google/skills/main/skills/ads/google-ads-api-quickstart/SKILL.md | less

```

This method is ideal for:
- CI/CD pipelines that validate skill documentation
- Local indexing or search tools
- Offline reading with terminal markdown renderers

---

## Summary

- **Manual discovery**: Navigate to `skills/<category>/<skill-name>/SKILL.md` in the repository tree
- **Programmatic discovery**: Query [`index.json`](https://github.com/google/skills/blob/main/index.json) to resolve skill names to entrypoint paths
- **Supplemental docs**: Check the `references/` subfolder for commands, IAM roles, and code snippets
- **Authoritative source**: All documentation lives in the `google/skills` repository with no external dependencies

---

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What file contains the main documentation for a Google Skill?

The **[`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/google/skills/blob/main/SKILL.md)** file contains the primary documentation. It sits at the root of each skill folder under `skills/<category>/<skill-name>/` and includes the description, workflow, and usage instructions.

### How do I find a skill's documentation without knowing its category?

Use the **[`index.json`](https://github.com/google/skills/blob/main/index.json)** catalog. This root-level JSON file maps every skill name to its entrypoint path. Query it with `jq` or any JSON parser to locate documentation programmatically without manually browsing categories.

### What is in the `references/` folder of a skill?

The `references/` subfolder holds **supplemental material** linked from the main [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/google/skills/blob/main/SKILL.md)—common contents include shell commands, required IAM roles, Terraform configurations, and API reference snippets.

### Can I access Google Skill documentation without cloning the repository?

Yes. Fetch any [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/google/skills/blob/main/SKILL.md) directly from `raw.githubusercontent.com` using `curl` or `wget`, or open the GitHub web interface using the path from [`index.json`](https://github.com/google/skills/blob/main/index.json).