manual

A manual is a book or booklet that accompanies a product, device, or service and provides instructions for use, operation, maintenance, or safety. It may explain features, setup steps, troubleshooting, and specifications, and may include diagrams or examples. The term is commonly used for documents such as user manuals, operation manuals, and service manuals.

As an adjective, manual describes actions performed by hand rather than by a mechanism or automation, as in manual labor or manual control. The contrast with automatic or computerized systems is a common point of reference in engineering, manufacturing, and everyday language.

Manuals come in many forms, including instruction manuals, operation manuals for machinery, service and maintenance manuals, and user manuals for software and electronics. They may be printed or digital, and are often organized with sections, step-by-step instructions, warnings, illustrations, and a glossary.

The quality and clarity of a manual can affect safety, efficiency, and user satisfaction. Well-designed manuals help users understand how to operate correctly and how to resolve common problems, while poorly written ones can cause confusion or misuse. The word manual derives from Latin manualis “of the hand.” See also handbook, user guide, and instruction manual.