What Makes Technical Documentation Easier to Read Without Oversimplifying It?

I've been revising technical documentation for different audiences recently, and one challenge keeps coming up: making complex concepts easier to understand without removing the details that experienced users actually need.

Many guides either assume too much prior knowledge or simplify the topic so much that readers are left with more questions than answers. Finding the right balance seems much harder than simply writing in plain language.

One approach that has helped me is using familiar, real-world examples instead of abstract explanations. For instance, if I needed to explain concepts such as momentum, traction, or weight transfer, I'd rather reference a browser game like Drift Hunters than rely only on formulas or textbook definitions. A visual and interactive example often helps beginners understand why something happens before diving into the underlying mechanics.

I'm curious how others approach this problem.

• How do you simplify technical documentation without losing accuracy?
• Do you prefer diagrams, analogies, interactive examples, or step-by-step explanations?
• Have you found any documentation styles that consistently work well for both beginners and advanced readers?

I'd love to hear about your writing process or examples of documentation that you've found especially clear without sacrificing technical depth.