diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 1c56704..d1278c8 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -7,6 +7,11 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
 
 ## [Unreleased]
 
+- document the public API in the README: the four factories, when to use each,
+  what the `W` (widening) suffix means, and examples that bind the handler-map
+  function once
+- add TSDoc to the four public matcher factories
+
 ## [0.8.1] - 2026-09-23
 
 - gate CI at 100% coverage: `test:ci` runs c8 with `--all --100` over `src/`,
diff --git a/LICENSE b/LICENSE
index 01f2d94..f5ee8b1 100644
--- a/LICENSE
+++ b/LICENSE
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 MIT License
 
-Copyright (c) 2025 tmu
+Copyright (c) 2026 tmu
 
 Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy
 of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index c6fb26e..ee62d7a 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -21,7 +21,93 @@ for the design decisions and [Caveats](#caveats) for the limits.
 
 ## API
 
-Yet to be implemented
+The package exports four factories. Two axes pick one:
+
+- **Universe** — a _primitive-union_ matcher matches a value that is itself a
+  finite union (`"yes" | "no"`); a _tagged-union_ matcher matches an object
+  discriminated by a property (`{ kind: … }`).
+- **Return** — the _strict_ variant gives every handler one common return type
+  `R`; the _widening_ variant (`W`) widens the return value to the union of the
+  handler returns.
+
+| Factory                          | Use when                                                                  | Return                |
+| -------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------- |
+| `getPrimitiveUnionMatcher<T>()`  | the value is the union and all handlers return the same type              | one common `R`        |
+| `getPrimitiveUnionMatcherW<T>()` | the value is the union and handlers return different types                | union of the handlers |
+| `getTaggedUnionMatcher<T>()`     | the value is a discriminated object and all handlers return the same type | one common `R`        |
+| `getTaggedUnionMatcherW<T>()`    | the value is a discriminated object and handlers return different types   | union of the handlers |
+
+Bind the function that takes the handler map to a `match…` variable once and
+reuse it; the examples below do this, so the builder is allocated once.
+
+### Primitive-union matchers
+
+`getPrimitiveUnionMatcher<T>()` takes the finite universe `T` and returns a
+builder. Calling the builder with a handler map keyed by `T`'s members returns a
+matcher: a function from `T` to the common return type.
+
+```ts
+import { getPrimitiveUnionMatcher } from "tiny-pattern-ts";
+
+const matchAnswer = getPrimitiveUnionMatcher<"yes" | "no">();
+
+const reply = matchAnswer({
+    yes: () => "agreed",
+    no: () => "declined",
+});
+
+reply("yes"); // "agreed"
+```
+
+Add a fallback as the second argument to leave members unhandled; the fallback
+receives the remainder:
+
+```ts
+const matchLabel = getPrimitiveUnionMatcher<"yes" | "no" | "maybe">();
+
+const label = matchLabel(
+    { yes: () => "agreed", no: () => "declined" },
+    (other) => `not sure: ${other}`, // other: "maybe"
+);
+```
+
+`getPrimitiveUnionMatcherW` is the same builder, but the matcher's return type
+is the union of the handler return types rather than one common `R`.
+
+### Tagged-union matchers
+
+`getTaggedUnionMatcher<T>()` takes a discriminated union `T`. The returned
+function takes the discriminant property's name and returns the handler-map
+builder, keyed by that property's tags.
+
+```ts
+import { getTaggedUnionMatcher } from "tiny-pattern-ts";
+
+type Shape =
+    { kind: "circle"; radius: number } | { kind: "square"; side: number };
+
+const matchShape = getTaggedUnionMatcher<Shape>()("kind");
+
+const area = matchShape({
+    circle: (s) => Math.PI * s.radius ** 2,
+    square: (s) => s.side ** 2,
+});
+
+area({ kind: "circle", radius: 2 });
+```
+
+`getTaggedUnionMatcherW` is the widening counterpart, exactly as in the
+primitive-union pair. The discriminant key is restricted to properties whose
+values are tags; see [Caveats](#caveats) for the supported tags and the
+`boolean` / `null` / `undefined` key projection.
+
+### The universe
+
+The primitive universe `T` must be a finite union of literals with no
+value/stringification collision. A broad member (`string`, `number`, a template
+literal) or a colliding pair (`true | "true"`, `1 | "1"`) is rejected at the
+factory. The reasons and the rejected alternatives are in
+[development/library.md](./development/library.md).
 
 ## Caveats
 
@@ -55,7 +141,7 @@ cover. The type-level cost of supporting open universes is recorded in
 
 ## License
 
-MIT © 2025 tmu. See [LICENSE](./LICENSE).
+MIT © 2026 tmu. See [LICENSE](./LICENSE).
 
 ## Contributing
 
diff --git a/backlog.tasks b/backlog.tasks
index 4c74fb7..4eb0e05 100644
--- a/backlog.tasks
+++ b/backlog.tasks
@@ -8,10 +8,10 @@ Setup:
 ☐ Split off template into separate package => pi --session 01a07dde-7050-7054-bb36-1606d7eb2bc3 @low
 
 v1.0:
-☐ API surface is stable and fully typed
-    ☐ Finalize public exports in `src/index.ts`
-    ☐ Document all exported types and functions
-    ☐ Add JSDoc for public APIs
+✔ API surface is stable and fully typed @done
+    ✔ Finalize public exports in `src/index.ts` @done
+    ✔ Document all exported types and functions @done
+    ✔ Add JSDoc for public APIs @done
 ✔ Test coverage meets threshold @done
     ✔ Achieve 100% branch coverage on `src/primitive-union.ts` @done
     ✔ Achieve 100% branch coverage on `src/index.ts` @done
@@ -28,6 +28,8 @@ Documentation:
     → previous Examples order: literal/exhaustive, typeof, structural/discriminated unions, when, any
 ☐ Create `examples/` directory with runnable snippets
 ☐ Add comparison section vs. other TS pattern-matching libs in Readme.md
+    ☐ Why do we do this? => exhaustiveness encoded type safe
+    ☐ Why this form? little syntax, data last, very small, autocomplete, strict typing in the handler; for more features use ts-pattern
 ☐ Write migration guide for users coming from discriminated unions
 ☐ Create backlog tasks for implementation
 ☐ Validate code fences in Markdown (start with README.md) — compile the TypeScript examples against `src/` so the docs cannot drift from the API
diff --git a/development/library.md b/development/library.md
index fc3a3f6..909db0e 100644
--- a/development/library.md
+++ b/development/library.md
@@ -5,8 +5,39 @@ user-facing reference is [README § API](../README.md#api).
 
 The matchers are implemented in `src/primitive-union.ts` (`getPrimitiveUnionMatcher` /
 `getPrimitiveUnionMatcherW`) and `src/tagged-union.ts` (`getTaggedUnionMatcher` /
-`getTaggedUnionMatcherW`), re-exported from `src/index.ts`; the rest of the
-library is placeholder code.
+`getTaggedUnionMatcherW`), re-exported from `src/index.ts`; the rest of `src/`
+is implementation detail.
+
+## Public surface
+
+#### Decision (2026-09)
+
+`src/index.ts` exports the four factories and nothing else. Every exported
+function carries TSDoc; the builder types and the `matcher-shared.ts`
+vocabulary stay internal.
+
+#### Why
+
+- The factories are the whole contract: a consumer calls one and never needs to
+  name the builder type it returns.
+- The builder interfaces are already the inferred return types, so they travel
+  into the emitted `.d.ts` regardless. Exporting them would only make them
+  nameable while freezing the internal `Strict` / `Widening` overload split as
+  API.
+- TSDoc travels into the emitted declarations, so editor hovers and the
+  published package document the API without a hand-written `.d.ts`.
+
+#### Rejected
+
+- **Exporting the builder types** (`PrimitiveUnionMatcher`, …). Nameable, but it
+  grows the surface for no call-site benefit and pins the `Strict` / `Widening`
+  split.
+- **Exporting the `matcher-shared.ts` vocabulary** (`Matchable`, `UnaryFn`,
+  `PatternKey`, `Member`, `PatternReturns`, …). They appear in the public
+  signatures, but a consumer never needs to name them; exporting them would
+  freeze plumbing as API.
+- **A hand-written `.d.ts` or a separate API document.** It would drift from the
+  implementation; TSDoc is generated from the source.
 
 ## Matcher shape
 
diff --git a/src/index.ts b/src/index.ts
index 608736e..be33df2 100644
--- a/src/index.ts
+++ b/src/index.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,11 @@
+/**
+ * The public entry point of `tiny-pattern-ts`.
+ *
+ * Exports the four matcher factories and nothing else; the builder types they
+ * return and the rest of `src/` are implementation detail.
+ *
+ * @module
+ */
 export {
     getPrimitiveUnionMatcher,
     getPrimitiveUnionMatcherW,
diff --git a/src/primitive-union.ts b/src/primitive-union.ts
index f3b328b..da6a705 100644
--- a/src/primitive-union.ts
+++ b/src/primitive-union.ts
@@ -96,9 +96,50 @@ const dispatch =
             shape as never,
         );
 
+/**
+ * Create a matcher for a finite primitive universe, with one common return
+ * type.
+ *
+ * Use it when the value itself is the union (`"yes" | "no"`) and every handler
+ * returns the same type.
+ *
+ * The returned builder takes a handler map keyed by the members; supplying a
+ * second fallback argument allows a partial map and receives the unhandled
+ * remainder.
+ *
+ * @typeParam T - The finite universe of primitive members to match.
+ * @returns A builder for the handler map, or the handler map plus a fallback.
+ * @example
+ *     const matchAnswer = getPrimitiveUnionMatcher<"yes" | "no">();
+ *     const describe = matchAnswer({
+ *         yes: () => "agreed",
+ *         no: () => "declined",
+ *     });
+ *     describe("yes"); // "agreed"
+ */
 export const getPrimitiveUnionMatcher = <
     T extends Matchable,
 >(): PrimitiveUnionMatcherStrict<T> => dispatch;
+
+/**
+ * Create a matcher for a finite primitive universe whose return type is the
+ * union of every handler's return type.
+ *
+ * Use it when the value itself is the union (`"yes" | "no"`) and the handlers
+ * return different types. The `W` (widening) counterpart of
+ * {@link getPrimitiveUnionMatcher}; the universe constraint and the optional
+ * fallback are identical.
+ *
+ * @typeParam T - The finite universe of primitive members to match.
+ * @returns A builder for the handler map, or the handler map plus a fallback.
+ * @example
+ *     const matchReply = getPrimitiveUnionMatcherW<"yes" | "no">();
+ *     const reply = matchReply({
+ *         yes: () => 1,
+ *         no: () => "declined",
+ *     });
+ *     // reply: (shape: "yes" | "no") => number | string
+ */
 export const getPrimitiveUnionMatcherW = <
     T extends Matchable,
 >(): PrimitiveUnionMatcherWidening<T> => dispatch;
diff --git a/src/tagged-union.ts b/src/tagged-union.ts
index b43e9ad..d3a2acd 100644
--- a/src/tagged-union.ts
+++ b/src/tagged-union.ts
@@ -152,10 +152,56 @@ const dispatch =
         );
     };
 
+/**
+ * Create a matcher for a discriminated union, with one common return type.
+ *
+ * Use it when the value is an object discriminated by a property
+ * (`{ kind: "circle" } | { kind: "square" }`) and every handler returns the
+ * same type.
+ *
+ * The first call fixes the union `T`; the returned function takes the
+ * discriminant property's name (`K`, restricted to properties whose values are
+ * tags), and that returns the handler-map builder. Supplying a second fallback
+ * argument to the builder allows a partial map and receives the members whose
+ * tag was not handled. A `boolean`, `null` or `undefined` tag is keyed by its
+ * stringified form (`true` -> `"true"`); see README § Caveats.
+ *
+ * @typeParam T - The discriminated-union type to match.
+ * @returns A function that takes the discriminant property's name.
+ * @example
+ *     type Shape =
+ *         | { kind: "circle"; radius: number }
+ *         | { kind: "square"; side: number };
+ *
+ *     const matchShape = getTaggedUnionMatcher<Shape>()("kind");
+ *     const area = matchShape({
+ *         circle: (s) => Math.PI * s.radius ** 2,
+ *         square: (s) => s.side ** 2,
+ *     });
+ */
 export const getTaggedUnionMatcher = <
     T extends object,
 >(): TaggedUnionMatcherFactory<T> => dispatch;
 
+/**
+ * Create a matcher for a discriminated union whose return type is the union of
+ * every handler's return type.
+ *
+ * Use it when the value is a discriminated object and the handlers return
+ * different types. The `W` (widening) counterpart of
+ * {@link getTaggedUnionMatcher}; the curried key step and the optional fallback
+ * are identical.
+ *
+ * @typeParam T - The discriminated-union type to match.
+ * @returns A function that takes the discriminant property's name.
+ * @example
+ *     const matchShape = getTaggedUnionMatcherW<Shape>()("kind");
+ *     const describe = matchShape({
+ *         circle: () => "round",
+ *         square: () => 4,
+ *     });
+ *     // describe: (shape: Shape) => string | number
+ */
 export const getTaggedUnionMatcherW = <
     T extends object,
 >(): TaggedUnionMatcherWideningFactory<T> => dispatch;