Microsoft® Manual of Style, Fourth Edition

Code examples

Code examples illustrate how to use a programming element to implement specific functionality. They may include simple, one-line examples interspersed with text; short, self-contained examples that demonstrate specific points; and lengthy samples that illustrate multiple features, complex scenarios, or best practices.

Code examples are used by developers in all aspects of their work: during planning (to assess a technology through its API), when learning or exploring a language or technology, and when writing and debugging code. Developers often copy the examples that they find in the documentation to their own code, or adapt them to their own needs.

To create useful code examples, first identify the tasks and scenarios that are meaningful ...