Fonts and Format for Code

Fonts and formats for inline code, code blocks, non-code items, API referece, classes and methods are detailed below:

Inline code

• Inline code is a short snippet of code. Use backticks (`) for single-line code/ inline code.

• The following are examples of inline code:

  • Attribute names and values

  • Command Line (CLI) utility names

  • Class, methods, and function names

  • Enum names

  • Command output

  • Data types

  • Environment variable names

  • File names and paths

  • Folders and directories

  • HTTP methods and status codes

  • HTTP status codes

  • Alias names

  • Parameter values

Below are a few more instances:

HTTP status codes

• In general, put the number and the name of the status code in code font:

  HTTP 400 Bad Request status code

• To refer to a range of codes, use the following form:

  HTTP 2xx or 200 status code

• If you prefer to specify an exact range, use the following form:

  HTTP status code in the 400-499 range

Command prompt

• If your CLI instructions show single-line or multi-line input, start each line of input with the $ prompt symbol.

• Don't show the current directory path before the prompt, even if part of the instruction includes changing directories.

Placeholders

• In a code output, explain any placeholder that appears in the sample output the first time.

• Mention the placeholders in complete capital and italicized code font.

• In markdown, wrap inline placeholders in backticks (`) and asterisk (*).

(*`PLACEHOLDER_NAME`*)

• Don't use X as a placeholder; instead, use an informative placeholder name.

Code blocks

• Code blocks are used for code snippets longer than a single line or terminal commands containing sample output when executed.

• In markdown, code blocks are represented using a code fence (```).

• Mention language identifier to enable syntax highlighting in your fenced code block.

 ```markdown
 Language identifier is markdown here.  
 ```

• When using code blocks within lists, use correct indention to avoid breaking the list. For example,

TIP

• Payment

  const pay_type = <Payment type=COD />;

• Transaction

DANGER

• Payment

const pay_type = <Payment type=COD />;

• Transaction

• Don't use tabs to indent text within a code block; use two spaces.

• Use three dots (...) on a separate line to indicate that more lines of output are omitted from the sample output.

• Refer to Syntax & Guidelines for more examples.

Items to put in ordinary (non-code) font

The following list includes items that should not be in code font:

• Email addresses

• Domain names

• URLs

• Names of products, services, and organizations

API reference

• The API reference code must describe every class, interface, struct, constant, field, enum, and method, with a description for each parameter and the status codes.

• Capitalize the API method names such as GET, PUT, PATCH, etc.

• Provide meaningful information about the request parameters. Link them to other sections of the documentation for more explanations.

• Include any valid and default value at the end of the parameter description. For example, Valid values are true and false. The default is false.

• In detailed documentation, elaborate on how to use the API, including invoking or instantiating it, the key features, and best practices or pitfalls.

Classes and methods

• Describe the class briefly and state the intended function with information that can't be deduced from the class name and signature.

• Describe the method briefly and what action the method performs. In subsequent sentences, state any pre-requisites that must be met before calling it, explain why and how to use the method, give details about exceptions that may occur, and specify any related APIs.

• Method names should be followed by a pair of parentheses ().

• You may also cross-link parameters, classes, and methods.

Deprecations

When something is deprecated, tell the user what to use as a replacement or what to do to make their code work. For example,

WARNING

Deprecated - Access it using this getProd() method instead.

The following section deals with asset (files, images, and videos) management.