How to nest code within a list using Markdown [duplicate]

Question

Oftentimes, I want to include code samples in a list, for example:

1. Item One
2. Item Two, for example:
   
   

   private bool ItemTwo()
   {
   return this.IFeelLucky;
   }

3. Item Three

The problem is that there isn't a good and intuitive way to do this using Markdown. It's doable, but you have to do some formatting black-magic to get it that way, which is just not "nice" to deal with.

Source that produces this:

1. Item One
2. Item Two, for example:
<br/><br/><pre><code>private bool ItemTwo()
    {
        return this.IFeelLucky;
    }</code></pre>
3. Item Three

---

I would love to just be able to do it this way:

1. Item One
2. Item Two, for example:

    private bool Test()
    {
        return this.IFeelLucky;
    }

3. Item Three

Which results in, well, this:

1. Item One

2. Item Two, for example:

   private bool Test() { return this.IFeelLucky; }

3. Item Three

---

Answer 1

Code is possible in markdown (see here) - you just have to leave a blank line and then indent by 8 spaces as a minimum.

The text below

* example

        this.isSomeCode = true;

*  
        addMoreCode();

will generate this:

• example

  this.isSomeCode = true;
  

• addMoreCode();
  

Answer 2

If you want to add a block of code to a list item, you have to add an extra 4 spaces for every level of that list. You also have to make sure that you leave a blank line before the code block.

code block outside of a list

• Main list

  code block
  

  • sub list

    code block
    

    second code block
    

    • sub² list

      code block
      

      • sub³ list

        code block
        

    up two list levels
    

# 4↴
    code block outside of a list

- Main list
#     8↴
        code block
# 4↴
    - sub list

#        12↴
            code block
#     8↴
        <!-- --> # can also be used to set highlighting <!-- language: lang-none -->
#        12↴
            second code block
#     8↴
        - sub<sup>2</sup> list

#            16↴
                code block
#        12↴
            - sub<sup>3</sup> list
#                20↴
                    code block
#     8↴
        <!-- -->
#        12↴
            up two list levels

If you need to force the Markdown processor to start a new section, just add a <p/> or <!-- --> on it's own line at the appropriate level. That's how I managed to follow a list with a code block for this answer.
If you do use <!-- --> you can use it to set the highlighting mode for the following code block as well (<!-- language: lang-none -->).

Answer 3

1. Item One
2. Item Two, for example:

    ```private bool Test()
    {
        return this.IFeelLucky;
    }
    ```

3. Item Three

works:

1. Item One

2. Item Two, for example:

   private bool Test() { return this.IFeelLucky; }

3. Item Three

Or indent again to have a prettier code block:

1. Item One
2. Item Two, for example:

        private bool Test()
        {
            return this.IFeelLucky;
        }

3. Item Three

Like this:

1. Item One

2. Item Two, for example:

   private bool Test()
   {
       return this.IFeelLucky;
   }
   

3. Item Three

Answer 4

This is all documented in the editing help, that little [?] button above the editor.

It's also linked from the sidebar of every edit page.

https://meta.stackoverflow.com/editing-help

Answer 5

If you want to start a list item with a block of code, rather than text, you need to add at least a space character after the bullet or number, then make two line breaks before starting to indent the code block with 8 spaces.

In the following examples, line breaks are denoted by the ↵ symbol.

---

• unordered
  

 - ↵
↵
        example

---

1. ordered
   

1. ↵
↵
        example

---

Also see this answer for a real-world example.