This template takes care that a textbox is displayed, which is titled "example", possibly followed by a brief description in brackets. Below the title appears the main text body of the example. If there is an addition to the title, it precedes the main text body in the template markdown. For instance, the source code

{{example|the integers|The integers <math>\mathbb Z</math>, along with their standard addition, form an example of a cyclic abelian group, and are moreover the only ''infinite'' cyclic abelian group, up to isomorphism.}}

produces the following textbox:

Example (the integers):

The integers , along with their standard addition, form an example of a cyclic abelian group, and are moreover the only infinite cyclic abelian group, up to isomorphism.

On the other hand, if there is only a single parameter that is transmitted to the template, then it will be interpreted as the main body of text of the example. This is exemplified in the source code

{{example|The water molecule H<sub>2</sub>O is a molecule whose charge is not evenly distributed in space.}}

producing the following textbox:

<span class="anchor" id="The water molecule H2O is a molecule whose charge is not evenly distributed in space.">

Example:

The water molecule H2O is a molecule whose charge is not evenly distributed in space.