diff --git a/docs/mkdocs/docs/examples/custom_array_type.cpp b/docs/mkdocs/docs/examples/custom_array_type.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..63651cadf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/mkdocs/docs/examples/custom_array_type.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+#include <iostream>
+#include <map>
+
+#include <nlohmann/json.hpp>
+
+#include "custom_array_type.hpp"
+
+using custom_json = nlohmann::basic_json<std::map, custom_array_type>;
+
+int main()
+{
+    custom_json j = custom_json::array();
+    j.push_back(1);
+    j.push_back(2);
+    j.push_back(3);
+
+    std::cout << j.dump() << std::endl;
+    std::cout << std::boolalpha << (custom_json::parse(j.dump()) == j) << std::endl;
+}
diff --git a/docs/mkdocs/docs/examples/custom_array_type.hpp b/docs/mkdocs/docs/examples/custom_array_type.hpp
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..750d52a81
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/mkdocs/docs/examples/custom_array_type.hpp
@@ -0,0 +1,152 @@
+#pragma once
+
+#include <memory>
+#include <utility>
+#include <vector>
+
+// A minimal, self-contained ArrayType built around a private std::vector.
+// See https://json.nlohmann.me/features/types/template_parameters/#arraytype
+template<class T, class Allocator = std::allocator<T>>
+class custom_array_type
+{
+    using vector_t = std::vector<T, Allocator>;
+    vector_t data_;
+
+  public:
+    using value_type = typename vector_t::value_type;
+    using size_type = typename vector_t::size_type;
+    using iterator = typename vector_t::iterator;
+    using const_iterator = typename vector_t::const_iterator;
+
+    custom_array_type() = default;
+    custom_array_type(const custom_array_type&) = default;
+    custom_array_type(custom_array_type&&) = default;
+    custom_array_type& operator=(const custom_array_type&) = default;
+    custom_array_type& operator=(custom_array_type&&) = default;
+
+    template<class InputIt>
+    custom_array_type(InputIt first, InputIt last) : data_(first, last) {}
+
+    custom_array_type(size_type count, const T& value) : data_(count, value) {}
+
+    iterator begin()
+    {
+        return data_.begin();
+    }
+    iterator end()
+    {
+        return data_.end();
+    }
+    const_iterator begin() const
+    {
+        return data_.begin();
+    }
+    const_iterator end() const
+    {
+        return data_.end();
+    }
+    const_iterator cbegin() const
+    {
+        return data_.cbegin();
+    }
+    const_iterator cend() const
+    {
+        return data_.cend();
+    }
+
+    bool empty() const
+    {
+        return data_.empty();
+    }
+    size_type size() const
+    {
+        return data_.size();
+    }
+    size_type max_size() const
+    {
+        return data_.max_size();
+    }
+    void clear()
+    {
+        data_.clear();
+    }
+    void resize(size_type n)
+    {
+        data_.resize(n);
+    }
+
+    T& operator[](size_type pos)
+    {
+        return data_[pos];
+    }
+    const T& operator[](size_type pos) const
+    {
+        return data_[pos];
+    }
+
+    T& back()
+    {
+        return data_.back();
+    }
+    const T& back() const
+    {
+        return data_.back();
+    }
+
+    void push_back(const T& value)
+    {
+        data_.push_back(value);
+    }
+    void push_back(T&& value)
+    {
+        data_.push_back(std::move(value));
+    }
+
+    template<class... Args>
+    void emplace_back(Args&& ... args)
+    {
+        data_.emplace_back(std::forward<Args>(args)...);
+    }
+
+    void pop_back()
+    {
+        data_.pop_back();
+    }
+
+    iterator insert(const_iterator pos, const T& value)
+    {
+        return data_.insert(pos, value);
+    }
+    iterator insert(const_iterator pos, size_type count, const T& value)
+    {
+        return data_.insert(pos, count, value);
+    }
+    template<class InputIt>
+    iterator insert(const_iterator pos, InputIt first, InputIt last)
+    {
+        return data_.insert(pos, first, last);
+    }
+
+    iterator erase(const_iterator pos)
+    {
+        return data_.erase(pos);
+    }
+    iterator erase(const_iterator first, const_iterator last)
+    {
+        return data_.erase(first, last);
+    }
+
+    void swap(custom_array_type& other)
+    {
+        data_.swap(other.data_);
+    }
+
+    friend bool operator==(const custom_array_type& lhs, const custom_array_type& rhs)
+    {
+        return lhs.data_ == rhs.data_;
+    }
+    friend bool operator<(const custom_array_type& lhs, const custom_array_type& rhs)
+    {
+        return lhs.data_ < rhs.data_;
+    }
+};
diff --git a/docs/mkdocs/docs/examples/custom_array_type.output b/docs/mkdocs/docs/examples/custom_array_type.output
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f5ceaa555
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/mkdocs/docs/examples/custom_array_type.output
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+[1,2,3]
+true
diff --git a/docs/mkdocs/docs/examples/custom_binary_type.cpp b/docs/mkdocs/docs/examples/custom_binary_type.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..cea34ea38
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/mkdocs/docs/examples/custom_binary_type.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+#include <cstdint>
+#include <iostream>
+#include <map>
+#include <string>
+#include <vector>
+
+#include <nlohmann/json.hpp>
+
+#include "custom_binary_type.hpp"
+
+using custom_json = nlohmann::basic_json<std::map, std::vector, std::string, bool,
+      std::int64_t, std::uint64_t, double, std::allocator,
+      nlohmann::adl_serializer, custom_binary_type>;
+
+int main()
+{
+    const auto j = custom_json::binary({0x01, 0x02, 0x03});
+
+    std::cout << j.dump() << std::endl;
+    std::cout << std::boolalpha << (custom_json::from_cbor(custom_json::to_cbor(j)) == j) << std::endl;
+}
diff --git a/docs/mkdocs/docs/examples/custom_binary_type.hpp b/docs/mkdocs/docs/examples/custom_binary_type.hpp
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..77b4ad49a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/mkdocs/docs/examples/custom_binary_type.hpp
@@ -0,0 +1,112 @@
+#pragma once
+
+#include <cstdint>
+#include <initializer_list>
+#include <vector>
+
+// A minimal, self-contained BinaryType built around a private std::vector.
+// See https://json.nlohmann.me/features/types/template_parameters/#binarytype
+class custom_binary_type
+{
+    using vector_t = std::vector<std::uint8_t>;
+    vector_t data_;
+
+  public:
+    using value_type = vector_t::value_type;
+    using size_type = vector_t::size_type;
+    using iterator = vector_t::iterator;
+    using const_iterator = vector_t::const_iterator;
+
+    custom_binary_type() = default;
+    custom_binary_type(const custom_binary_type&) = default;
+    custom_binary_type(custom_binary_type&&) = default;
+    custom_binary_type& operator=(const custom_binary_type&) = default;
+    custom_binary_type& operator=(custom_binary_type&&) = default;
+
+    template<class InputIt>
+    custom_binary_type(InputIt first, InputIt last) : data_(first, last) {}
+
+    // so basic_json::binary({0x01, 0x02}) can build one directly
+    custom_binary_type(std::initializer_list<std::uint8_t> init) : data_(init) {}
+
+    size_type size() const
+    {
+        return data_.size();
+    }
+    bool empty() const
+    {
+        return data_.empty();
+    }
+    void clear()
+    {
+        data_.clear();
+    }
+    void resize(size_type n)
+    {
+        data_.resize(n);
+    }
+
+    // read-only is enough: the writers only ever read from a binary value
+    const std::uint8_t* data() const
+    {
+        return data_.data();
+    }
+
+    std::uint8_t& operator[](size_type pos)
+    {
+        return data_[pos];
+    }
+    std::uint8_t operator[](size_type pos) const
+    {
+        return data_[pos];
+    }
+
+    std::uint8_t& back()
+    {
+        return data_.back();
+    }
+    std::uint8_t back() const
+    {
+        return data_.back();
+    }
+
+    iterator begin()
+    {
+        return data_.begin();
+    }
+    iterator end()
+    {
+        return data_.end();
+    }
+    const_iterator begin() const
+    {
+        return data_.begin();
+    }
+    const_iterator end() const
+    {
+        return data_.end();
+    }
+    const_iterator cbegin() const
+    {
+        return data_.cbegin();
+    }
+    const_iterator cend() const
+    {
+        return data_.cend();
+    }
+
+    template<class InputIt>
+    iterator insert(const_iterator pos, InputIt first, InputIt last)
+    {
+        return data_.insert(pos, first, last);
+    }
+
+    friend bool operator==(const custom_binary_type& lhs, const custom_binary_type& rhs)
+    {
+        return lhs.data_ == rhs.data_;
+    }
+    friend bool operator<(const custom_binary_type& lhs, const custom_binary_type& rhs)
+    {
+        return lhs.data_ < rhs.data_;
+    }
+};
diff --git a/docs/mkdocs/docs/examples/custom_binary_type.output b/docs/mkdocs/docs/examples/custom_binary_type.output
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..b4814d6ed
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/mkdocs/docs/examples/custom_binary_type.output
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+{"bytes":[1,2,3],"subtype":null}
+true
diff --git a/docs/mkdocs/docs/examples/custom_object_type.cpp b/docs/mkdocs/docs/examples/custom_object_type.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..d4f99ccf0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/mkdocs/docs/examples/custom_object_type.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+#include <iostream>
+#include <type_traits>
+#include <vector>
+
+#include <nlohmann/json.hpp>
+
+#include "custom_object_type.hpp"
+
+using custom_json = nlohmann::basic_json<custom_object_type, std::vector>;
+
+int main()
+{
+    custom_json j;
+    j["pi"] = 3.141;
+    j["happy"] = true;
+    j["list"] = {1, 2, 3};
+
+    std::cout << j.dump(2) << std::endl;
+    std::cout << std::boolalpha << (custom_json::parse(j.dump()) == j) << std::endl;
+
+    // custom_object_type has no key_compare member, so object_comparator_t
+    // falls back to its default
+    std::cout << std::boolalpha
+              << std::is_same<custom_json::object_comparator_t, custom_json::default_object_comparator_t>::value
+              << std::endl;
+}
diff --git a/docs/mkdocs/docs/examples/custom_object_type.hpp b/docs/mkdocs/docs/examples/custom_object_type.hpp
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..da715ed4e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/mkdocs/docs/examples/custom_object_type.hpp
@@ -0,0 +1,144 @@
+#pragma once
+
+#include <map>
+#include <utility>
+
+// A minimal, self-contained ObjectType built around a private std::map.
+// key_compare is deliberately not exposed: when an ObjectType has no
+// key_compare member, the library falls back to its own default comparator.
+// See https://json.nlohmann.me/features/types/template_parameters/#objecttype
+template<class Key, class T, class Compare, class Allocator>
+class custom_object_type
+{
+    using map_t = std::map<Key, T, Compare, Allocator>;
+    map_t data_;
+
+  public:
+    using key_type = typename map_t::key_type;
+    using mapped_type = typename map_t::mapped_type;
+    using value_type = typename map_t::value_type;
+    using size_type = typename map_t::size_type;
+    using iterator = typename map_t::iterator;
+    using const_iterator = typename map_t::const_iterator;
+
+    custom_object_type() = default;
+    custom_object_type(const custom_object_type&) = default;
+    custom_object_type(custom_object_type&&) = default;
+    custom_object_type& operator=(const custom_object_type&) = default;
+    custom_object_type& operator=(custom_object_type&&) = default;
+
+    template<class InputIt>
+    custom_object_type(InputIt first, InputIt last) : data_(first, last) {}
+
+    iterator begin()
+    {
+        return data_.begin();
+    }
+    iterator end()
+    {
+        return data_.end();
+    }
+    const_iterator begin() const
+    {
+        return data_.begin();
+    }
+    const_iterator end() const
+    {
+        return data_.end();
+    }
+    const_iterator cbegin() const
+    {
+        return data_.cbegin();
+    }
+    const_iterator cend() const
+    {
+        return data_.cend();
+    }
+
+    bool empty() const
+    {
+        return data_.empty();
+    }
+    size_type size() const
+    {
+        return data_.size();
+    }
+    size_type max_size() const
+    {
+        return data_.max_size();
+    }
+    void clear()
+    {
+        data_.clear();
+    }
+
+    iterator find(const key_type& key)
+    {
+        return data_.find(key);
+    }
+    const_iterator find(const key_type& key) const
+    {
+        return data_.find(key);
+    }
+    size_type count(const key_type& key) const
+    {
+        return data_.count(key);
+    }
+
+    std::pair<iterator, bool> emplace(const key_type& key, const mapped_type& value)
+    {
+        return data_.emplace(key, value);
+    }
+
+    std::pair<iterator, bool> insert(const value_type& value)
+    {
+        return data_.insert(value);
+    }
+
+    template<class InputIt>
+    void insert(InputIt first, InputIt last)
+    {
+        data_.insert(first, last);
+    }
+
+    mapped_type& operator[](const key_type& key)
+    {
+        return data_[key];
+    }
+
+    mapped_type& at(const key_type& key)
+    {
+        return data_.at(key);
+    }
+    const mapped_type& at(const key_type& key) const
+    {
+        return data_.at(key);
+    }
+
+    iterator erase(iterator pos)
+    {
+        return data_.erase(pos);
+    }
+    iterator erase(iterator first, iterator last)
+    {
+        return data_.erase(first, last);
+    }
+    size_type erase(const key_type& key)
+    {
+        return data_.erase(key);
+    }
+
+    void swap(custom_object_type& other)
+    {
+        data_.swap(other.data_);
+    }
+
+    friend bool operator==(const custom_object_type& lhs, const custom_object_type& rhs)
+    {
+        return lhs.data_ == rhs.data_;
+    }
+    friend bool operator<(const custom_object_type& lhs, const custom_object_type& rhs)
+    {
+        return lhs.data_ < rhs.data_;
+    }
+};
diff --git a/docs/mkdocs/docs/examples/custom_object_type.output b/docs/mkdocs/docs/examples/custom_object_type.output
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..48b3e9630
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/mkdocs/docs/examples/custom_object_type.output
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+{
+  "happy": true,
+  "list": [
+    1,
+    2,
+    3
+  ],
+  "pi": 3.141
+}
+true
+true
diff --git a/docs/mkdocs/docs/examples/custom_string_type.cpp b/docs/mkdocs/docs/examples/custom_string_type.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..63b798fc6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/mkdocs/docs/examples/custom_string_type.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+#include <iostream>
+#include <map>
+#include <vector>
+
+#include <nlohmann/json.hpp>
+
+#include "custom_string_type.hpp"
+
+using custom_json = nlohmann::basic_json<std::map, std::vector, custom_string_type>;
+
+int main()
+{
+    custom_json j;
+    j["pi"] = 3.141;
+    j["happy"] = true;
+    j["list"] = {1, 2, 3};
+
+    std::cout << j.dump(2) << std::endl;
+    std::cout << std::boolalpha << (custom_json::parse(j.dump()) == j) << std::endl;
+}
diff --git a/docs/mkdocs/docs/examples/custom_string_type.hpp b/docs/mkdocs/docs/examples/custom_string_type.hpp
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..ec48501fc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/mkdocs/docs/examples/custom_string_type.hpp
@@ -0,0 +1,134 @@
+#pragma once
+
+#include <ostream>
+#include <string>
+
+// A minimal, self-contained StringType built around a private std::string.
+// Wraps rather than inherits, so it exposes exactly what the library needs
+// and nothing more of std::string's interface.
+//
+// Covers the "Always required" members, the extras needed for the binary
+// formats, and the extras needed for JSON Pointer / flatten / unflatten /
+// diff. Extending it further (e.g. for std::hash<basic_json> or to_bson) is
+// a matter of adding the extra members listed in the "Required for other
+// functionality" table.
+//
+// See https://json.nlohmann.me/features/types/template_parameters/#stringtype
+class custom_string_type
+{
+    std::string data_;
+
+  public:
+    using value_type = char;
+    using size_type = std::string::size_type;
+    using iterator = std::string::iterator;
+    using const_iterator = std::string::const_iterator;
+
+    static constexpr size_type npos = std::string::npos;
+
+    custom_string_type() = default;
+    custom_string_type(const custom_string_type&) = default;
+    custom_string_type(custom_string_type&&) = default;
+    custom_string_type& operator=(const custom_string_type&) = default;
+    custom_string_type& operator=(custom_string_type&&) = default;
+
+    // not explicit: the library relies on being able to hand it a string literal
+    custom_string_type(const char* s) : data_(s) {}
+    custom_string_type(const char* s, size_type count) : data_(s, count) {}
+    custom_string_type(size_type count, char ch) : data_(count, ch) {}
+
+    size_type size() const
+    {
+        return data_.size();
+    }
+    bool empty() const
+    {
+        return data_.empty();
+    }
+    void clear()
+    {
+        data_.clear();
+    }
+    void resize(size_type n)
+    {
+        data_.resize(n);
+    }
+    void resize(size_type n, char c)
+    {
+        data_.resize(n, c);
+    }
+    void reserve(size_type n)
+    {
+        data_.reserve(n);
+    }
+
+    // must stay null-terminated -- the parser hands this to std::strtoull &
+    // friends; std::string::data() has guaranteed that since C++11
+    const char* data() const
+    {
+        return data_.data();
+    }
+
+    void push_back(char c)
+    {
+        data_.push_back(c);
+    }
+
+    char& operator[](size_type pos)
+    {
+        return data_[pos];
+    }
+    char operator[](size_type pos) const
+    {
+        return data_[pos];
+    }
+
+    custom_string_type& append(const char* s, size_type count)
+    {
+        data_.append(s, count);
+        return *this;
+    }
+    custom_string_type& append(const custom_string_type& other)
+    {
+        data_.append(other.data_);
+        return *this;
+    }
+
+    size_type find_first_of(char c, size_type pos = 0) const
+    {
+        return data_.find_first_of(c, pos);
+    }
+
+    iterator begin()
+    {
+        return data_.begin();
+    }
+    iterator end()
+    {
+        return data_.end();
+    }
+    const_iterator begin() const
+    {
+        return data_.begin();
+    }
+    const_iterator end() const
+    {
+        return data_.end();
+    }
+
+    friend bool operator==(const custom_string_type& lhs, const custom_string_type& rhs)
+    {
+        return lhs.data_ == rhs.data_;
+    }
+    friend bool operator<(const custom_string_type& lhs, const custom_string_type& rhs)
+    {
+        return lhs.data_ < rhs.data_;
+    }
+
+    // not required by the library itself, but dump() returns a custom_string_type
+    // and this makes `std::cout << j.dump()` work as expected
+    friend std::ostream& operator<<(std::ostream& os, const custom_string_type& s)
+    {
+        return os << s.data_;
+    }
+};
diff --git a/docs/mkdocs/docs/examples/custom_string_type.output b/docs/mkdocs/docs/examples/custom_string_type.output
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..d792e2a72
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/mkdocs/docs/examples/custom_string_type.output
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+{
+  "happy": true,
+  "list": [
+    1,
+    2,
+    3
+  ],
+  "pi": 3.141
+}
+true
diff --git a/docs/mkdocs/docs/features/types/template_parameters.md b/docs/mkdocs/docs/features/types/template_parameters.md
index 61d4fb90b..760972dff 100644
--- a/docs/mkdocs/docs/features/types/template_parameters.md
+++ b/docs/mkdocs/docs/features/types/template_parameters.md
@@ -202,6 +202,29 @@ conservatively -- this is correct, but slower.
 The library does not sort or de-duplicate keys itself; the behavior described in
 [`object_t`](../../api/basic_json/object_t.md) is entirely the behavior of the chosen container.
 
+!!! tip "Reference implementation"
+
+    `docs/mkdocs/docs/examples/custom_object_type.hpp` wraps a private `#!cpp std::map` and satisfies every
+    requirement above. It does not define `key_compare`, so `object_comparator_t` falls back to
+    [`default_object_comparator_t`](../../api/basic_json/default_object_comparator_t.md) -- a good starting point for
+    a custom `ObjectType`.
+
+    ```cpp
+    --8<-- "examples/custom_object_type.hpp"
+    ```
+
+??? example "Compiling and using it"
+
+    ```cpp
+    --8<-- "examples/custom_object_type.cpp"
+    ```
+
+    Output:
+
+    ```json
+    --8<-- "examples/custom_object_type.output"
+    ```
+
 ### Compatible containers
 
 | Container                                                                        | Notes                                                                         |
@@ -274,6 +297,27 @@ using array_t = ArrayType<basic_json, AllocatorType<basic_json>>;
     pointers of all elements are refreshed after every insertion, which makes adding *n* elements cost O(*n*²). Only
     diagnostics builds pay this; without them `capacity()` is never called.
 
+!!! tip "Reference implementation"
+
+    `docs/mkdocs/docs/examples/custom_array_type.hpp` wraps a private `#!cpp std::vector` and satisfies every
+    requirement above -- a good starting point for a custom `ArrayType`.
+
+    ```cpp
+    --8<-- "examples/custom_array_type.hpp"
+    ```
+
+??? example "Compiling and using it"
+
+    ```cpp
+    --8<-- "examples/custom_array_type.cpp"
+    ```
+
+    Output:
+
+    ```json
+    --8<-- "examples/custom_array_type.output"
+    ```
+
 ### Compatible containers
 
 | Container                                               | Notes                                                                                     |
@@ -394,8 +438,26 @@ using array_t = ArrayType<basic_json, AllocatorType<basic_json>>;
 
 !!! tip "Reference implementation"
 
-    The unit test `tests/src/unit-alt-string.cpp` contains `alt_string`, a minimal string type that satisfies the
-    requirements needed for the tested subset of the API. It is a good starting point for a custom `StringType`.
+    `docs/mkdocs/docs/examples/custom_string_type.hpp` wraps a private `#!cpp std::string` and satisfies every
+    requirement above -- a good starting point for a custom `StringType`. The unit test
+    `tests/src/unit-alt-string.cpp` contains a more thorough variant, `alt_string`, exercised against a larger part
+    of the API.
+
+    ```cpp
+    --8<-- "examples/custom_string_type.hpp"
+    ```
+
+??? example "Compiling and using it"
+
+    ```cpp
+    --8<-- "examples/custom_string_type.cpp"
+    ```
+
+    Output:
+
+    ```json
+    --8<-- "examples/custom_string_type.output"
+    ```
 
 ## `BooleanType`
 
@@ -593,6 +655,27 @@ using binary_t = nlohmann::byte_container_with_subtype<BinaryType>;
 See [`binary_t`](../../api/basic_json/binary_t.md) for how a non-default `BinaryType` changes the meaning of assigning
 such a container to a `basic_json` value.
 
+!!! tip "Reference implementation"
+
+    `docs/mkdocs/docs/examples/custom_binary_type.hpp` wraps a private `#!cpp std::vector<std::uint8_t>` and satisfies
+    every requirement above -- a good starting point for a custom `BinaryType`.
+
+    ```cpp
+    --8<-- "examples/custom_binary_type.hpp"
+    ```
+
+??? example "Compiling and using it"
+
+    ```cpp
+    --8<-- "examples/custom_binary_type.cpp"
+    ```
+
+    Output:
+
+    ```json
+    --8<-- "examples/custom_binary_type.output"
+    ```
+
 ### Compatible containers
 
 | Container                                                                                   | Notes                                                                     |