diff --git a/src/components/item/item.ts b/src/components/item/item.ts
index 254d66abbc5..e56416d1940 100644
--- a/src/components/item/item.ts
+++ b/src/components/item/item.ts
@@ -9,34 +9,218 @@ import {Label} from '../label/label';
 /**
  * @name Item
  * @description
- * Creates a list-item that can easily be swiped, deleted, reordered, edited, and more.
+ * An item can contain text, images, and anything else. Generally it is placed in a list with other
+ * items. It can easily be swiped, deleted, reordered, edited, and more. An item is only required to
+ * be in a [List](../../list/List) if manipulating the item via gestures is required. It requires an
+ * [ItemSliding](../ItemSliding) wrapper element in order to be swiped.
  *
- * There are three common ways to use an item:
- * - Use `<ion-item>` for something that is only non-clickable text.
- * - Use `<button ion-item>` for something that can be clicked/tapped. Typically this element will also have a `(click)` handler.
- * - Use `<a ion-item>` for when the item needs to contain a `href`.
  *
- * By default, `<button ion-item>` and `<a ion-item>` will receive a right arrow icon on iOS to signal that tapping the item will reveal more information.
- * To hide this icon, add the `detail-none` attribute to the item (eg: `<button ion-item detail-none>`). To add the icon when it is not displayed by default,
- * add the `detail-push` attribute (eg: `<ion-item detail-push>`).
+ * ## Common Usage
+ * An item can be written as an `<ion-item>` element or it can be added to any element by adding
+ * `ion-item` as an attribute.
+ *
+ * ### As an Element
+ * An item should be written as a `<ion-item>` element when it is not clickable.
+ *
+ * ```html
+ * <ion-item>
+ *   Item
+ * </ion-item>
+ * ```
+ *
+ * ### As an Attribute
+ * The attribute `ion-item` should be added to a `<button>` when the item can be clicked or tapped. It
+ * should be added to an `<a>` element when the item needs to contain a `href`. It can be added as an
+ * attribute to any element to take on the item styling.
+ *
+ * ```html
+ * <button ion-item (click)="buttonClick()">
+ *   Button Item
+ * </button>
+ *
+ * <a ion-item href="https://www.ionicframework.com">
+ *   Anchor Item
+ * </a>
+ * ```
+ *
+ * ## Detail Arrows
+ * By default, `<button>` and `<a>` elements with the `ion-item` attribute will display a right arrow icon
+ * on `ios` mode. To hide the right arrow icon on either of these elements, add the `detail-none` attribute
+ * to the item. To show the right arrow icon on an element that doesn't display is naturally, add the
+ * `detail-push` attribute to the item.
+ *
+ * ```html
+ * <ion-item detail-push>
+ *   Item with Detail Arrow
+ * </ion-item>
+ *
+ * <button ion-item (click)="buttonClick()">
+ *   Button Item with Detail Arrow
+ * </button>
+ *
+ * <a ion-item detail-none href="https://www.ionicframework.com">
+ *   Anchor Item with no Detail Arrow
+ * </a>
+ * ```
+ *
+ * This feature is not enabled by default for `md` and `wp` modes, but it can be enabled by setting the
+ * Sass variables `$item-md-detail-push-show` and `$item-wp-detail-push-show`, respectively, to `true`.
+ * It can also be disabled for ios by setting `$item-ios-detail-push-show` to `false`. See the
+ * [theming documentation](http://ionicframework.com/docs/v2/theming/overriding-ionic-variables/) for
+ * more information on overriding Sass variables.
+ *
+ *
+ * ## Item Placement
+ * Items rely heavily on content projection to position content. The item grabs content based on the
+ * element or attribute and positions it that way. This logic makes it possible to write a complex
+ * item with simple, understandable markup without having to worry about styling and positioning
+ * the elements.
+ *
+ * The below chart details the attributes item looks for and where it will place the element with
+ * that attribute inside of the item:
+ *
+ *  | Attribute      | Description                                                                                          |
+ *  |----------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
+ *  | `item-left`    | Placed to the left of all other elements, outside of the inner item.                                 |
+ *  | `item-right`   | Placed to the right of all other elements, inside of the inner item, outside of the input wrapper.   |
+ *  | `item-content` | Placed to the right of any `ion-label`, inside of the input wrapper.                                 |
+ *
+ * ### Checkboxes, Radios and Toggles
+ * [Checkboxes](../../checkbox/Checkbox) are positioned in the same place as the `item-left` attribute.
+ * [Radios](../../radio/RadioButton) and [Toggles](../../toggle/Toggle) are positioned in the same place
+ * as the `item-right` attribute. All of these components can be positioned differently by adding the
+ * `item-left` or `item-right` attribute.
+ *
+ * ### Content and Inputs
+ * A [Label](../../label/Label) is placed inside of the item to the left of all content and inputs. The
+ * following components are all placed in the same position as the `item-content` attribute: [Select](../../select/Select),
+ * [Input](../../input/Input), [TextArea](../../input/TextArea), [DateTime](../../datetime/DateTime), and
+ * [Range](../../range/Range).
+ *
+ * Any element directly placed inside of an `<ion-item>` that does not have one of the previously mentioned
+ * attributes and isn't one of the above elements will be placed inside of a [Label](../../label/Label).
  *
  *
  * @usage
+ *
  * ```html
+ * <ion-list>
+ *
+ *   <ion-item>
+ *     Item
+ *   </ion-item>
+ *
+ *   <ion-item detail-push>
+ *     Item with Detail Arrow
+ *   </ion-item>
  *
+ *   <button ion-item (click)="buttonClick()">
+ *     Button Item
+ *   </button>
+ *
+ *   <button ion-item detail-none (click)="buttonClick()">
+ *     Button Item with no Detail Arrow
+ *   </button>
+ *
+ *   <a ion-item href="https://www.ionicframework.com">
+ *     Anchor Item
+ *   </a>
+ *
+ *   <ion-item no-lines>
+ *     Item with no border
+ *   </ion-item>
+ *
+ *   <ion-item text-wrap>
+ *     Multiline text that should wrap when it is too long
+ *     to fit on one line in the item.
+ *   </ion-item>
+ *
+ * </ion-list>
+ * ```
+ *
+ *
+ * @advanced
+ *
+ * ```html
  * <ion-list>
  *
- *   // default item
+ *   <!-- Loops through and creates multiple items -->
+ *   <ion-item *ngFor="let item of items">
+ *     Item {% raw %}{{item}}{% endraw %}
+ *   </ion-item>
+ *
+ *   <!-- Button item with an icon on the left -->
+ *   <button ion-item>
+ *     <ion-icon name="star" item-left></ion-icon>
+ *     Button Item
+ *   </button>
+ *
+ *   <!-- Item with a label and content -->
+ *   <ion-item>
+ *     <ion-label>
+ *       Item Label
+ *     </ion-label>
+ *     <div item-content>
+ *       Item Content next to the label
+ *     </div>
+ *   </ion-item>
+ *
+ *   <!-- Item with left and right buttons -->
  *   <ion-item>
- *     {% raw %}{{item.title}}{% endraw %}
+ *     <button item-left (click)="buttonClick()">Button</button>
+ *     Item
+ *     <button outline item-right (click)="buttonClick()">Outline</button>
  *   </ion-item>
  *
+ *   <!-- Disabled button item with left and right buttons -->
+ *   <button ion-item disabled>
+ *     <button item-left (click)="buttonClick()">
+ *       <ion-icon name="home"></ion-icon>
+ *       Left Icon
+ *     </button>
+ *     Disabled Button Item
+ *     <button outline item-right (click)="buttonClick()">
+ *       <ion-icon name="star"></ion-icon>
+ *       Left Icon
+ *     </button>
+ *   </button>
+ *
+ *   <!-- Item with an avatar on the left and button on the right -->
+ *   <ion-item>
+ *     <ion-avatar item-left>
+ *       <img src="img/my-avatar.png">
+ *     </ion-avatar>
+ *     Avatar Item
+ *     <button outline item-right>View</button>
+ *   </ion-item>
+ *
+ *   <!-- Item with a thumbnail on the right -->
+ *   <ion-item>
+ *     <h2>Item</h2>
+ *     <p>Item Paragraph</p>
+ *     <ion-thumbnail item-right>
+ *       <img src="img/my-thumbnail.png">
+ *     </ion-thumbnail>
+ *   </ion-item>
+ *
+ *   <!-- Sliding item -->
+ *   <ion-item-sliding>
+ *     <ion-item>
+ *       Item
+ *     </ion-item>
+ *     <ion-item-options>
+ *       <button primary (click)="archive()">Archive</button>
+ *     </ion-item-options>
+ *   </ion-item-sliding>
+ *
  * </ion-list>
+ * ```
+ *
  *
- *  ```
  * @demo /docs/v2/demos/item/
  * @see {@link /docs/v2/components#lists List Component Docs}
  * @see {@link ../../list/List List API Docs}
+ * @see {@link ../ItemSliding ItemSliding API Docs}
  */
 @Component({
   selector: 'ion-item,[ion-item]',