diff --git a/docs/examples/usage/__init__.py b/docs/examples/usage/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e69de29b
diff --git a/docs/examples/usage/usage_index_1.py b/docs/examples/usage/usage_index_1.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a8a48516
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/examples/usage/usage_index_1.py
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+from sqlspec import SQLSpec
+from sqlspec.adapters.sqlite import SqliteConfig
+
+__all__ = ("test_index_1",)
+
+
+def test_index_1() -> None:
+    db_manager = SQLSpec()
+    db = db_manager.add_config(SqliteConfig())
+
+    with db_manager.provide_session(db) as session:
+        _ = session.execute(
+            """
+            CREATE TABLE users (
+                id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY,
+                name TEXT NOT NULL
+            )
+            """
+        )
+        _ = session.execute("INSERT INTO users VALUES (?, ?)", 1, "alice")
+
+    with db_manager.provide_session(db) as session:
+        user = session.select_one("SELECT * FROM users WHERE id = ?", 1)
+
+    assert user == {"id": 1, "name": "alice"}
diff --git a/docs/examples/usage/usage_index_2.py b/docs/examples/usage/usage_index_2.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..aac40079
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/examples/usage/usage_index_2.py
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+from sqlspec import SQLSpec, sql
+from sqlspec.adapters.sqlite import SqliteConfig
+
+__all__ = ("test_index_2",)
+
+
+def test_index_2() -> None:
+    db_manager = SQLSpec()
+    db = db_manager.add_config(SqliteConfig())
+    query = sql.select("id", "name", "email").from_("users").where("active = ?")
+
+    with db_manager.provide_session(db) as session:
+        _ = session.execute(
+            """
+            CREATE TABLE users (
+                id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY,
+                name TEXT NOT NULL,
+                email TEXT,
+                active BOOLEAN NOT NULL DEFAULT 1
+            )
+            """
+        )
+        _ = session.execute(
+            """
+            INSERT INTO users VALUES
+                (1, 'alice', 'alice@example.com', 1),
+                (2, 'bob', 'bob@example.com', 0),
+                (3, 'carol', 'carol@example.com', 1)
+            """
+        )
+        users = session.select(query, True)  # noqa: FBT003
+
+    names = [user["name"] for user in users]
+    assert names == ["alice", "carol"]
diff --git a/docs/examples/usage/usage_index_3.py b/docs/examples/usage/usage_index_3.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..3e7db4bf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/examples/usage/usage_index_3.py
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+from pathlib import Path
+
+from sqlspec import SQLSpec
+from sqlspec.adapters.sqlite import SqliteConfig
+from sqlspec.loader import SQLFileLoader
+
+__all__ = ("test_index_3",)
+
+
+QUERIES_PATH = Path(__file__).parent.parent / "queries" / "users.sql"
+
+
+def test_index_3() -> None:
+    db_manager = SQLSpec()
+    db = db_manager.add_config(SqliteConfig())
+    loader = SQLFileLoader()
+    loader.load_sql(QUERIES_PATH)
+    get_user_by_id = loader.get_sql("get_user_by_id")
+
+    with db_manager.provide_session(db) as session:
+        _ = session.execute(
+            """
+            CREATE TABLE users (
+                id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY,
+                username TEXT NOT NULL,
+                email TEXT,
+                created_at TIMESTAMP DEFAULT CURRENT_TIMESTAMP,
+                updated_at TIMESTAMP DEFAULT CURRENT_TIMESTAMP
+            )
+            """
+        )
+        _ = session.execute(
+            """
+            INSERT INTO users(id, username, email)
+            VALUES (1, 'alice', 'alice@example.com'),
+                   (2, 'bob', 'bob@example.com')
+            """
+        )
+        user = session.select_one(get_user_by_id, user_id=2)
+
+    assert user["username"] == "bob"
+    assert user["email"] == "bob@example.com"
diff --git a/docs/usage/index.rst b/docs/usage/index.rst
index 3961c70d..2f31063f 100644
--- a/docs/usage/index.rst
+++ b/docs/usage/index.rst
@@ -51,39 +51,27 @@ Quick Reference
 
 **Basic Query Execution**
 
-.. code-block:: python
-
-   from sqlspec import SQLSpec
-   from sqlspec.adapters.sqlite import SqliteConfig
-
-   spec = SQLSpec()
-   db = spec.add_config(SqliteConfig())
-
-   with spec.provide_session(db) as session:
-       result = session.execute("SELECT * FROM users WHERE id = ?", 1)
-       user = result.one()
+.. literalinclude:: /examples/usage/usage_index_1.py
+   :language: python
+   :caption: ``basic query execution``
+   :lines: 1-23
+   :dedent: 4
 
 **Using the Query Builder**
 
-.. code-block:: python
-
-   from sqlspec import sql
-
-   query = sql.select("id", "name", "email").from_("users").where("active = ?")
-   result = session.execute(query, True)
-   users = result.all()
+.. literalinclude:: /examples/usage/usage_index_2.py
+   :language: python
+   :caption: ``using the query builder``
+   :lines: 1-32
+   :dedent: 4
 
 **Loading from SQL Files**
 
-.. code-block:: python
-
-   from sqlspec.loader import SQLFileLoader
-
-   loader = SQLFileLoader()
-   loader.load_sql("queries/users.sql")
-
-   user_query = loader.get_sql("get_user_by_id", user_id=123)
-   result = session.execute(user_query)
+.. literalinclude:: /examples/usage/usage_index_3.py
+   :language: python
+   :caption: ``loading from sql files``
+   :lines: 1-39
+   :dedent: 4
 
 Next Steps
 ----------
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index be03467e..b6e7631f 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -287,7 +287,7 @@ exclude_lines = [
 addopts = ["-q", "-ra"]
 asyncio_default_fixture_loop_scope = "function"
 asyncio_mode = "auto"
-python_files = ["test_*.py", "quickstart_*.py"]
+python_files = ["test_*.py", "quickstart_*.py", "usage_*.py"]
 filterwarnings = [
   "ignore::DeprecationWarning:pkg_resources.*",
   "ignore:pkg_resources is deprecated as an API:DeprecationWarning",
@@ -331,7 +331,7 @@ markers = [
   "pymysql: marks tests using pymysql",
   "psqlpy: marks tests using psqlpy",
 ]
-testpaths = ["tests", "docs/examples/quickstart"]
+testpaths = ["tests", "docs/examples/quickstart", "docs/examples/usage"]
 
 [tool.mypy]
 exclude = ["tmp/", ".tmp/", ".bugs/"]
diff --git a/specs/guides/docs_examples_alignment.md b/specs/guides/docs_examples_alignment.md
index 54588335..148ac5c8 100644
--- a/specs/guides/docs_examples_alignment.md
+++ b/specs/guides/docs_examples_alignment.md
@@ -18,11 +18,11 @@
 ## Testing Command Examples
 
 ```bash
-uv run pytest docs/examples/quickstart -q
+uv run pytest docs/examples/quickstart docs/examples/usage -q
 ```
 
 - `docs/examples/quickstart/conftest.py` sets `SQLSPEC_QUICKSTART_PG_*` from `pytest-databases` so `quickstart_5.py` stays copy/paste friendly in the docs.
-- Async or adapter-specific samples no longer need separate commands—pytest collects `quickstart_4.py` and `quickstart_5.py` automatically via `python_files`.
+- Usage samples are function-based (`usage_*.py`) and collected automatically because `python_files` now includes that pattern.
 - Prefer smaller batches (per topic/section) to keep feedback loops fast.
 
 ## Review Checklist