From 1b57c61b27dd782f1304a7a67b33d19f0c14cef2 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: finswimmer <finswimmer77@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 23 Jan 2026 15:09:14 +0100
Subject: [PATCH] fix: add multi-line window creation for section header
 detection

---
 src/docformatter/patterns/lists.py          | 47 +++++++++++++++++++--
 tests/_data/string_files/list_patterns.toml | 32 ++++++++++++++
 tests/patterns/test_list_patterns.py        |  2 +
 3 files changed, 78 insertions(+), 3 deletions(-)

diff --git a/src/docformatter/patterns/lists.py b/src/docformatter/patterns/lists.py
index 48acbdf..a3579cd 100644
--- a/src/docformatter/patterns/lists.py
+++ b/src/docformatter/patterns/lists.py
@@ -26,7 +26,6 @@
 # SOFTWARE.
 """This module provides docformatter's list pattern recognition functions."""
 
-
 # Standard Library Imports
 import re
 from re import Match
@@ -53,6 +52,42 @@
 from .misc import is_inline_math, is_literal_block
 
 
+def _create_multiline_windows(lines: list[str], window_size: int = 3) -> list[str]:
+    r"""Create overlapping windows of consecutive lines.
+
+    This allows pattern matching against multi-line constructs like
+    NumPy section headers (e.g., "Parameters\\n----------") and reST
+    section headers (e.g., "Title\\n=====").
+
+    Parameters
+    ----------
+    lines : list[str]
+        The list of individual lines.
+    window_size : int
+        Number of consecutive lines to join (default 3).
+
+    Returns
+    -------
+    list[str]
+        List of multi-line strings, each containing window_size consecutive
+        lines joined with newlines.
+
+    Notes
+    -----
+    Example:
+        lines = ['A', 'B', 'C', 'D']
+        _create_multiline_windows(lines, 2)
+        # Returns: ['A\\nB', 'B\\nC', 'C\\nD']
+    """
+    if len(lines) < window_size:
+        return ["\n".join(lines)] if lines else []
+
+    return [
+        "\n".join(lines[i : i + window_size])
+        for i in range(len(lines) - window_size + 1)
+    ]
+
+
 def is_type_of_list(
     text: str,
     strict: bool,
@@ -83,16 +118,22 @@ def is_type_of_list(
     if is_field_list(text, style):
         return False
 
+    # Check for multi-line patterns (section headers) first.
+    # These require looking at consecutive lines together.
+    multiline_windows = _create_multiline_windows(split_lines, window_size=2)
+    for window in multiline_windows:
+        if is_rest_section_header(window) or is_numpy_section_header(window):
+            return True
+
+    # Check single-line patterns.
     return any(
         (
             is_bullet_list(line)
             or is_enumerated_list(line)
-            or is_rest_section_header(line)
             or is_option_list(line)
             or is_epytext_field_list(line)
             or is_sphinx_field_list(line)
             or is_numpy_field_list(line)
-            or is_numpy_section_header(line)
             or is_google_field_list(line)
             or is_user_defined_field_list(line)
             or is_literal_block(line)
diff --git a/tests/_data/string_files/list_patterns.toml b/tests/_data/string_files/list_patterns.toml
index 92ff5f2..b7ab8d9 100644
--- a/tests/_data/string_files/list_patterns.toml
+++ b/tests/_data/string_files/list_patterns.toml
@@ -190,3 +190,35 @@ This is a description.
 strict = false
 style = "epytext"
 expected = false
+
+[is_numpy_section_in_docstring_issue_338]    # See GitHub issue #338
+instring = """Do a number of things.
+
+Parameters
+----------
+n
+    How many things to do.
+colors
+    True to paint the things in bright colors, False to keep them
+    dull and grey.
+
+Returns
+-------
+int
+    How many things were actually done.
+"""
+strict = false
+style = "numpy"
+expected = true
+
+[is_rest_section_in_docstring]
+instring = """This is a description.
+
+Section Title
+=============
+
+Some content under the section.
+"""
+strict = false
+style = "numpy"
+expected = true
diff --git a/tests/patterns/test_list_patterns.py b/tests/patterns/test_list_patterns.py
index 4085a8c..b402389 100644
--- a/tests/patterns/test_list_patterns.py
+++ b/tests/patterns/test_list_patterns.py
@@ -73,6 +73,8 @@
         "is_type_of_list_alembic_header",
         "is_epytext_field_list",
         "is_sphinx_field_list",
+        "is_numpy_section_in_docstring_issue_338",
+        "is_rest_section_in_docstring",
     ],
 )
 def test_is_type_of_list(test_key):