listlevel

Listlevel is a term used in document formatting to describe the hierarchical depth of a list item within a multi-level (nested) list. The level determines which numbering style, indentation, and hierarchical relationship apply to that item. In most systems, top-level items are level 0, with each deeper nesting increasing the level by one (level 1, level 2, and so on). This concept is essential for producing organized, readable outlines and for controlling how lists are numbered across multiple levels.

In OpenXML WordprocessingML, the numbering system for Word documents is defined separately in the numbering part. Each level of a list is represented by a level element, often identified by an ilvl attribute that marks the level. A level defines the numbering format (for example decimal or bullet), the text used to display the number (lvlText), text alignment (lvlJc), and how numbering starts (start). The abstract numbering and concrete numbering definitions in the file together establish how a given paragraph participates in a list at a particular level.

Applications and APIs commonly expose listlevel as a property on a paragraph or list item to assign it to a specified level. Setting listlevel to 0 attaches the item to the top-level numbering; setting it to 1 attaches it to the first sublevel, and so on. This controls indentation, numbering sequences, and the appearance of hierarchical lists (for example 1, 1.1, 1.2).

Notes: terminology varies by format; some systems use terms such as ilvl, lvl, or nesting level instead of listlevel. The underlying concept—specifying the position of a list item within a nested structure—exists across formats like OpenXML, RTF, and other word-processing standards.