diff --git a/Doc/library/configparser.rst b/Doc/library/configparser.rst
index 4d720176fcc334..bea042ba26de8a 100644
--- a/Doc/library/configparser.rst
+++ b/Doc/library/configparser.rst
@@ -489,12 +489,13 @@ However, there are a few differences that should be taken into account:
   a fallback value.  Note however that the section-level ``get()`` methods are
   compatible both with the mapping protocol and the classic configparser API.
 
-* ``parser.items()`` is compatible with the mapping protocol (returns a list of
-  *section_name*, *section_proxy* pairs including the DEFAULTSECT).  However,
-  this method can also be invoked with arguments: ``parser.items(section, raw,
-  vars)``.  The latter call returns a list of *option*, *value* pairs for
-  a specified ``section``, with all interpolations expanded (unless
-  ``raw=True`` is provided).
+* ``parser.items()`` is compatible with the mapping protocol (when invoked
+  with no arguments, returns an :class:`~collections.abc.ItemsView` of
+  *section_name*, *section_proxy* pairs including the DEFAULTSECT).
+  However, this method can also be invoked with arguments:
+  ``parser.items(section, raw, vars)``.  The latter call returns a
+  :class:`list` of *option*, *value* pairs for a specified ``section``,
+  with all interpolations expanded (unless ``raw=True`` is provided).
 
 The mapping protocol is implemented on top of the existing legacy API so that
 subclasses overriding the original interface still should have mappings working
@@ -1214,7 +1215,8 @@ ConfigParser Objects
    .. method:: items(raw=False, vars=None)
                items(section, raw=False, vars=None)
 
-      When *section* is not given, return a list of *section_name*,
+      When *section* is not given, return a
+      :class:`~collections.abc.ItemsView` of *section_name*,
       *section_proxy* pairs, including DEFAULTSECT.
 
       Otherwise, return a list of *name*, *value* pairs for the options in the