How do I create headings in Markdown?

Create headings using # symbols. Use # for H1, ## for H2, ### for H3, and so on up to ###### for H6. Always put a space after the # symbols.

How do I make text bold or italic in Markdown?

For bold text, wrap it with **double asterisks** or __double underscores__. For italic text, use *single asterisks* or _single underscores_. For bold and italic, use ***triple asterisks***.

How do I create links in Markdown?

Create links using [link text](URL) syntax. For example: [Google](https://google.com). You can also add a title: [link text](URL "title").

How do I add images in Markdown?

Add images using ![alt text](image-url) syntax. The alt text describes the image for accessibility. You can also add a title: ![alt text](image-url "title").

How do I create code blocks in Markdown?

For inline code, use `backticks`. For code blocks, use triple backticks (```) before and after the code. Add a language identifier after the opening backticks for syntax highlighting: ```javascript

How do I create tables in Markdown?

Create tables using pipes (|) and hyphens (-). Use | to separate columns and --- to separate the header row. Align columns with colons: :--- left, :---: center, ---: right.

Markdown Editor - Free Online MD Editor with Live Preview

Markdown Editor

What is Markdown?

Markdown is a lightweight markup language created by John Gruber in 2004. It allows you to write formatted text using plain text syntax that's easy to read and write.

Common uses:

README files on GitHub/GitLab
Documentation and wikis
Blog posts and articles
Note-taking applications
Forum posts and comments
Static site generators

File extension: .md or .markdown

Paragraphs

Paragraphs are separated by blank lines. A single line break does not create a new paragraph.

This is the first paragraph.

This is the second paragraph.

This is the third paragraph with
a line break that doesn't create a new paragraph.

Headings

Create headings using # symbols (1-6). More # = smaller heading.

# Heading 1 (H1)
## Heading 2 (H2)
### Heading 3 (H3)
#### Heading 4 (H4)
##### Heading 5 (H5)
###### Heading 6 (H6)

Alternative Syntax (H1 and H2 only)

Heading 1
=========

Heading 2
---------

Best Practices

Always put a space after the # symbols
Use only one H1 per document (usually the title)
Don't skip heading levels (H1 → H3)
Add blank lines before and after headings

Text Emphasis & Formatting

Bold

**This is bold text**
__This is also bold__

Italic

*This is italic text*
_This is also italic_

Bold and Italic

***Bold and italic***
___Also bold and italic___
**_Another way_**
*__Yet another way__*

Strikethrough

~~This text is crossed out~~

Highlight (Extended)

==Highlighted text== (not all processors support this)

Subscript and Superscript (Extended)

H~2~O (subscript)
X^2^ (superscript)

Lists

Unordered Lists

Use -, *, or + for bullet points.

- First item
- Second item
- Third item

* Alternative syntax
* Using asterisks

+ Or plus signs
+ Work too

Ordered Lists

1. First item
2. Second item
3. Third item

1. Numbers don't need to be sequential
1. Markdown will auto-number
1. This becomes 1, 2, 3

Nested Lists

1. First item
   - Nested bullet
   - Another nested item
     - Third level
2. Second item
   1. Nested numbered
   2. Another numbered

Task Lists (Checkboxes)

- [x] Completed task
- [x] Another completed task
- [ ] Incomplete task
- [ ] Another incomplete task

Lists with Paragraphs

1. First item

   Additional paragraph for the first item.

2. Second item

   Another paragraph here.

Links

Inline Links

[Link text](https://example.com)

[Link with title](https://example.com "Hover title")

Reference Links

[Link text][reference-id]

[reference-id]: https://example.com "Optional Title"

Or use the link text as the reference:
[Example][]

[Example]: https://example.com

Autolinks

<https://example.com>
<email@example.com>

Many processors auto-link URLs:
https://example.com

Section Links (Anchors)

[Jump to Headings](#headings)

Headings automatically get IDs:
# My Heading
Link: [Go to My Heading](#my-heading)

Relative Links

[Link to file](./folder/file.md)
[Link to parent](../other-folder/file.md)
[Link to image](./images/photo.jpg)

Images

Inline Images

![Alt text](image-url.jpg)

![Alt text](image-url.jpg "Image title")

Reference Images

![Alt text][image-id]

[image-id]: image-url.jpg "Optional title"

Linked Images

[![Alt text](image.jpg)](https://example.com)

Click the image to go to the link.

Image with Size (HTML)

<img src="image.jpg" alt="Alt text" width="300">

Some processors support:
![Alt text](image.jpg){width=300}

Code

Inline Code

Use `backticks` for inline code.

Use ``double backticks`` to include `literal backticks`.

Fenced Code Blocks

```
Code block without syntax highlighting
```

```javascript
// With syntax highlighting
function greet(name) {
  console.log(`Hello, ${name}!`);
}
```

```python
# Python example
def greet(name):
    print(f"Hello, {name}!")
```

Indented Code Blocks

Regular paragraph.

    // Indent 4 spaces or 1 tab
    function example() {
      return true;
    }

Regular paragraph continues.

Supported Languages

Common language identifiers:

`javascript`, `js`	`python`, `py`	`html`
`css`	`json`	`xml`
`bash`, `shell`	`sql`	`php`
`java`	`c`, `cpp`	`csharp`
`ruby`	`go`	`rust`
`typescript`, `ts`	`yaml`	`markdown`, `md`

Blockquotes

Simple Blockquote

> This is a blockquote.
> It can span multiple lines.

Multi-paragraph Blockquotes

> First paragraph of the quote.
>
> Second paragraph of the quote.

Nested Blockquotes

> Outer quote
>
> > Nested quote
> >
> > > Deeply nested quote

Blockquotes with Other Elements

> ### Heading in a blockquote
>
> - List item 1
> - List item 2
>
> **Bold** and *italic* work too.
>
> ```js
> // Even code blocks!
> console.log("Hello");
> ```

Tables

Basic Table

| Header 1 | Header 2 | Header 3 |
|----------|----------|----------|
| Cell 1   | Cell 2   | Cell 3   |
| Cell 4   | Cell 5   | Cell 6   |

Column Alignment

| Left | Center | Right |
|:-----|:------:|------:|
| L    |   C    |     R |
| Left | Center | Right |

Alignment: :--- left, :---: center, ---: right

Formatting in Tables

| Feature | Syntax |
|---------|--------|
| Bold | `**text**` |
| Italic | `*text*` |
| Code | `` `code` `` |
| Link | `[text](url)` |

Compact Syntax

Header 1 | Header 2
--- | ---
Cell 1 | Cell 2

Horizontal Rules

Create horizontal lines using three or more of the following:

---

***

___

- - -

* * *

All of these create a horizontal rule (<hr>).

Line Breaks

Hard Line Break

First line with two spaces at the end
Second line

Or use a backslash:\
Next line

Or use HTML:
First line<br>Second line

Soft Line Break

These two lines
will appear on the same line in output.

Escaping Characters

Use backslash \ to escape special characters:

\* Not italic \*
\*\*Not bold\*\*
\# Not a heading
\[Not a link\](url)
\`Not code\`
\| Not | a | table |

Characters That Can Be Escaped

`\` backslash	` backtick	`*` asterisk
`_` underscore	`{}` braces	`[]` brackets
`()` parentheses	`#` hash	`+` plus
`-` minus	`.` dot	`!` exclamation
`\|` pipe

HTML in Markdown

Most Markdown processors support inline HTML:

<div class="custom">
  <p>HTML content here</p>
</div>

<details>
  <summary>Click to expand</summary>
  Hidden content here.
</details>

<kbd>Ctrl</kbd> + <kbd>C</kbd>

<mark>Highlighted text</mark>

<sub>subscript</sub> and <sup>superscript</sup>

<abbr title="Hypertext Markup Language">HTML</abbr>

Footnotes (Extended)

Here's a sentence with a footnote.[^1]

[^1]: This is the footnote content.

You can also use words[^note].

[^note]: Named footnotes work too.

Multi-paragraph footnotes:

[^long]: First paragraph.

    Indented second paragraph.

    Third paragraph.

Definition Lists (Extended)

Term 1
: Definition for term 1

Term 2
: Definition for term 2
: Another definition for term 2

Markdown
: A lightweight markup language
: Created by John Gruber in 2004

Emoji

Shortcodes (GitHub, GitLab, etc.)

:smile: :heart: :thumbsup: :rocket:
:warning: :x: :white_check_mark:
:star: :fire: :bug: :memo:

Unicode Emoji

Copy and paste directly:
😀 ❤️ 👍 🚀 ⚠️ ✅ ⭐ 🔥 🐛 📝

Comments

Comments are hidden in the output:

<!-- This is a comment -->

<!--
Multi-line
comment
-->

[//]: # (This is also a comment)

[comment]: <> (Another comment style)

Create a manual table of contents using links to headings:

## Table of Contents

- [Introduction](#introduction)
- [Getting Started](#getting-started)
  - [Installation](#installation)
  - [Configuration](#configuration)
- [Usage](#usage)
- [FAQ](#faq)

## Introduction
Content here...

## Getting Started
Content here...

### Installation
Content here...

Some processors support auto-generated TOC with [TOC] or [[toc]].

Editor Keyboard Shortcuts

Action	Windows/Linux	Mac
Bold	`Ctrl` + `B`	`Cmd` + `B`
Italic	`Ctrl` + `I`	`Cmd` + `I`
Link	`Ctrl` + `K`	`Cmd` + `K`

Best Practices

Be consistent: Choose one style (e.g., * vs _) and stick with it
Use blank lines: Separate different elements with blank lines
Indent properly: Use 2-4 spaces for nested content
Alt text: Always provide alt text for images
Heading hierarchy: Don't skip heading levels
Line length: Consider wrapping at 80-120 characters
Preview: Always preview before publishing

Editor

Preview

Complete Markdown Guide

What is Markdown?

Paragraphs

Headings

Alternative Syntax (H1 and H2 only)

Best Practices

Text Emphasis & Formatting

Bold

Italic

Bold and Italic

Strikethrough

Highlight (Extended)

Subscript and Superscript (Extended)

Lists

Unordered Lists

Ordered Lists

Nested Lists

Task Lists (Checkboxes)

Lists with Paragraphs

Links

Inline Links

Reference Links

Autolinks

Section Links (Anchors)

Relative Links

Images

Inline Images

Reference Images

Linked Images

Image with Size (HTML)

Code

Inline Code

Fenced Code Blocks

Indented Code Blocks

Supported Languages

Blockquotes

Simple Blockquote

Multi-paragraph Blockquotes

Nested Blockquotes

Blockquotes with Other Elements

Tables

Basic Table

Column Alignment

Formatting in Tables

Compact Syntax

Horizontal Rules

Line Breaks

Hard Line Break

Soft Line Break

Escaping Characters

Characters That Can Be Escaped

HTML in Markdown

Footnotes (Extended)

Definition Lists (Extended)

Emoji

Shortcodes (GitHub, GitLab, etc.)

Unicode Emoji

Comments

Table of Contents

Editor Keyboard Shortcuts

Best Practices