Markdown Syntax Cheat Sheet

Headings

Use # symbols to create headings. The number of # symbols determines the heading level.

Syntax


# Heading 1
## Heading 2
### Heading 3
#### Heading 4
##### Heading 5
###### Heading 6

Preview

Heading 1

Heading 2

Heading 3

Heading 4

Heading 5

Heading 6

Paragraph

Plain text written on its own line becomes a <p> element.

Syntax


This is a paragraph of plain text. It can span multiple sentences
and will be wrapped in a single paragraph element.

Preview

This is a paragraph of plain text. It can span multiple sentences and will be wrapped in a single paragraph element.

Bold

Wrap text with double asterisks or double underscores.

Syntax


**bold text**

Preview

bold text

Italic

Wrap text with single asterisks or single underscores.

Syntax


*italicized text*

Preview

italicized text

Blockquote

Use > before a line to create a blockquote.

Syntax


> blockquote

Preview

blockquote

Ordered List

Use numbers followed by a period.

Syntax


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

Preview

First item
Second item
Third item

Unordered List

Use -, *, or + before each item.

Syntax


- First item
- Second item
- Third item

Preview

First item
Second item
Third item

Inline Code

Wrap text with single backticks.

Syntax


`code`

Preview

code

Horizontal Rule

Use three or more dashes on their own line.

Syntax

---

Preview

Link

Use [link text](url) syntax.

Syntax


[title](https://www.example.com)

Preview

title

Image

Use ![alt text](url) syntax — like a link, but with ! in front.

Syntax


![Frequency Logo](/images/frequency-mark-black.svg)

Preview

Extended Syntax

These elements extend the basic syntax by adding additional features. Not all Markdown applications support these elements.

Table

Use pipes | and hyphens - to create tables.

Syntax


| Syntax      | Description |
| ----------- | ----------- |
| Header      | Title       |
| Paragraph   | Text        |

Preview

Syntax	Description
Header	Title
Paragraph	Text

Fenced Code Block

Use triple backticks with an optional language identifier for syntax highlighting.

Syntax


```json
{
  "firstName": "John",
  "lastName": "Smith",
  "age": 25
}
```

Preview


{
  "firstName": "John",
  "lastName": "Smith",
  "age": 25
}

Heading ID

Add a custom ID to a heading using {#id} syntax.

Syntax


### My Great Heading {#custom-id}

Preview

My Great Heading

Definition List

Place the term on one line and prefix the definition with : on the next.

Syntax


term
: definition

Preview

term

definition

Strikethrough

Wrap text with double tildes.

Syntax


~~The world is flat.~~

Preview

~~The world is flat.~~

Task List

Use - [ ] for unchecked and - [x] for checked items.

Syntax


- [x] Write the press release
- [ ] Update the website
- [ ] Contact the media

Preview

Write the press release
Update the website
Contact the media

Emoji

Use emoji shortcodes between colons.

Syntax


That is so funny! :joy:

Preview

That is so funny! 😂

Highlight

Wrap text with double equals signs.

Syntax


I need to highlight these ==very important words==.

Preview

I need to highlight these very important words.

Subscript

Wrap text with single tildes.

Syntax


H~2~O

Preview

H₂O

Superscript

Wrap text with single carets.

Syntax


X^2^

Preview

X²