Use this Markdown cheatsheet to copy common formatting patterns into your document. The examples cover headings, text emphasis, lists, links, images, quotations and code, plus GitHub Flavored Markdown (GFM) tables and task lists. Markdown processors do not all support the same features, so check your editor or publishing platform before relying on an extension.
Markdown syntax at a glance
Markdown is plain-text markup: punctuation in the source signals formatting, while the text remains readable without rendering. A Markdown document combines block structures, such as headings and lists, with inline content, such as links and emphasis. The table marks common patterns as core syntax or GFM extensions; exact rendering can still depend on the application.
| What you want | Type | Markdown to write |
|---|---|---|
| Heading | Core | # Heading |
| Bold text | Core | **bold** |
| Italic text | Core | *italic* |
| Bulleted list | Core | - item |
| Numbered list | Core | 1. item |
| Link | Core | [label](https://example.com) |
| Image | Core |  |
| Block quote | Core | > quoted text |
| Inline code | Core | `code` |
| Fenced code block | Core | ```lang, then the code, then ``` |
| Horizontal rule | Core | --- |
| Table | GFM extension | | A | B | with a separator row such as | --- | --- | |
| Task item | GFM extension | - [ ] todo or - [x] done |
| Strikethrough | GFM extension | ~~text~~ |
How to format text and organize content
Headings
Start a line with one or more hash marks, followed by a space. The number of marks indicates the heading level: # is level 1, ## is level 2, and so on.
# Main title
## Section
### SubsectionBold and italic text
Wrap text in two asterisks for bold or one asterisk for italic. Underscores are also commonly used for these styles, but delimiters can behave differently around punctuation or adjacent characters in some contexts; the asterisk forms are a clear default.
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- Author: Thomas Glover
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**Important**
*Emphasis*Bulleted and numbered lists
Put a hyphen and a space before each bulleted item. For an ordered list, put a number, period and space before each item. Indent nested items beneath their parent item; the exact indentation needed can vary by renderer.
- First item
- Second item
- Nested item
1. First step
2. Second stepBlock quotes and horizontal rules
Begin a quoted line with >. A line containing three hyphens creates a thematic break in common Markdown implementations.
> A quoted passage
---How to add links and images
Links
Write the visible label in square brackets, immediately followed by the destination in parentheses:
[Markdown documentation](https://example.com)Use descriptive link text so readers can understand the destination from the label.
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Images
Use the link pattern with an exclamation mark at the start. The text in brackets is alternative text; the parenthesized value identifies the image location.
Use a meaningful description when the image conveys information. Whether an image path resolves depends on where the file is hosted and how the target application handles it.
How to write code
Inline code
Wrap a short code fragment in single backticks to distinguish it from surrounding text.
Run `npm install` before starting the app.Fenced code blocks
Put three backticks on a line before and after a multi-line code sample. Add a language label directly after the opening fence when you want syntax highlighting and the renderer supports it.
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const greeting = "Hello";
console.log(greeting);
```Language labels are hints to the renderer, not part of the code itself.
GFM extensions: tables, task lists and strikethrough
CommonMark provides a specified Markdown baseline. GitHub Flavored Markdown is based on CommonMark and adds features such as tables, task lists, strikethrough and automatic links for bare URLs. These are extensions rather than universal Markdown syntax.
Tables
Separate cells with vertical bars and place a row of hyphens beneath the header row:
| Feature | Status |
| --- | --- |
| Links | Ready |
| Images | Ready |Task lists
In GFM, a task marker at the start of a list item’s first paragraph creates a task item. Use an empty pair of brackets for an unchecked item and an x for a checked item:
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- [ ] Draft the page
- [x] Review the copyStrikethrough
In GFM, wrap text in two tildes on each side:
~~No longer current~~Why Markdown can render differently across apps
CommonMark documents a formal baseline for Markdown syntax. GFM adds features on top of that baseline, and other processors may support different extensions or interpret certain behaviors differently. GitHub describes its approach as combining “a syntax for formatting text called GitHub Flavored Markdown with a few unique writing features” in its documentation about writing and formatting on GitHub.
Before using a feature in a document that must render consistently, check the target application’s documentation or preview. Pay particular attention to tables, task lists, footnotes, math, diagrams and raw HTML; support and handling can vary by processor. GFM also filters disallowed raw HTML, so HTML that appears in source is not necessarily rendered as written.
Markdown cheat sheets and references
For a broader syntax overview and compatibility guidance, see Markdown.org’s syntax guide. The CommonMark project provides its specification and project materials, while the GFM specification documents GitHub’s extensions. For another quick-reference presentation, consult the Markdown Guide cheat sheet. GitHub also offers a downloadable Markdown cheat sheet PDF.
When choosing a reference for a particular editor or platform, check which dialect it covers, whether its examples show copyable source, and whether the layout is easy to scan on your screen or in print.
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