Markdown Syntax Guide – Complete Reference with Examples (2026)
Markdown syntax is the foundation of modern documentation, blogging, and technical writing. This guide covers every Markdown syntax element you need, from basic formatting to advanced GitHub Flavored Markdown (GFM) features. Use our free Markdown live preview tool to test each element as you learn.
For quick answers, Markdown uses > for a quote or blockquote, [text](url) for a link, and --- for a horizontal line. The examples below show the exact syntax and rendered result so you can copy the format into a README, documentation page, or AI prompt.
Headings
Headings are created using hash symbols. The number of hashes determines the heading level:
# Heading 1
## Heading 2
### Heading 3
#### Heading 4
##### Heading 5
###### Heading 6
Result:
Heading 1
Heading 2
Heading 3
Heading 4
Heading 5
Heading 6
Text Formatting
Markdown supports several ways to format text:
**Bold text** or __Bold text__
*Italic text* or _Italic text_
***Bold and italic***
~~Strikethrough~~
`Inline code`
Result:
Bold text or Bold text
Italic text or Italic text
Bold and italic
Strikethrough
Inline code
Lists
Unordered Lists
Use hyphens, asterisks, or plus signs:
- Item 1
- Item 2
- Nested item
- Item 3
Ordered Lists
Use numbers followed by periods:
1. First item
2. Second item
3. Third item
Task Lists
GFM task lists use brackets:
- [x] Completed task
- [ ] Incomplete task
- [ ] Another task
Result:
- Completed task
- Incomplete task
- Another task
Markdown Link Syntax
Markdown link syntax uses square brackets for the visible link text and parentheses for the destination URL:
[Link text](https://example.com)
[Link with title](https://example.com "Title text")
[Reference link][1]
[1]: https://example.com
Use inline links for one-off references and reference-style links when the same destination appears several times. Add an optional title after the URL when you want a tooltip in supported Markdown renderers.
Images
Markdown Quote and Blockquote Syntax
Use the greater-than sign (>) at the start of a line to create a Markdown quote or blockquote. Add another > to nest a quote inside an existing quote.
> This is a blockquote.
> It can span multiple lines.
>
> > Nested blockquotes are also supported.
Result:
This is a blockquote. It can span multiple lines.
Nested blockquotes are also supported.
This Markdown blockquote syntax is supported by GitHub and most Markdown renderers. Add a blank > line to separate paragraphs inside the same quote.
Code Blocks
Fenced Code Blocks
Use triple backticks with an optional language identifier:
```javascript
function greet(name) {
return `Hello, ${name}!`;
}
```
Indented Code Blocks
Indent content with four spaces:
This is a code block
created with indentation.
Tables
Tables use pipes and hyphens:
| Header 1 | Header 2 | Header 3 |
|----------|----------|----------|
| Cell 1 | Cell 2 | Cell 3 |
| Cell 4 | Cell 5 | Cell 6 |
Result:
| Header 1 | Header 2 | Header 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Cell 1 | Cell 2 | Cell 3 |
| Cell 4 | Cell 5 | Cell 6 |
Table Alignment
| Left-aligned | Center-aligned | Right-aligned |
|:-------------|:--------------:|--------------:|
| Left | Center | Right |
Markdown Horizontal Line Syntax
Create a Markdown horizontal line, also called a horizontal rule or divider, using three or more hyphens, asterisks, or underscores:
---
***
___
The three forms render as a horizontal divider. Use --- when you want the clearest, most portable Markdown syntax; make sure it is separated from surrounding paragraphs by blank lines.
Line Breaks
End a line with two spaces for a line break, or leave a blank line for a new paragraph.
HTML in Markdown
You can use inline HTML in Markdown:
This is <strong>bold</strong> using HTML.
This is <em>italic</em> using HTML.
Escape Characters
Use backslashes to display literal characters:
\*Not italic\*
\#Not a heading
Advanced GFM Features
Autolinks
GFM automatically converts URLs to links:
https://markdowntoolsonline.com
Emoji Shortcodes
:smile: :rocket: :thumbsup:
Alerts
> [!NOTE]
> This is a note alert.
> [!WARNING]
> This is a warning alert.
Try Markdown Syntax Live
Practice all these Markdown syntax elements in our free online Markdown preview editor. Type or paste any Markdown syntax and see the rendered result instantly with real-time preview. You can also build tables with the Markdown table generator or compare two drafts with the Markdown diff checker.
Related Resources
- Complete Markdown Cheat Sheet — Quick reference for all syntax
- Markdown for GitHub — Writing READMEs and documentation
- Markdown for Technical Writing — Professional documentation
- Markdown Table Generator — Create tables without memorizing pipe syntax
- Markdown Diff Checker — Compare two Markdown files online