Markdown Cheat Sheet

Complete Markdown syntax reference with live preview. Covers standard Markdown and GitHub Flavored Markdown (GFM) extensions.

Headings

# Heading 1

H1 — largest heading

Example

# My Title

Output

<h1>My Title</h1>

## Heading 2

H2 — section heading

Example

## Introduction

Output

<h2>Introduction</h2>

### Heading 3

H3 — subsection

Example

### Details

Output

<h3>Details</h3>

#### Heading 4

Example

#### Notes

Output

<h4>Notes</h4>

##### Heading 5

Example

##### Fine print

Output

<h5>Fine print</h5>

###### Heading 6

H6 — smallest heading

Example

###### Footnote

Output

<h6>Footnote</h6>

Title
======

H1 — setext style (underline with ===)

Example

My Title
========

Output

<h1>My Title</h1>

Title
------

H2 — setext style (underline with ---)

Example

My Section
----------

Output

<h2>My Section</h2>

Emphasis & Styling

**bold**

Bold text

Example

**important**

Output

<strong>important</strong>

__bold__

Bold text (alternate)

Example

__important__

Output

<strong>important</strong>

*italic*

Italic text

Example

*emphasis*

Output

<em>emphasis</em>

_italic_

Italic text (alternate)

Example

_emphasis_

Output

<em>emphasis</em>

***bold italic***

Bold and italic

Example

***critical***

Output

<strong><em>critical</em></strong>

~~strikethrough~~

Strikethrough (GFM)

Example

~~deprecated~~

Output

<del>deprecated</del>

`inline code`

Inline code

Example

`console.log()`

Output

<code>console.log()</code>

<mark>highlight</mark>

Highlighted text (HTML in MD)

Example

<mark>key point</mark>

Output

<mark>key point</mark>

Lists

- Item
- Item
- Item

Unordered list (dash)

Example

- Apple
- Banana
- Cherry

Output

* Item
* Item

Unordered list (asterisk)

Example

* Alpha
* Beta

Output

+ Item
+ Item

Unordered list (plus)

Example

+ One
+ Two

Output

1. First
2. Second
3. Third

Ordered list

Example

1. Step one
2. Step two
3. Step three

Output

1. Item
   - Sub-item
   - Sub-item

Nested list (3 spaces indent)

Example

1. Main
   - Sub A
   - Sub B

Output

Nested <ul> inside <li>

- [ ] Unchecked
- [x] Checked

Task list (GFM)

Example

- [ ] Todo
- [x] Done

Output

Interactive checkboxes

Links & Images

[text](url)

Inline link

Example

[OpenAI](https://openai.com)

Output

<a href="https://openai.com">OpenAI</a>

[text](url "title")

Link with title tooltip

Example

[GitHub](https://github.com "GitHub")

Output

<a href="..." title="GitHub">GitHub</a>

[text][ref]

[ref]: url

Reference-style link

Example

[Google][goo]

[goo]: https://google.com

Output

Reusable reference links

<https://url>

Autolink (bare URL)

Example

<https://example.com>

Output

Clickable URL

![alt](url)

Inline image

Example

![Logo](logo.png)

Output

![alt](url "title")

Image with title

Example

![Logo](logo.png "My Logo")

Output

[![alt](img)](url)

Linked image

Example

[![Logo](logo.png)](https://site.com)

Output

Clickable image

Code

`code`

Inline code

Example

Use `npm install`

Output

<code>npm install</code>

```
code
```

Fenced code block

Example

```
console.log('hi')
```

Output

```javascript
code
```

Syntax highlighted code

Example

```python
print('hello')
```

Output

Highlighted code block

    indented code

Code block via 4-space indent

Example

    def hello():
        pass

Output

``code with `backtick` inside``

Double backticks for inline code with backtick

Example

``Use `code` here``

Output

Tables

| Col1 | Col2 |
|------|------|
| A    | B    |

Basic table (GFM)

Example

| Name | Age |
|------|-----|
| Ana  | 25  |

Output

<table>...

| Left | Center | Right |
|:-----|:------:|------:|

Column alignment (GFM)

Example

| Left | Center | Right |
|:-----|:------:|------:
| a    | b      | c     |

Output

Left/center/right aligned cols

Blockquotes

> Quote text

Blockquote

Example

> To be or not to be.

Output

> Line 1
> Line 2

Multi-line blockquote

Example

> First line
> Second line

Output

Single blockquote element

> Outer
> > Nested

Nested blockquote

Example

> Level 1
> > Level 2

Output

Nested <blockquote>

> **Note:** text

Styled blockquote with bold

Example

> **Warning:** Be careful!

Output

<blockquote><strong>Warning:</strong>...

Task Lists

- [ ] Unchecked task

Unchecked checkbox (GFM)

Example

- [ ] Write tests

Output

Unchecked checkbox

- [x] Completed task

Checked checkbox (GFM)

Example

- [x] Deploy app

Output

Checked checkbox

- [ ] Task
  - [ ] Subtask

Nested task list

Example

- [ ] Feature
  - [x] API done
  - [ ] UI todo

Output

Nested checkbox list

Miscellaneous

---

Horizontal rule (thematic break)

Example

Section 1

---

Section 2

Output

<hr>

***

Horizontal rule (3 asterisks)

Example

***

Output

<hr>

\*escaped\*

Escape Markdown characters with \

Example

\*not bold\*

Output

*not bold*

<br>

Forced line break within paragraph

Example

Line one<br>Line two

Output

<br> in HTML

Two trailing spaces  
next line

Hard line break (2 spaces + enter)

Example

First line  
Second line

Output

Line break within paragraph

<!-- comment -->

HTML comment (hidden in output)

Example

<!-- TODO: fix this -->

Output

Not rendered

GitHub Flavored Markdown

~~strikethrough~~

Strikethrough

Example

~~old text~~

Output

https://auto.link

Autolink (bare URL auto-linked)

Example

https://example.com

Output

@username

User mention (GitHub)

Example

@octocat

Output

Linked profile mention

#123

Issue/PR reference (GitHub)

Example

Fixes #42

Output

Linked issue reference

SHA reference

Commit SHA reference (GitHub)

Example

a5c3785

Output

Linked commit

```mermaid
graph
```

Mermaid diagram (GitHub/GitLab)

Example

```mermaid
graph LR
  A-->B
```

Output

Rendered diagram

> [!NOTE]

GitHub alerts (NOTE/TIP/WARNING/CAUTION)

Example

> [!WARNING]
> Be careful!

Output

Styled alert box

Quick Start: Essential Markdown

Text Formatting

**bold text**
*italic text*
***bold italic***
~~strikethrough~~
`inline code`

Headings

# H1 — largest
## H2 — section
### H3 — sub
#### H4
##### H5

Lists

- Unordered item
* Also unordered
1. Ordered item
2. Second item
- Nested item

Links & Images

[text](url)
[text](url "title")
![alt](image.png)
<https://autolink>
[![img](img)](url)

Code Blocks

`inline code`
```language
code block body
```
4-space indent

GFM Extensions

- [ ] Task list
- [x] Completed
| Table | Col |
> [!NOTE] alert
@mention, #issue

Markdown Table Syntax

Tables are a GitHub Flavored Markdown (GFM) extension. Use pipes '|' to separate columns, and colons in the separator row to align content:|

| Name    | Role      | Score |
|:--------|:---------:|------:|
| Alice   | Developer |   100 |
| Bob     | Designer  |    95 |

:--- Left align:---: Center---: Right align

Try the Markdown Previewer

Write and preview Markdown in real-time — with live renderingand export options.

Open Previewer →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Markdown?

Markdown is a lightweight markup language created by John Gruber in 2004. It uses plain text formatting syntax to create HTML: #headings, **bold**, *italic*, [links], `code`, and more. It's used in README files, GitHub, Reddit, Slack, and many documentation systems.

What is the difference between CommonMark and GitHub Flavored Markdown?

CommonMark is a standardized Markdown specification. GitHub Flavored Markdown (GFM) extends it with task lists, tables, strikethrough, autolinks, and syntax highlighting in code fences. Most modern platforms support GFM.

How do I add syntax highlighting to code blocks?

Use triple backticks followed by the language name: ```javascript. Supported languages include javascript, python, typescript, bash, css, html, json, yaml, sql, and many more.

How do I escape special Markdown characters?

Use a backslash before the character: \* for *, \_ for _, \` for `, \# for #, \[ for [, etc. This prevents Markdown from interpreting them as formatting syntax.

Markdown Cheat Sheet

Complete Markdown syntax reference with live preview. Covers standard Markdown and GitHub Flavored Markdown (GFM) extensions.

Headings

# Heading 1

H1 — largest heading

Example

# My Title

Output

<h1>My Title</h1>

## Heading 2

H2 — section heading

Example

## Introduction

Output

<h2>Introduction</h2>

### Heading 3

H3 — subsection

Example

### Details

Output

<h3>Details</h3>

#### Heading 4

Example

#### Notes

Output

<h4>Notes</h4>

##### Heading 5

Example

##### Fine print

Output

<h5>Fine print</h5>

###### Heading 6

H6 — smallest heading

Example

###### Footnote

Output

<h6>Footnote</h6>

Title
======

H1 — setext style (underline with ===)

Example

My Title
========

Output

<h1>My Title</h1>

Title
------

H2 — setext style (underline with ---)

Example

My Section
----------

Output

<h2>My Section</h2>

Emphasis & Styling

**bold**

Bold text

Example

**important**

Output

<strong>important</strong>

__bold__

Bold text (alternate)

Example

__important__

Output

<strong>important</strong>

*italic*

Italic text

Example

*emphasis*

Output

<em>emphasis</em>

_italic_

Italic text (alternate)

Example

_emphasis_

Output

<em>emphasis</em>

***bold italic***

Bold and italic

Example

***critical***

Output

<strong><em>critical</em></strong>

~~strikethrough~~

Strikethrough (GFM)

Example

~~deprecated~~

Output

<del>deprecated</del>

`inline code`

Inline code

Example

`console.log()`

Output

<code>console.log()</code>

<mark>highlight</mark>

Highlighted text (HTML in MD)

Example

<mark>key point</mark>

Output

<mark>key point</mark>

Lists

- Item
- Item
- Item

Unordered list (dash)

Example

- Apple
- Banana
- Cherry

Output

* Item
* Item

Unordered list (asterisk)

Example

* Alpha
* Beta

Output

+ Item
+ Item

Unordered list (plus)

Example

+ One
+ Two

Output

1. First
2. Second
3. Third

Ordered list

Example

1. Step one
2. Step two
3. Step three

Output

1. Item
   - Sub-item
   - Sub-item

Nested list (3 spaces indent)

Example

1. Main
   - Sub A
   - Sub B

Output

Nested <ul> inside <li>

- [ ] Unchecked
- [x] Checked

Task list (GFM)

Example

- [ ] Todo
- [x] Done

Output

Interactive checkboxes

Links & Images

[text](url)

Inline link

Example

[OpenAI](https://openai.com)

Output

<a href="https://openai.com">OpenAI</a>

[text](url "title")

Link with title tooltip

Example

[GitHub](https://github.com "GitHub")

Output

<a href="..." title="GitHub">GitHub</a>

[text][ref]

[ref]: url

Reference-style link

Example

[Google][goo]

[goo]: https://google.com

Output

Reusable reference links

<https://url>

Autolink (bare URL)

Example

<https://example.com>

Output

Clickable URL

![alt](url)

Inline image

Example

![Logo](logo.png)

Output

![alt](url "title")

Image with title

Example

![Logo](logo.png "My Logo")

Output

[![alt](img)](url)

Linked image

Example

[![Logo](logo.png)](https://site.com)

Output

Clickable image

Code

`code`

Inline code

Example

Use `npm install`

Output

<code>npm install</code>

```
code
```

Fenced code block

Example

```
console.log('hi')
```

Output

```javascript
code
```

Syntax highlighted code

Example

```python
print('hello')
```

Output

Highlighted code block

    indented code

Code block via 4-space indent

Example

    def hello():
        pass

Output

``code with `backtick` inside``

Double backticks for inline code with backtick

Example

``Use `code` here``

Output

Tables

| Col1 | Col2 |
|------|------|
| A    | B    |

Basic table (GFM)

Example

| Name | Age |
|------|-----|
| Ana  | 25  |

Output

<table>...

| Left | Center | Right |
|:-----|:------:|------:|

Column alignment (GFM)

Example

| Left | Center | Right |
|:-----|:------:|------:
| a    | b      | c     |

Output

Left/center/right aligned cols

Blockquotes

> Quote text

Blockquote

Example

> To be or not to be.

Output

> Line 1
> Line 2

Multi-line blockquote

Example

> First line
> Second line

Output

Single blockquote element

> Outer
> > Nested

Nested blockquote

Example

> Level 1
> > Level 2

Output

Nested <blockquote>

> **Note:** text

Styled blockquote with bold

Example

> **Warning:** Be careful!

Output

<blockquote><strong>Warning:</strong>...

Task Lists

- [ ] Unchecked task

Unchecked checkbox (GFM)

Example

- [ ] Write tests

Output

Unchecked checkbox

- [x] Completed task

Checked checkbox (GFM)

Example

- [x] Deploy app

Output

Checked checkbox

- [ ] Task
  - [ ] Subtask

Nested task list

Example

- [ ] Feature
  - [x] API done
  - [ ] UI todo

Output

Nested checkbox list

Miscellaneous

---

Horizontal rule (thematic break)

Example

Section 1

---

Section 2

Output

<hr>

***

Horizontal rule (3 asterisks)

Example

***

Output

<hr>

\*escaped\*

Escape Markdown characters with \

Example

\*not bold\*

Output

*not bold*

<br>

Forced line break within paragraph

Example

Line one<br>Line two

Output

<br> in HTML

Two trailing spaces  
next line

Hard line break (2 spaces + enter)

Example

First line  
Second line

Output

Line break within paragraph

<!-- comment -->

HTML comment (hidden in output)

Example

<!-- TODO: fix this -->

Output

Not rendered

GitHub Flavored Markdown

~~strikethrough~~

Strikethrough

Example

~~old text~~

Output

https://auto.link

Autolink (bare URL auto-linked)

Example

https://example.com

Output

@username

User mention (GitHub)

Example

@octocat

Output

Linked profile mention

#123

Issue/PR reference (GitHub)

Example

Fixes #42

Output

Linked issue reference

SHA reference

Commit SHA reference (GitHub)

Example

a5c3785

Output

Linked commit

```mermaid
graph
```

Mermaid diagram (GitHub/GitLab)

Example

```mermaid
graph LR
  A-->B
```

Output

Rendered diagram

> [!NOTE]

GitHub alerts (NOTE/TIP/WARNING/CAUTION)

Example

> [!WARNING]
> Be careful!

Output

Styled alert box

Quick Start: Essential Markdown

Text Formatting

**bold text**
*italic text*
***bold italic***
~~strikethrough~~
`inline code`

Headings

# H1 — largest
## H2 — section
### H3 — sub
#### H4
##### H5

Lists

- Unordered item
* Also unordered
1. Ordered item
2. Second item
- Nested item

Links & Images

[text](url)
[text](url "title")
![alt](image.png)
<https://autolink>
[![img](img)](url)

Code Blocks

`inline code`
```language
code block body
```
4-space indent

GFM Extensions

- [ ] Task list
- [x] Completed
| Table | Col |
> [!NOTE] alert
@mention, #issue

Markdown Table Syntax

Tables are a GitHub Flavored Markdown (GFM) extension. Use pipes '|' to separate columns, and colons in the separator row to align content:|

| Name    | Role      | Score |
|:--------|:---------:|------:|
| Alice   | Developer |   100 |
| Bob     | Designer  |    95 |

:--- Left align:---: Center---: Right align

Try the Markdown Previewer

Write and preview Markdown in real-time — with live renderingand export options.

Open Previewer →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Markdown?

What is the difference between CommonMark and GitHub Flavored Markdown?

How do I add syntax highlighting to code blocks?

Use triple backticks followed by the language name: ```javascript. Supported languages include javascript, python, typescript, bash, css, html, json, yaml, sql, and many more.

How do I escape special Markdown characters?

Use a backslash before the character: \* for *, \_ for _, \` for `, \# for #, \[ for [, etc. This prevents Markdown from interpreting them as formatting syntax.

Markdown Cheat Sheet

Headings

Emphasis & Styling

Lists

Links & Images

Code

Tables

Blockquotes

Task Lists

Miscellaneous

GitHub Flavored Markdown

Quick Start: Essential Markdown

Text Formatting

Headings

Lists

Links & Images

Code Blocks

GFM Extensions

Markdown Table Syntax

Try the Markdown Previewer

Frequently Asked Questions

References & cheat sheets

Markdown Cheat Sheet

Headings

Emphasis & Styling

Lists

Links & Images

Code

Tables

Blockquotes

Task Lists

Miscellaneous

GitHub Flavored Markdown

Quick Start: Essential Markdown

Text Formatting

Headings

Lists

Links & Images

Code Blocks

GFM Extensions

Markdown Table Syntax

Try the Markdown Previewer

Frequently Asked Questions