Markdown Guide

A comprehensive reference guide with live examples for all supported Markdown syntax.

Headings

Use # symbols to define headings. The number of # symbols determines the heading level — one # for H1 down to six ###### for H6.

H1 – H6
Syntax
# Heading 1
## Heading 2
### Heading 3
#### Heading 4
##### Heading 5
###### Heading 6
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Horizontal Rules

Create a thematic break (horizontal line) using three or more dashes, underscores, or asterisks on a line by themselves.

Dashes
Syntax
-----
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Underscores
Syntax
_____
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Asterisks
Syntax
*****
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Emphasis

Apply bold, italic, or strikethrough formatting using asterisks (*) or underscores (_) around text.

Bold
Syntax
**This is bold text**

__This is bold text__
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Italic
Syntax
*This is italic text*

_This is italic text_
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Strikethrough
Syntax
~~Strikethrough~~
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Lists

Create unordered lists with -, +, or * and ordered lists with numbers. Indent nested items with a tab or two spaces.

Unordered list
Syntax
- Unordered
- Create a list by starting a line with `+`, `-`, or `*`
- list
	- With nesting too
- end
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Ordered list
Syntax
1. Ordered
2. list
	1. With nesting
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Start numbering with offset
Syntax
57. foo
1. bar
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Task Lists

Create interactive checklists using GitHub Flavored Markdown syntax. Use - [ ] for an empty checkbox and - [x] for a checked one.

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

Create blockquotes with the > prefix. Add multiple > symbols to create nested blockquotes.

Nested blockquotes
Syntax
> Blockquotes can also be nested...
>> ...by using additional greater-than signs right next to each other...
> > > ...or with spaces between arrows.
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Code

Format inline code with single backticks and create fenced code blocks with triple backticks. Add a language name after the opening fence for syntax highlighting.

Inline code
Syntax
Inline `code`
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Code block "fences"
Syntax
```
Sample text here...
```
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JavaScript — syntax highlighting
Syntax
```js
var foo = function (bar) {
	return bar++;
};

console.log(foo(5));
```
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Python — syntax highlighting
Syntax
```python
def hello(name):
    print(f"Hello, {name}!")

hello("World")
```
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Tables

Build tables with pipe (|) separators. Use colons (:) in the separator row to control column alignment — left :---, center :---:, right ---:.

Basic table
Syntax
| Trial | Result  |
|-------|---------|
| 1     | Fail    |
| 2     | Fail    |
| 3     | Success |
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Column alignment
Syntax
| Left  | Center | Right |
|:------|:------:|------:|
| Left  | Center | Right |
| Align | Column | Data  |
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Images

Embed images with ![alt](url) syntax — identical to links but prefixed with !.

Basic image
Syntax
![Markdown Viewer Logo](/favicons/favicon-96x96.png)
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Math Formulas

Write mathematical expressions using LaTeX syntax rendered by MathJax. Use $...$ for inline math and $$...$$ for block (display) equations.

Inline math
Syntax
Einstein's famous equation: $E = mc^2$
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Block equation
Syntax
$$\int_{-\infty}^{\infty} e^{-x^2} dx = \sqrt{\pi}$$
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Quadratic formula
Syntax
$$\frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2-4ac}}{2a}$$
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Matrix
Syntax
$$\begin{pmatrix} a & b \\ c & d \end{pmatrix}$$
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HTML Tags

Use inline HTML tags for formatting not available in standard Markdown, such as keyboard keys (<kbd>), highlighted text (<mark>), subscripts, and superscripts.

Keyboard keys
Syntax
Press <kbd>Ctrl</kbd> + <kbd>C</kbd> to copy

Press <kbd>Shift</kbd>+<kbd>A</kbd> to open
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Highlighted text
Syntax
Here's some <mark>highlighted text</mark>
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Subscript & superscript
Syntax
H<sub>2</sub>O is water, and E = mc<sup>2</sup>
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