Markdown Syntax: The Complete Cheatsheet for Developers
From basic formatting to GFM tables and task lists — a comprehensive Markdown reference with examples you can copy and paste.
Why Markdown?
Markdown is the universal writing format for developers. README files, documentation sites, blog posts, pull request descriptions, Slack messages — all Markdown. Once you know it, you'll use it every day.
Basic Formatting
**bold text**
*italic text*
~~strikethrough~~
`inline code`
# Heading 1
## Heading 2
### Heading 3
> Blockquote
--- (horizontal rule)Links and Images
[Link text](https://example.com)
[Link with title](https://example.com "Title text")
[Google][1]
[1]: https://google.comLists
- Item one
- Item two
- Nested item
- Another nested
1. First step
2. Second step
3. Third step
- [x] Done task
- [ ] Incomplete taskCode Blocks
```javascript
const greeting = "Hello, World!";
console.log(greeting);
```
Use `npm install` to add packages.Tables (GFM)
| Name | Role | Status |
|---------|-----------|--------|
| Alice | Admin | Active |
| Bob | Editor | Active |
| Charlie | Viewer | Inactive|GFM Extensions
GitHub Flavored Markdown adds:
- Task lists:
- [ ] todo - Tables: pipe-separated columns
- Strikethrough:
~~deleted~~ - Autolinks: URLs become clickable automatically
- Code fencing: with syntax highlighting
Live Preview
Use our Markdown Previewer to see your Markdown rendered in real-time as you type.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Markdown flavors?
Common flavors: CommonMark (the strict standard), GitHub-Flavored Markdown (GFM — adds tables, task lists, autolinks), MultiMarkdown (footnotes, citations), and Pandoc Markdown (everything plus LaTeX math). Most platforms target GFM. When in doubt, stick to the core CommonMark syntax — it works everywhere.
How do I escape special Markdown characters?
Backslash escapes most chars: \*literal asterisk\* renders as *literal asterisk*. For code spans and code blocks, content is rendered literally — no escaping needed. If your text has a lot of underscores or asterisks, use code formatting to avoid unintended emphasis. For literal hashtags in some renderers, prefix with \.
Can I use HTML inside Markdown?
Yes, all Markdown flavors allow inline HTML for things Markdown can't express: