Markdown Cheatsheet Online — Complete Syntax Reference

What Is Markdown?

Markdown is a lightweight markup language created by John Gruber in 2004. It uses plain text formatting syntax that converts to HTML. Markdown is the standard for README files on GitHub, documentation in wikis, blog posts in static site generators (Jekyll, Hugo, Next.js), and messaging in Slack and Discord. Writing markdown is faster than HTML and more readable in raw form.

How to Use This Markdown Cheatsheet

1. Find the element you need — organized by category below.
2. Copy the syntax — minimal syntax, no extra configuration needed.
3. Preview in a markdown editor — VS Code, Typora, or StackEdit let you see rendered output.
4. Check your platform's flavor — GitHub Flavored Markdown (GFM) extends standard markdown with tables and task lists.
5. Use a linter — markdownlint catches common formatting inconsistencies.

Markdown Syntax Reference

Headings

# H1 Heading
## H2 Heading
### H3 Heading
#### H4 Heading

Emphasis

**bold text**
*italic text*
***bold and italic***
~~strikethrough~~

Lists

- Unordered item
- Another item
  - Nested item

1. First ordered item
2. Second item
3. Third item

Links and Images

[Link text](https://example.com)
[Link with title](https://example.com "Title")
![Alt text](image.png)
![Alt text](image.png "Image title")

Code

`inline code`

```javascript
// Fenced code block with language
const hello = "world";
```

Tables (GFM)

| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|----------|----------|----------|
| Cell 1   | Cell 2   | Cell 3   |
| Cell 4   | Cell 5   | Cell 6   |

Task Lists (GFM)

- [x] Completed task
- [ ] Pending task
- [ ] Another task

Blockquotes and Horizontal Rules

> This is a blockquote
> It can span multiple lines

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Use Cases

GitHub README Files

Every open source project on GitHub uses a README.md written in GitHub Flavored Markdown. Good README files include project description, installation instructions, usage examples, and contribution guidelines — all formatted with markdown.

Technical Documentation

Documentation platforms like Docusaurus, MkDocs, and GitBook use markdown files as their source format. Write docs in markdown, commit them alongside code, and generate beautiful documentation sites automatically.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between CommonMark and GitHub Flavored Markdown?

CommonMark is a standardized specification for Markdown. GitHub Flavored Markdown (GFM) extends CommonMark with tables, task lists, strikethrough, and autolinks. Most static site generators support GFM or a superset of it.

How do I add a line break in Markdown?

End a line with two or more spaces then press Enter. Alternatively, use an HTML <br> tag. Many markdown parsers also treat a blank line as a paragraph break, which is more readable.

Can I use HTML in Markdown?

Yes. Most markdown processors allow raw HTML within markdown files. This is useful for elements markdown doesn't support natively, like centered text, custom styling, or HTML5 video embeds.

How do I escape markdown formatting characters?

Use a backslash before the character: \*literal asterisk\* renders as *literal asterisk* without bold formatting. Characters that need escaping: \ ` * _ { } [ ] ( ) # + - . !.

What tools can I use to write Markdown?

VS Code with the Markdown Preview extension, Typora (WYSIWYG markdown editor), Obsidian (note-taking), Notion (collaborative docs), and StackEdit (browser-based) are popular choices. All major code editors have markdown support built in or via plugins.