Markdown is a lightweight markup language using plain text formatting to create structured documents. Created by John Gruber in 2004, it is widely used for README files, documentation, and web content.

How do I make text bold in Markdown?

Wrap text with double asterisks or double underscores: **bold text** or __bold text__. Both produce the same bold output.

How do I create a Markdown table?

Use pipes and dashes: first row for headers, second row with |---|---| as separator, then data rows. Add colons in the separator to set alignment.

How do I add a code block in Markdown?

Use triple backticks before and after your code block. Optionally add a language name after the opening backticks for syntax highlighting.

What is GitHub Flavored Markdown?

GitHub Flavored Markdown (GFM) extends standard Markdown with task lists, strikethrough, autolinks, @mentions, tables, and alert blocks like > [!NOTE] and > [!WARNING].

How do I create a checkbox in Markdown?

Use - [ ] for unchecked and - [x] for checked items. These are called task lists and are supported in GitHub, GitLab, and most modern editors.

How do I add an image in Markdown?

Use the syntax: ![Alt text](image-url). The alt text is shown if the image fails to load and improves accessibility and SEO.

Can I use Markdown in Discord?

Yes. Discord supports bold, italic, underline, strikethrough, inline code, code blocks, blockquotes, and spoiler text using the ||spoiler|| syntax.

Markdown Cheat Sheet — Complete Syntax Guide 2025

Text Formatting

Markdown bold, italic, strikethrough, and inline code — the most used formatting elements in any Markdown document.

Emphasis

**bold text** bold text

__bold text__ bold text

*italic text* italic text

_italic text_ italic text

***bold italic*** bold italic

Strikethrough & Code

~~strikethrough~~ ~~strikethrough~~

`inline code` inline code

==highlight== highlighted text (some parsers)

^superscript^ text^sup (extended)

Headings

Markdown supports 6 levels of headings using the # symbol. Each level maps to an HTML h1–h6 element.

Heading Syntax

# Heading 1Heading 1

## Heading 2Heading 2

### Heading 3Heading 3

#### Heading 4Heading 4

##### Heading 5Heading 5

###### Heading 6Heading 6

Alternative Syntax (Setext)

Heading 1 ========= Heading 1

Heading 2 --------- Heading 2

Lists — Bullet, Numbered & Nested

Markdown bullet lists, numbered lists, and nested lists. Use -, *, or + for unordered lists; numbers for ordered lists.

Markdown Bullet List (Unordered)

- First item
- Second item
- Third item

* Also works
* With asterisks

+ Or plus signs

Markdown Numbered List (Ordered)

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

1. Numbers don't have to be
1. in order — Markdown
1. handles it automatically

Nested List

- Item one
  - Sub-item a
  - Sub-item b
    - Deep nested
- Item two
  1. Numbered sub
  2. Numbered sub

Markdown Links & Images

How to add hyperlinks and images in Markdown. Images use the same syntax as links but with a ! prefix.

Markdown Link

[Link Text](url)Link Text

[Text](url "Title")Text (with title)

<https://url.com>Auto-link

[ref link][id]Reference link

Markdown Image

![Alt text](img.png)Inline image

![Alt](img.png "Title")Image with title

[![Alt](img)](url)Clickable image

[id]: https://example.com
[img-id]: /img.png "Alt"

Markdown Table

Markdown tables use pipes | and dashes - to define columns and alignment. Use colons : to set column alignment.

Markdown Syntax

| Name      | Role      | Score |
|-----------|-----------|-------|
| Alice     | Developer | 98    |
| Bob       | Designer  | 87    |
| Carol     | Manager   | 92    |


| Left | Center | Right |
|:-----|:------:|------:|
| L    |   C    |     R |

Rendered Result

Name	Role	Score
Alice	Developer	98
Bob	Designer	87
Carol	Manager	92

Tip: Use our live editor to generate and preview tables instantly.

Markdown Code Block

Use triple backticks