Markdown cheat sheet

Every syntax you actually use, in one page — headings, emphasis, lists, tables, code and the escapes that trip people up.

Heading 1 # Heading 1

Heading 2 ## Heading 2

Heading 3 ### Heading 3

Heading 4 #### Heading 4

Paragraph text Paragraph text

Bold **Bold**

Italic *Italic*

Strikethrough ~~Strikethrough~~

Bold italic ***Bold italic***

Inline code `Inline code`

Bullet list - Bullet list

Numbered list 1. Numbered list

Nested item - Nested item

Blockquote > Blockquote

Task list - [x] Task list

Link [Link](https://example.com)

Image ![Image](/image.png)

Table

| Name | Value |
| :--- | ----: |
| Table | 42 |

Horizontal rule ---

Line break

Line break  
Line break

Frequently asked questions

Is this the same Markdown GitHub uses?

Mostly. GitHub uses GitHub Flavored Markdown, a superset of CommonMark that adds tables, task lists and strikethrough — all included on this page.

How do I show a literal asterisk?

Escape it with a backslash: \* renders as an asterisk instead of starting emphasis. The same trick works for underscores, backticks and pipes.

Why do my line breaks disappear?

A single newline is not a line break in CommonMark. End the line with two spaces, or insert a blank line to start a new paragraph.