Markdown is a lightweight way to format plain text, used by GitHub, Reddit, Notion, chat apps and static-site tools. A few simple marks (# for headings, ** for bold, - for lists) turn text into formatted documents. This is the complete common syntax.
📄 Download the printable Markdown cheat sheet (PDF)
A one-page printable Markdown syntax reference. → Download the Markdown cheat sheet (PDF)
Markdown syntax
| Element | Syntax | Renders as |
|---|---|---|
Heading 1-6 |
# H1 ## H2 ### H3 |
Section titles |
Bold |
**bold** |
bold |
Italic |
*italic* |
italic |
Bold + italic |
***both*** |
both |
Strikethrough |
~~struck~~ |
struck through |
Inline code |
code |
monospaced code |
Link |
[text](https://url) |
a clickable link |
Image |
 |
an embedded image |
Blockquote |
> quoted text |
an indented quote |
Unordered list |
- item (or * item) |
a bullet list |
Ordered list |
1. item |
a numbered list |
Task list |
- [ ] todo - [x] done |
checkboxes |
Code block |
\ncode\n |
a fenced code block |
Horizontal rule |
--- |
a divider line |
Table |
| A | B |\n| --- | --- |\n| 1 | 2 | |
a table |
Line break |
end line with two spaces |
a hard line break |
Escape |
\\* literal asterisk |
a literal character |
Frequently asked questions
How do I make text bold in Markdown? Wrap it in double asterisks: bold. For italic use single asterisks: italic. For both, use three: bold italic.
How do I add a link in Markdown?
Use visible text. For an image, put an exclamation mark in front: 
.
How do I make a line break in Markdown? End the line with two spaces, or leave a blank line to start a new paragraph. A single newline is usually ignored.
What is GitHub-flavored Markdown? A widely used Markdown variant that adds tables, task lists (checkboxes), strikethrough and fenced code blocks on top of the original syntax. Most of this cheat sheet is supported by it.