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Markdown Syntax Guide

Complete reference for markdown formatting with rendered examples

1. Headings

Headings create document structure and hierarchy. Use # symbols (1-6) to create headings of different levels.

Markdown
# Heading 1
## Heading 2
### Heading 3
#### Heading 4
##### Heading 5
###### Heading 6
Rendered

Heading 1

Heading 2

Heading 3

Heading 4

Heading 5
Heading 6
Tip: Always leave a space after the # symbols. Start with H1 for the main title, then use H2-H6 for subsections.

2. Text Formatting

Markdown provides several ways to emphasize and format text.

Markdown
**Bold text** or __also bold__

*Italic text* or _also italic_

***Bold and italic***

~~Strikethrough text~~

This is `inline code`

Normal paragraph text.
Rendered

Bold text or also bold

Italic text or also italic

Bold and italic

Strikethrough text

This is inline code

Normal paragraph text.

3. Lists

Create organized content with unordered (bullet) and ordered (numbered) lists.

Unordered Lists

Markdown
- First item
- Second item
  - Nested item
  - Another nested
- Third item

* Asterisks work too
+ Plus signs also work
Rendered
  • First item
  • Second item
    • Nested item
    • Another nested
  • Third item
  • Asterisks work too
  • Plus signs also work

Ordered Lists

Markdown
1. First step
2. Second step
3. Third step
   1. Sub-step A
   2. Sub-step B
4. Fourth step
Rendered
  1. First step
  2. Second step
  3. Third step
    1. Sub-step A
    2. Sub-step B
  4. Fourth step

5. Code

Display code with proper formatting using inline code or fenced code blocks.

Inline Code

Markdown
Use `const` for constants.

Run `npm install` to begin.
Rendered

Use const for constants.

Run npm install to begin.

Code Blocks

Markdown
```javascript
function greet(name) {
  return `Hello, ${name}!`;
}

console.log(greet('World'));
```
Rendered
function greet(name) {
  return `Hello, ${name}!`;
}

console.log(greet('World'));
Language Hint: Add the language name after the opening ``` to enable syntax highlighting (e.g., ```javascript, ```python, ```css).

6. Blockquotes

Use blockquotes to highlight important text, citations, or notes.

Markdown
> This is a blockquote.
> It can span multiple lines.

> Nested quotes work too:
>
> > This is a nested quote.
>
> Back to the outer quote.
Rendered
This is a blockquote. It can span multiple lines.
Nested quotes work too:
This is a nested quote.
Back to the outer quote.

7. Tables

Create structured data tables using pipes (|) and hyphens (-).

Markdown
| Feature | Status |
|---------|--------|
| Templates | 16 available |
| Colors | 20 schemes |
| Fonts | 35+ families |

| Left | Center | Right |
|:-----|:------:|------:|
| L    | C      | R     |
Rendered
Feature Status
Templates16 available
Colors20 schemes
Fonts35+ families
Left Center Right
L C R
Column Alignment: Use colons in the separator row: :--- for left, :---: for center, ---: for right alignment.

8. Horizontal Rules

Create visual breaks between sections using three or more hyphens, asterisks, or underscores.

Markdown
Section one content.

---

Section two content.

***

Section three content.
Rendered

Section one content.

Section two content.

Section three content.

9. Task Lists

Create interactive checklists for tracking progress or to-do items.

Markdown
## Project Tasks

- [x] Design mockups
- [x] Write documentation
- [ ] Code review
- [ ] Deploy to production
Rendered

Project Tasks

  • Design mockups
  • Write documentation
  • Code review
  • Deploy to production

10. Advanced Features

Extended markdown syntax for complex documents.

Footnotes

Markdown
Here is a sentence with a footnote[^1].

[^1]: This is the footnote content.
Rendered

Here is a sentence with a footnote[1].

[1] This is the footnote content.

Definition Lists

Markdown
Term 1
: Definition of term 1

Term 2
: Definition of term 2
Rendered
Term 1
Definition of term 1
Term 2
Definition of term 2

Escaping Characters

Escape Characters
\*Not italic\*  →  *Not italic*
\# Not a heading  →  # Not a heading
\`Not code\`  →  `Not code`

Quick Reference

# Heading 1 Heading
**bold** Bold text
*italic* Italic text
[text](url) Link
![alt](img.jpg) Image
`code` Inline code
```lang Code block
> quote Blockquote
- item Bullet list
1. item Numbered list
--- Horizontal rule
- [x] done Task list item

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