Markdown Cheat Sheet: Syntax with Copy-Paste Examples
Every Markdown syntax with copy-paste examples and live rendered output. Headings, lists, tables, code, GFM extras, and more.
A single-page reference for every Markdown syntax you are likely to need. Each example shows the raw Markdown on the left and exactly how it renders on the right, so you can copy what you need and get back to writing. It is aimed at people who are learning Markdown, people who already know it but need to look something up (tables always), and people preparing clean text documents to paste into ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini.
A typical moment for this page: a technical writer building a README for an internal library opens a GitHub issue template and realizes they cannot remember whether task-list syntax uses brackets or dashes, whether a table header needs the pipe on both ends, or how to nest a fenced code block inside a list item. Three Copy buttons later, the README is done. The snippets go onto your clipboard with one click. For a wider tour of what Markdown is useful for, see our 10 things you can do with Markdown article. If you need to produce Markdown from a real file (a PDF, a Word doc, a spreadsheet), use the Word to Markdown converter instead of typing it by hand.
Headings
Level 1 through 6
# H1 ## H2 ### H3 #### H4 ##### H5 ###### H6
H1
H2
H3
H4
H5
H6
Alternate H1 / H2 (setext)
Big title ========= Section -------
Big title
Section
Emphasis
Bold, italic, combined
**bold text** *italic text* ***bold and italic***
bold text
italic text
bold and italic
Strikethrough (GFM)
~~no longer relevant~~
no longer relevant
Requires GitHub-Flavored Markdown.
Lists
Unordered list
- first item - second item - nested - third item
- first item
- second item
- nested
- third item
Ordered list
1. First 2. Second 3. Third
- First
- Second
- Third
Links
Inline link
[Markdown Converters](https://markdownconverters.com)
Reference link
[docs][1] [1]: https://markdownconverters.com
Bare URL
<https://markdownconverters.com>
Images
Inline image
Reference image
![alt][logo] [logo]: https://picsum.photos/200/120
Code
Inline code
Run `npm install` to get started.
Run npm install to get started.
Fenced code block with language
```python
def greet(name):
return f"hello {name}"
```def greet(name):
return f"hello {name}"
Indented code block
function hello() {
return "world"
}function hello() {
return "world"
}
Tables
Basic table (GFM)
| Name | Role | | ---- | ---- | | Ana | Lead | | Ben | Dev |
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Ana | Lead |
| Ben | Dev |
Requires GitHub-Flavored Markdown.
Aligned columns (GFM)
| Left | Center | Right | | :--- | :----: | ----: | | a | b | c |
| Left | Center | Right |
|---|---|---|
| a | b | c |
Requires GitHub-Flavored Markdown.
Blockquotes
Single-line quote
> Markdown is just plain text with rules.
Markdown is just plain text with rules.
Multi-line and nested
> Outer quote > > > Nested quote > > Back to outer.
Outer quote
Nested quote
Back to outer.
Horizontal Rules
Three or more dashes, asterisks, or underscores
--- *** ___
Task Lists
Checklist (GFM)
- [x] Write the draft - [ ] Edit it - [ ] Publish
- Write the draft
- Edit it
- Publish
Requires GitHub-Flavored Markdown.
GFM extras
Autolinks
Visit https://markdownconverters.com directly.
Visit https://markdownconverters.com directly.
GFM turns bare URLs into clickable links automatically.
Footnotes
This claim needs a source.[^1] [^1]: Here is the source.
Supported in most GFM renderers.
Emoji shortcodes
Ship it :rocket: :sparkles:
Ship it :rocket: :sparkles:
Rendered on GitHub, many static site generators, and Discord. Not part of CommonMark.
How to use this tool
- 1
Use the sidebar on the left to jump to the category you want: Headings, Lists, Tables, and so on.
- 2
Each entry shows the Markdown syntax on the left and exactly how it renders on the right.
- 3
Click the Copy button on any example to put the raw syntax on your clipboard, then paste it into your editor or ChatGPT.
- 4
Entries labeled "GFM" require a GitHub-Flavored Markdown renderer. Most modern tools (GitHub, Obsidian, Notion, ChatGPT) support them.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between CommonMark and GFM?+
CommonMark is the baseline Markdown spec that every renderer supports: headings, lists, links, code, blockquotes, emphasis. GitHub-Flavored Markdown (GFM) adds tables, task lists, strikethrough, autolinks, and footnotes. Almost every modern tool (GitHub, Obsidian, Notion, ChatGPT, Claude) supports GFM.
Will these examples work in ChatGPT and Claude?+
Yes. Both ChatGPT and Claude render full GFM, including tables and task lists. They will also happily accept plain Markdown as input; you get cleaner answers back when your prompt is structured with headings and lists.
Do I have to learn all of this?+
No. Most people only use headings, lists, bold/italic, links, and code. The rest is useful when you need it. Come back to this page as a reference.
Why does my Markdown look wrong when pasted into a tool?+
The most common cause is a renderer that does not support GFM: tables and task lists will just show the raw pipes and brackets. Try a CommonMark-only subset, or use a tool that supports GFM.
Can I print or save this cheat sheet?+
Use your browser print function (Cmd/Ctrl+P) and save as PDF. For a more compact version, use the editor tool to copy specific sections and save as a .md file.
What about more advanced stuff like Mermaid diagrams?+
Mermaid, KaTeX math, and other extensions depend on the specific renderer. They are not part of CommonMark or GFM. Check your tool documentation to see which extensions are supported.
Related tools
Related learning
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