Text Tools
Markdown Cheat Sheet for Developers
A comprehensive Markdown syntax reference covering headings, lists, code blocks, tables, and more.
Markdown converts plain text to HTML. It's the standard for README files, documentation, and technical writing.
Basic Syntax
Headings: # H1, ## H2, ### H3
Emphasis: *italic*, **bold**, ~~strikethrough~~
Lists: - unordered, 1. ordered
Links: [text](url)
Code: `inline` and fenced blocks with language
Tables
Use pipes and hyphens. Colons control alignment.
GitHub Flavored Markdown
- Task lists: - [x] Done, - [ ] Todo
- Autolinks, strikethrough, footnotes
Where Markdown is Used
GitHub READMEs, documentation, static site generators (Hugo, Jekyll), issue descriptions, and technical writing platforms.
Frequently Asked Questions
Markdown vs HTML?
Markdown is simpler and converts to HTML. HTML gives full control but is more verbose.
Can I embed HTML in Markdown?
Yes, most parsers allow raw HTML within Markdown for elements not supported by Markdown syntax.
What is GFM?
GitHub Flavored Markdown adds tables, task lists, strikethrough, and fenced code blocks to standard Markdown.