#Headings
Start a line with one to six # characters. One # is the largest heading (use it once, for the page title); six is the smallest.
//source
# Heading level 1
## Heading level 2
### Heading level 3
#### Heading level 4//rendered
$cat markdown-guide.md
The Markdown guide
Markdown is a simple way to format plain text that turns into clean HTML. Created by John Gruber in 2004, it powers READMEs on GitHub, posts on Reddit, docs, chat apps and notes. This guide covers every piece of Markdown syntax with copy-paste examples, shown rendered side by side.
shopping-list.md
# Shopping list- [x] Coffee- [ ] Oat milk**Bold**, _italic_, and a[link](https://mdflow.cz).> Plain text, clean output.
$markdown --tldr
Markdown cheat sheet
The whole language at a glance. Every row links to a worked example below.
| // syntax | // result |
|---|---|
# Text | Heading (one # per level, up to six) |
**Text** | Bold |
_Text_ | Italic |
~~Text~~ | Strikethrough |
[Text](url) | Link |
 | Image |
- Text | Bulleted list item |
1. Text | Numbered list item |
- [ ] Text | Task list checkbox |
> Text | Blockquote |
`Text` | Inline code |
``` | Fenced code block |
| a | b | | Table row |
--- | Horizontal rule |
Text[^1] | Footnote reference |
$man markdown
Markdown syntax, with live examples
Each example shows the Markdown source next to exactly how MDflow renders it.
#Paragraphs & line breaks
Write in plain sentences. Separate paragraphs with one blank line. To force a line break inside a paragraph, end the line with two spaces or a backslash.
//source
Markdown turns plain text into a clean, formatted document.
Separate paragraphs with a single blank line between them.//rendered
Markdown turns plain text into a clean, formatted document.
Separate paragraphs with a single blank line between them.
#Bold, italic & strikethrough
Wrap text in symbols to emphasize it: ** or __ for bold, * or _ for italic, and ~~ for strikethrough. Combine them for bold italic.
//source
**Bold text** and __also bold__.
_Italic text_ and *also italic*.
~~Strikethrough~~ for crossed-out text.
***Bold and italic at once.***//rendered
Bold text and also bold.
Italic text and also italic.
Strikethrough for crossed-out text.
Bold and italic at once.
#Blockquotes
Start a line with > to quote text. Add another > to nest a quote inside a quote.
//source
> Markdown is intended to be easy to read and easy to write.
>
>> Add another > to nest a quote inside a quote.//rendered
Markdown is intended to be easy to read and easy to write.
Add another > to nest a quote inside a quote.
#Unordered lists
Start each item with -, *, or +. Indent by two spaces to nest items under one another.
//source
- First item
- Second item
- Nested item (indent two spaces)
- Another nested item
- Third item//rendered
- First item
- Second item
- Nested item (indent two spaces)
- Another nested item
- Third item
#Ordered lists
Start each item with a number and a period. The exact numbers do not matter — Markdown renumbers the list automatically.
//source
1. First step
2. Second step
3. Third step
1. A nested step
2. Another nested step//rendered
- First step
- Second step
- Third step
- A nested step
- Another nested step
#Task lists (checkboxes)
Make a checklist with - [ ] for an open item and - [x] for a completed one. Great for to-dos and acceptance criteria.
//source
- [x] Write the document
- [x] Add a couple of images
- [ ] Share it with the team//rendered
- Write the document
- Add a couple of images
- Share it with the team
#Links
Put the visible text in square brackets and the URL in parentheses. Add an optional title in quotes for a hover tooltip. Bare URLs link automatically.
//source
[MDflow](https://mdflow.cz)
[Link with a tooltip](https://mdflow.cz "Markdown workspace")
Bare URLs link automatically: https://mdflow.cz//rendered
#Images
An image is a link with a leading !. The text in the brackets is the alt text — always describe the image, for screen readers and for search engines.
//source
//rendered
#Inline code & code blocks
Wrap inline code in single backticks. For a block, fence it with triple backticks and name the language after the opening fence.
//source
Press `Cmd + S` to save your document.
```js
function greet(name) {
return `Hello, ${name}!`;
}
```//rendered
Press Cmd + S to save your document.
function greet(name) {
return `Hello, ${name}!`;
}
#Tables
Build a table with pipes | between columns and a row of dashes --- under the header to separate it from the body.
//source
| Feature | Supported |
| --------- | --------- |
| Headings | Yes |
| Tables | Yes |
| Footnotes | Yes |//rendered
| Feature | Supported |
|---|---|
| Headings | Yes |
| Tables | Yes |
| Footnotes | Yes |
#Table alignment
Add a colon to the divider row to control column alignment: :--- for left, :--: for center, and ---: for right.
//source
| Left | Center | Right |
| :----- | :----: | -----: |
| apple | banana | cherry |
| 1 | 2 | 3 |//rendered
| Left | Center | Right |
|---|---|---|
| apple | banana | cherry |
| 1 | 2 | 3 |
#Horizontal rules
Put three or more dashes, asterisks, or underscores on their own line to draw a divider between sections.
//source
Content above the divider.
---
Content below the divider.//rendered
Content above the divider.
Content below the divider.
#Footnotes
Reference a footnote with [^id], then define it anywhere in the document. The note is collected at the bottom of the rendered page.
$markdown --help
Frequently asked questions
What is Markdown?
Markdown is a lightweight markup language created by John Gruber in 2004. It lets you format plain text — headings, bold, lists, links, and more — using simple, readable symbols that convert to HTML. Because it is just text, Markdown is portable, future-proof, and easy to version-control.
Is Markdown the same as HTML?
No, but they are related. You write Markdown, and a renderer converts it to HTML for display. Markdown is faster to write and easier to read in its raw form, and you can drop raw HTML into a Markdown document whenever you need something Markdown does not cover.
What is GitHub Flavored Markdown (GFM)?
GitHub Flavored Markdown is a popular superset of the original Markdown that adds tables, task lists, strikethrough, and automatic links. MDflow renders GitHub Flavored Markdown, so the examples on this page work exactly as shown.
How do I create a table in Markdown?
Separate columns with pipe characters (|) and add a row of dashes (---) under the header. Add colons to that divider row to left-, center-, or right-align each column. See the Tables section above for a working example.
How do I add an image in Markdown?
Use . The text in the square brackets is the alt text that describes the image for screen readers and search engines, so always fill it in.
Does Markdown support checkboxes?
Yes, through task lists. Write - [ ] for an unchecked item and - [x] for a checked one. MDflow renders these as checkboxes in the preview.
Where can I practice writing Markdown?
Try the free MDflow Markdown Playground — type Markdown on one side and watch it render live on the other, with no sign-up required. When you are ready to keep your documents, MDflow gives you a full Markdown workspace.
Is MDflow free?
Yes. MDflow has a free plan with no credit card required. You can write, organize, and share Markdown documents, and upgrade to Pro when you want unlimited files, the HTTP API, and the remote MCP server.
$mdflow init
Put Markdown to work in MDflow.
Write, organize and share Markdown in a real workspace — readable by people and AI agents. The free plan needs no card.