Markdown uses special characters and syntax in plain text to indicate formatting. When you write in Markdown, you’re adding these symbols to your text, and then a Markdown parser converts it into formatted HTML.
Every Markdown application supports the elements outlined in John Gruber’s initial design document.
Note: Markdown and HTML can be used together since Markdown files support HTML tags. This is useful for those who prefer HTML tags to Markdown syntax. For example, some people find that it’s easier to use HTML tags for images.
We’ll explore the most important of these elements with examples.
Headings
To create a heading, add hash signs (#) in front of a word or phrase. The number of hash signs should reflect the heading level.
To make a level three heading (<h3>), use three hash signs (like ### My Header), to make a level four heading (<h4>), use four hash signs and so on.
| Markdown | HTML |
| # Heading level 1 | <h1>Heading level 1</h1> |
| ## Heading level 2 | <h2>Heading level 1</h2> |
| ### Heading level 3 | <h3>Heading level 1</h3> |
| #### Heading level 4 | <h4>Heading level 1</h4> |
| ##### Heading level 5 | <h5>Heading level 1</h5> |
| ###### Heading level 6 | <h6>Heading level 1</h6> |
Emphasis
Markdown let us add emphasis with bold or/and italic text.
Bold
For making text bold, use double asterisks or underscores to surround it.
| Some words are __bold__ | Some words are bold |
| Some words are **bold** | Some words are bold |
Italic
To italicize text, add one asterisk or underscore before and after a word or phrase.
| Some words are *italicized* | Some words are italicized |
| Some words are _italicized_ | Some words are italicized |
Bold and Italic
To use both bold and italic text formatting, surround the text with three asterisks or underscores.
| This word is very ***important*** | This word is very important |
| This word is very ___important___ | This word is very important |
| This word is very __*important*__ | This word is very important |
| This word is very _**important**_ | This word is very important |
Blockquotes
To create a blockquote, add a greater than sign in front of a paragraph.
Blockquotes containing several paragraphs.
You can put multiple paragraphs inside blockquotes. Add a > on the blank lines between
the paragraphs.
Adding other elements to blockquotes.
You can include other Markdown inside blockquotes.
Not all elements can be used. You’ll need to experiment to see which ones work
In the next post we are going to talk about other basic elements like lists and code.
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