The Ultimate Markdown Cheat Sheet (2026)
A quick reference for the markdown syntax you use every day. Bookmark or print and keep it handy.
Use this page as a quick reference while you write. All of this syntax works in Modern Markdown Editor and in most markdown-friendly tools.
Headings
| Syntax | Result |
|---|
# Heading 1 | Largest heading |
## Heading 2 | Section |
### Heading 3 | Subsection |
#### ... ##### ... ###### | Smaller levels |
Text style
| Syntax | Result |
|---|
**bold** or __bold__ | bold |
*italic* or _italic_ | italic |
~~strikethrough~~ | Strikethrough (where supported) |
`code` | Inline code |
Lists
| Syntax | Result |
|---|
- item or * item | Unordered list |
1. item | Ordered list |
| Indent with 2–4 spaces | Nested lists |
Links and images
| Syntax | Result |
|---|
[text](url) | Link |
[text](url "title") | Link with tooltip |
 | Image |
Blockquote and code block
| Syntax | Result |
|---|
> quote | Blockquote |
``` on its own line, code, then ``` | Fenced code block (with optional language) |
Tables
| Syntax | Result |
|---|
| A | B |
| --- | --- |
| 1 | 2 | | Table with header and alignment |
Horizontal rule
--- or *** or ___ on its own line gives a horizontal line.
Practice in the editor: open Modern Markdown Editor, paste or type any of these examples, and watch the preview update in real time. Once this cheat sheet is in your muscle memory, you’ll write faster in any markdown tool.