Reference
Last updated: 2026-10-14
Reference
An element-by-element Markdown reference (CommonMark 0.31.2 + GFM): syntax, key points, FAQ and a live editable example for every entry. 38 entries in 4 groups.
Basic: Block
| Entry | Spec level |
|---|---|
| Headings | CommonMark core |
| Paragraphs | CommonMark core |
| Line Breaks | CommonMark core |
| Blockquotes | CommonMark core |
| Ordered Lists | CommonMark core |
| Unordered Lists | CommonMark core |
| Code Blocks | CommonMark core |
| Horizontal Rules | CommonMark core |
| Links | CommonMark core |
| Images | CommonMark core |
Basic: Inline
| Entry | Spec level |
|---|---|
| Bold | CommonMark core |
| Italic | CommonMark core |
| Inline Code | CommonMark core |
| Backslash Escapes | CommonMark core |
| HTML Entities | CommonMark core |
| Inline HTML | CommonMark core |
GFM Extensions
| Entry | Spec level |
|---|---|
| Tables | GFM extension |
| Task Lists | GFM extension |
| Strikethrough | GFM extension |
| Autolinks | GFM extension |
| Footnotes | Common extension |
| Alerts | GitHub feature |
| Emoji | GitHub feature |
| Highlight | Common extension |
| Sub & Superscript | Common extension |
| Heading IDs | Common extension |
| Definition Lists | Common extension |
Edge Cases & Rules
| Entry | Spec level |
|---|---|
| Setext Headings | CommonMark core |
| Indented Code Blocks | CommonMark core |
| List Nesting | CommonMark core |
| Lazy Continuation | CommonMark core |
| Hard & Soft Breaks | CommonMark core |
| Link Reference Definitions | CommonMark core |
| Emphasis Nesting & Precedence | CommonMark core |
| Block vs Inline Precedence | CommonMark core |
| Raw HTML Filtering | GFM extension |
| Tight vs Loose Lists | CommonMark core |
| Spaces & Tabs | CommonMark core |
