Markdown Autolinks
Last updated: 2026-10-14
Autolinks GFM extension
A GFM extension. A bare URL or email address auto-links with no syntax at all; wrap it in angle brackets <URL> to be explicit. This is what links bare URLs in issues and chats.
| Group | GFM Extensions |
|---|---|
| Spec level | GFM extension |
| Spec version | CommonMark 0.31.2 + GFM |
📝 Syntax
https://example.com
or <https://example.com>▶ Live Example
Edit Markdown on the left, see the result on the right
💡 Key points
ℹ️ Note Bare-URL auto-linking is GFM behavior; strict CommonMark needs angle brackets.
💡 Tip For custom link text, use the standard [text](url) syntax.
❓ FAQ
Q Are www. links detected?
A GFM recognizes www. prefixes, but implementations vary — prefer full https://.
Q How to stop auto-linking?
A Wrap the URL in inline code or escape a slash.
Q What do auto-linked emails become?
A A mailto: link that opens the mail client.
📚 See also
LinksCommonMark core