Markdown Emoji
Last updated: 2026-10-14
Emoji GitHub feature
A GitHub extension. Wrap a shortcode in colons — :smile: renders as a smiley. The full table lives in GitHub's gemoji repo. A little visual warmth for your docs.
| Group | GFM Extensions |
|---|---|
| Spec level | GitHub feature |
| Spec version | CommonMark 0.31.2 + GFM |
📝 Syntax
:smile: → smiley
:rocket: → rocket▶ Live Example
Edit Markdown on the left, see the result on the right
💡 Key points
ℹ️ Note 1800+ shortcodes exist — search the gemoji cheat sheet; pasting the emoji itself also works.
💡 Tip Keep prose information-dense; emojis shine in headings, statuses and social copy.
❓ FAQ
Q Can I paste the emoji itself?
A Yes — shortcodes are just easier to type; the result is identical.
Q Are shortcodes portable?
A Shortcodes are GitHub dialect; the emoji characters themselves are universal.
Q Can I define custom emoji?
A GitHub orgs can upload custom emoji referenced as :name:.
📚 See also
AlertsGitHub feature