What is Markdown language?
Markdown is a lightweight markup language designed for writing documentation, README files, and web content with minimal syntax. It converts plain-text formatting into structured HTML while remaining highly readable in its raw form. Markdown is widely supported across platforms such as GitHub, GitLab, and many static site generators. Key uses:- README files and project documentation
- Quick notes and knowledge bases
- Blog posts and static websites
Markdown is ideal for README files, quick notes, and simple documentation because it balances formatting power with readability.
Benefits (at a glance)
This lesson
In this article we demonstrate a simple Markdown example that includes headings and tables. Use the sample below as a template for documenting small features, game elements, or product details.Example Markdown
Quick Markdown Reference
| Element | Syntax | Rendered example |
|---|---|---|
| Heading | # H1, ## H2 | # H1 |
| Bold | **bold** or __bold__ | bold |
| Italic | *italic* or _italic_ | italic |
| List (ul) | - item or * item | - item |
| Ordered list | 1. First | 1. First |
| Code inline | `code` | code |
| Code block | triple backticks ``` | code |
| Link | [text](https://example.com) | text |
| Image |  |  |
| Table | Pipes and dashes | See example above |
Markdown dialects (CommonMark, GitHub Flavored Markdown, etc.) vary slightly — tables, task lists, and some extensions may behave differently depending on the renderer. Test on your target platform.
Notes
- Markdown keeps documentation focused on content rather than verbose tags.
- Use emojis or inline images in tables when icons are needed; ensure image files exist in the repository if you reference them.
- For complex layouts, combine Markdown with HTML only if your renderer allows it.