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Markdown Cheatsheet (Free, with Examples)

This markdown cheatsheet covers the patterns you will use most: headings, lists, links, tables, code blocks, Mermaid diagrams, and KaTeX math. Copy any example into the Markups editor to see it render in real time, then export to PDF, HTML, or Markdown when you are ready.

Try Markups Free → Markdown to PDF tutorial Mermaid examples

Route: /seo/cheatsheet · Last updated: 2026-06-12 · Reading time: ~6 min

Direct answer

Markdown is a plain-text format for writing structured documents fast. The most useful patterns are headings, emphasis, lists, links, tables, code blocks, task lists, quotes, Mermaid diagrams, and math. You can use this cheatsheet as a quick reference and try every example in the live editor.

Common syntax reference

Purpose Syntax Example output
Heading 1 # Title Large title
Heading 2 ## Section Section heading
Heading 3 ### Sub-section Sub-section heading
Bold **text** text
Italic *text* text
Strikethrough ~~text~~ text
Inline code `code` code
Link [label](https://example.com) Clickable link
Image ![alt](https://example.com/img.png) Embedded image
Code block ```js … ``` Formatted code with syntax highlighting
Blockquote > Quote Indented quote
Horizontal rule --- Thin divider line

Lists and tasks

Lists are the workhorse of structured writing. Unordered lists use dashes, asterisks, or plus signs. Ordered lists use numbers followed by a period. Task lists use square brackets.

- Bullet item
- Another bullet item
  - Nested bullet
- Final bullet

1. First step
2. Second step
3. Third step

- [x] Write draft
- [ ] Review
- [ ] Export

Task lists are especially useful for runbooks, postmortems, and onboarding docs that mix prose with actionable items.

Tables

GitHub Flavored Markdown supports pipe-style tables with optional alignment colons.

| Column      | Type   | Notes                  |
|-------------|--------|------------------------|
| id          | int    | Primary key            |
| name        | string | Display label          |
| created_at  | date   | UTC timestamp          |

Tables render cleanly in Markups' preview and in the exported PDF, HTML, and Markdown.

Useful blocks

Task list

- [x] Write draft
- [ ] Review
- [ ] Export

Quote

> Write once, preview instantly, export cleanly.

Footnote-style reference

Use a link, then add a reference list at the bottom of the document.

[^1]: Source: markups.dev

Advanced blocks

Mermaid flowchart

```mermaid
graph TD
  A[Start] --> B[Write]
  B --> C[Preview]
  C --> D[Export]
```

Mermaid sequence

```mermaid
sequenceDiagram
  participant U as User
  participant M as Markups
  U->>M: Write markdown
  M-->>U: Render preview
```

Math (inline and block)

Inline: $E = mc^2$
Block:
$$
\int_{-\infty}^{\infty} e^{-x^2} dx = \sqrt{\pi}
$$

Professional writing workflow in markdown

For blog posts and technical articles, start by outlining headings before writing paragraphs. Then fill each section with short, direct blocks. Add code examples and diagrams only where they improve understanding. Finish with a quick structure check: heading order, internal links, and export readability.

This approach helps teams publish faster and keeps content consistent across docs, tutorials, and knowledge bases. It also improves SEO readability because pages remain scannable and semantically clear.

Markdown for static site generators

Most modern static site generators — Astro, Hugo, Jekyll, Eleventy, and Next.js with MDX — consume markdown files directly. The patterns in this cheatsheet produce files that work in all of them:

  • Use front-matter (--- blocks) for page metadata.
  • Stick to CommonMark + GFM syntax for maximum compatibility.
  • Keep Mermaid and KaTeX inside fenced code blocks with the right language tag.
  • Use relative links for internal references so the site builds in any directory.

If you author in Markups and export to HTML, the resulting file drops into a static site without rewriting.

FAQ

Is markdown beginner friendly? Yes. Markdown is plain text with a few simple symbols for headings, lists, links, and emphasis.

What is the fastest way to learn markdown? Use a cheatsheet like this one with copy-pasteable examples, and try them in a live preview editor like Markups.

Does this cheatsheet include Mermaid and KaTeX? Yes. Both are covered with runnable examples that you can paste directly into the editor.

Why use Markups for markdown? It gives you live preview, modern exports, and a browser-only workflow with no sign-up.

Can I export the cheatsheet to PDF? Yes. Use the export button in the Markups editor to download this cheatsheet as a printable PDF.

Try these examples in Markups

Open markups.dev, paste any example from this cheatsheet, and watch the preview render in real time. When the document is ready, export to PDF, HTML, or Markdown in one click. The editor is free for as many documents as you want.

For more, see the Mermaid examples, math examples, or markdown to PDF tutorial.