Marrrkdown rules

Let’s face it: Writ'n rrrambl'n fer th' web be tiresome. WYSIWYG editors help alleviate this task, but they generally result 'n horr'ble code, or worse yet, ugly web planks.

Marrrkdown be a better way t' write HTML, without all th' complexities an' ugliness that usually accompanies it.

Some o' th' key benefits be:

  1. Marrrkdown be simple t' learn, wit' minimal extra characters so it’s also quicker t' write rrrambl'n.
  2. Less chance o' errors when writ'n 'n Marrrkdown.
  3. Produces valid HTML output.
  4. Keeps th' rrrambl'n an' th' visual display separate, so ye cannot mess up th' look o' yer ship.
  5. Write 'n any text editor or Marrrkdown applicat'n ye like.
  6. Marrrkdown be a joy t' use!

John Gruber, th' author o' Marrrkdown, puts it like this:

Th' overrid'n design goal fer Markdown’s formatt'n rules be t' make it as read'ble as poss'ble. Th' idea be that a Markdown-formatted document should be publish'ble as-is, as plain text, without look'n like it’s been marked up wit' tags or formatt'n instruct'ns. While Markdown’s rules has been influenced by several exist'n text-to-HTML filters, th' single biggest source o' inspirat'n fer Markdown’s rules be th' format o' plain text email. John Gruber

Without further delay, let us go over th' main elements o' Marrrkdown an' what th' result'n HTML looks like:

Smarrrt Arrrse

Bookmark this plank an' th' official Commonmark reference fer easy future reference!

Paragraphs

In Marrrkdown yer rrrambl'n usually spans th' whole avail'ble document width. This be called a block. Blocks be always separated by whitespace t' their adjacent blocks 'n th' result'n document.

Any text not start'n wit' a special sign be written as normal, plain text paragraph block an' must be separated t' its adjacent blocks by empty lines.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, graecis denique ei vel, at duo primis mandamus.

Et legere ocurreret pri, animal tacimates complectitur ad cum. Cu eum inermis inimicus efficiendi. Labore officiis his ex, soluta officiis concludaturque ei qui, vide sensibus vim ad.
Result

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, graecis denique ei vel, at duo primis mandamus.

Et legere ocurreret pri, animal tacimates complectitur ad cum. Cu eum inermis inimicus efficiendi. Labore officiis his ex, soluta officiis concludaturque ei qui, vide sensibus vim ad.

Head'ns

A bloody idea be t' structure yer rrrambl'n us'n head'ns an' subhead'ns. HTML-head'ns from h1 through h6 be constructed wit' a # fer each level.

In Hugo ye usually don’t use h1 as this be generated by yer theme an' ye should only have one such element 'n a document.

# h1 Head'n

## h2 Head'n

### h3 Head'n

#### h4 Head'n

##### h5 Head'n

###### h6 Head'n
Result

h1 Head'n

h2 Head'n

h3 Head'n

h4 Head'n

h5 Head'n
h6 Head'n
## Horizontal Rules

T' further structure yer rrrambl'n ye can add horizontal rules. They create a “thematic break” between paragraph blocks. In Marrrkdown, ye can create it wit' three consecutive dashes ---.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, graecis denique ei vel, at duo primis mandamus.

---

Et legere ocurreret pri, animal tacimates complectitur ad cum. Cu eum inermis inimicus efficiendi. Labore officiis his ex, soluta officiis concludaturque ei qui, vide sensibus vim ad.
Result

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, graecis denique ei vel, at duo primis mandamus.


Et legere ocurreret pri, animal tacimates complectitur ad cum. Cu eum inermis inimicus efficiendi. Labore officiis his ex, soluta officiis concludaturque ei qui, vide sensibus vim ad.

Text Markers

Bold

Ye can show importance o' a snippet o' text wit' a heavier font-weight by enclos'n it wit' two asterisks **.

I am rendered wit' **bold text**
Result

I am rendered wit' bold text

Italics

Ye can emphasize a snippet o' text wit' italics by enclos'n it wit' underscores _.

I am rendered wit' _italicized text_
Result

I am rendered wit' italicized text

Strikethrough

In GFM (GitHub Flavored Markdown) ye can do strikethroughs by enclos'n text wit' two tildes ~~.

~~Strike through this text~~
Result

Strike through this text

Text substitut'n

This Marrrkdown dialect supports an extension t' combine multiple punctuat'n characters t' single typographic entities. This will only be applied t' text outside o' code blocks or inline code.

Do'ble quotes `"` an' single quotes `'` o' enclosed text be replaced by **"do'ble curly quotes"** an' **'single curly quotes'**.

Do'ble dashes `--` an' triple dashes `---` be replaced by en-dash **--** an' em-dash **---** entities.

Do'ble arrows point'n left `<<` or right `>>` be replaced by arrow **<<** an' **>>** entities.

Three consecutive dots `...` be replaced by an ellipsis **...** entity.
Result

Do'ble quotes " an' single quotes ' o' enclosed text be replaced by “do'ble curly quotes” an' ‘single curly quotes’.

Do'ble dashes -- an' triple dashes --- be replaced by en-dash an' em-dash entities.

Do'ble arrows point'n left << or right >> be replaced by arrow « an' » entities.

Three consecutive dots ... be replaced by an ellipsis entity.

Lists

Unordered

Ye can write a list o' items 'n which th' order o' th' items does not explicitly matter.

It be poss'ble t' nest lists by indent'n an item fer th' next sublevel.

Ye may use any o' -, * or + t' denote bullets fer each list item but should not switch between those symbols inside one whole list.

- Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet
- Consectetur adipisc'n elit
  - Vestibulum laoreet porttitor sem
  - Ac tristique libero volutpat at
- Nulla volutpat aliquam velit
  - Phasellus iaculis neque
  - Purus sodales ultricies
- Faucibus porta lacus fringilla vel
Result
  • Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet
  • Consectetur adipisc'n elit
    • Vestibulum laoreet porttitor sem
    • Ac tristique libero volutpat at
  • Nulla volutpat aliquam velit
    • Phasellus iaculis neque
    • Purus sodales ultricies
  • Faucibus porta lacus fringilla vel

Ordered

Ye can create a list o' items 'n which th' order o' items does explicitly matter.

It be poss'ble t' nest lists by indent'n an item fer th' next sublevel.

Marrrkdown will automatically number each o' yer items consecutively. This means, th' order number ye be provid'n be irrelevant.

1. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet
3. Consectetur adipisc'n elit
    1. Integer molestie lorem at massa
    7. Facilisis 'n pretium nisl aliquet
99. Nulla volutpat aliquam velit
    1. Faucibus porta lacus fringilla vel
    1. Aenean sit amet erat nunc
17. Eget porttitor lorem
Result
  1. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet
  2. Consectetur adipisc'n elit
    1. Integer molestie lorem at massa
    2. Facilisis 'n pretium nisl aliquet
  3. Nulla volutpat aliquam velit
    1. Faucibus porta lacus fringilla vel
    2. Aenean sit amet erat nunc
  4. Eget porttitor lorem

Tasks

In GFM (GitHub Flavored Markdown) ye can add task lists result'n 'n checked or unchecked non-click'ble items

- [x] Basic Test
- [ ] More Tests
  - [x] View
  - [x] Hear
  - [ ] Smell
Result
  • Basic Test
  • More Tests
    • View
    • Hear
    • Smell

Definit'ns

This Marrrkdown dialect supports an extension t' add definit'n lists. Definit'n lists be made o' terms an' definit'ns o' these terms, much like 'n a dictionary.

A definit'n list 'n Marrrkdown Extra be made o' a single-line term followed by a colon an' th' definit'n fer that term. Ye can also associate more than one term t' a definit'n.

If ye add empty lines around th' definit'n terms, additional vertical space will be generated. Also multiple paragraphs be poss'ble

Apple
: Pomaceous fruit o' plants o' th' genus Malus 'n th' family Rosaceae.
: An American computer company.

Orange
: Th' fruit o' an evergreen tree o' th' genus Citrus.

  Ye can make juice out o' it.
: A telecommunicat'n company.

  Ye can't make juice out o' it.
Result
Apple
Pomaceous fruit o' plants o' th' genus Malus 'n th' family Rosaceae.
An American computer company.
Orange
Th' fruit o' an evergreen tree o' th' genus Citrus.

Ye can make juice out o' it.

A telecommunicat'n company.

Ye can’t make juice out o' it.

Code

Inline Code

Inline snippets o' code can be wrapped wit' backticks `.

In this example, `<div></div>` be marked as code.
Result

In this example, <div></div> be marked as code.

Indented Code Block

A simple code block can be generated by indent'n several lines o' code by at least two spaces.

Be impressed by my advanced code:

    // Some comments
    line 1 o' code
    line 2 o' code
    line 3 o' code
Result

Be impressed by my advanced code:

// Some comments
line 1 o' code
line 2 o' code
line 3 o' code

Fenced Code Block

If ye want t' gain more control o' yer code block ye can enclose yer code by at least three backticks ``` a so called fence.

In GFM (GitHub Flavored Markdown) ye can also add a language specifier directly aft th' open'n fence, ```js, an' rules highlight'n will automatically be applied accord'n t' th' selected language 'n th' rendered HTML.

See Code Highlight'n fer additional documentat'n.

```js
grunt.initConfig({
  assemble: {
    opt'ns: {
      assets: 'docs/assets',
      data: 'src/data/*.{json,yml}',
      helpers: 'src/custom-helpers.js',
      partials: ['src/partials/**/*.{hbs,md}']
    },
    planks: {
      opt'ns: {
        layout: 'default.hbs'
      },
      files: {
        './': ['src/templates/pages/index.hbs']
      }
    }
  }
};
```
Result
grunt.initConfig({
  assemble: {
    opt'ns: {
      assets: 'docs/assets',
      data: 'src/data/*.{json,yml}',
      helpers: 'src/custom-helpers.js',
      partials: ['src/partials/**/*.{hbs,md}']
    },
    planks: {
      opt'ns: {
        layout: 'default.hbs'
      },
      files: {
        './': ['src/templates/pages/index.hbs']
      }
    }
  }
};

Tables

In GFM (GitHub Flavored Markdown) ye can create tables by add'n pipes as dividers between each cell, an' by add'n a line o' dashes (also separated by bars) beneath th' header. Avast that th' pipes do not need t' be vertically aligned.

| Opt'n | Descript'n |
| ------ | ----------- |
| data   | path t' data files t' supply th' data that will be passed into templates. |
| engine | engine t' be used fer process'n templates. Handlebars be th' default. |
| ext    | extension t' be used fer dest files. |
Result
Opt'n Descript'n
data path t' data files t' supply th' data that will be passed into templates.
engine engine t' be used fer process'n templates. Handlebars be th' default.
ext extension t' be used fer dest files.

Aligned Columns

Add'n a colon on th' left and/or right side o' th' dashes below any head'n will align th' text fer that column accordingly.

| Opt'n | Number | Descript'n |
| ------:|:------:|:----------- |
| data   | 1      | path t' data files t' supply th' data that will be passed into templates. |
| engine | 2      | engine t' be used fer process'n templates. Handlebars be th' default. |
| ext    | 3      | extension t' be used fer dest files. |
Result
Opt'n Number Descript'n
data 1 path t' data files t' supply th' data that will be passed into templates.
engine 2 engine t' be used fer process'n templates. Handlebars be th' default.
ext 3 extension t' be used fer dest files.

Blockquotes

For quot'n blocks o' rrrambl'n from another source within yer document add > before any text ye want t' quote.

Blockquotes can also be nested.

> Donec massa lacus, ultricies a ullamcorper 'n, fermentum sed augue. Nunc augue augue, aliquam non hendrerit ac, commodo vel nisi.
>
> > Sed adipisc'n elit vitae augue consectetur a gravida nunc vehicula. Donec auctor odio non est accumsan facilisis. Aliquam id turpis 'n dolor tincidunt mollis ac eu diam.
>
> Mauris sit amet ligula egestas, feugiat metus tincidunt, luctus libero. Donec congue finibus tempor. Vestibulum aliquet sollicitudin erat, ut aliquet purus posuere luctus.
Result

Donec massa lacus, ultricies a ullamcorper 'n, fermentum sed augue. Nunc augue augue, aliquam non hendrerit ac, commodo vel nisi.

Sed adipisc'n elit vitae augue consectetur a gravida nunc vehicula. Donec auctor odio non est accumsan facilisis. Aliquam id turpis 'n dolor tincidunt mollis ac eu diam.

Mauris sit amet ligula egestas, feugiat metus tincidunt, luctus libero. Donec congue finibus tempor. Vestibulum aliquet sollicitudin erat, ut aliquet purus posuere luctus.

In GFM (GitHub Flavored Markdown) absolute URLs will automatically be converted into a link.

This be a link t' https://example.com.
Result

This be a link t' https://example.com.

Ye can explicitly define links 'n case ye want t' use non-absolute URLs or want t' give different text.

[Assemble](http://assemble.io)
Result

For even further informat'n, ye can add an additional text, displayed 'n a tooltip on hover'n over th' link.

[Upstage](https://github.com/upstage/ "Visit Upstage!")
Result

Links can be simplyfied fer recurr'n reuse by us'n a reference ID t' later define th' URL locat'n. This simplyfies writ'n if ye want t' use a link more than once 'n a document.

[Example][somelinkID]

[somelinkID]: https://example.com "Go t' example domain"
Result

Footnotes

Footnotes work mostly like reference-style links. A footnote be made o' two th'ns, a marker 'n th' text that will become a superscript number an' a footnote definit'n that will be placed 'n a list o' footnotes.

Usually th' list o' footnotes will be shown at th' end o' yer document. If we use a footnote 'n a notice box it will instead be listed at th' end o' its box.

Footnotes can contain block elements, which means that ye can put multiple paragraphs, lists, blockquotes an' so on 'n a footnote. It works th' same as fer list items, just indent th' follow'n paragraphs by four spaces 'n th' footnote definit'n.

That's some text wit' a footnote[^1]

[^1]: An' that's th' footnote.

That's some more text wit' a footnote.[^someid]

[^someid]:
    Anyth'n o' interest goes here.

    Blue light glows blue.
Result

That’s some text wit' a footnote1

That’s some more text wit' a footnote.2

Images

Basic Images

Images have a similar rules t' links but include a preced'n exclamat'n mark.

![Spock](https://octodex.github.com/images/spocktocat.png)
Result

Image wit' Tooltip

Like links, images can also be given a tooltip.

![Picard](https://octodex.github.com/images/jean-luc-picat.jpg "Jean Luc Picard")
Result

Image References

Images can also be linked by reference ID t' later define th' URL locat'n. This simplyfies writ'n if ye want t' use an image more than once 'n a document.

![La Forge][laforge]

[laforge]: https://octodex.github.com/images/trekkie.jpg "Geordi La Forge"
Result

Further Image Formatt'n

This theme allows additional non-standard formatt'n by sett'n query parameter at th' end o' th' image URL.

Resiz'n

Add query parameter width and/or height t' th' link image t' resize th' image. Values be CSS values (default be auto).

![Minion](https://octodex.github.com/images/minion.png?width=20vw)
Result
![Minion](https://octodex.github.com/images/minion.png?height=50px)
Result
![Minion](https://octodex.github.com/images/minion.png?height=50px&width=40vw)
Result

CSS Classes

Add a query parameter classes t' th' link image t' add CSS classes. Add some o' th' predefined values or even define yer own 'n yer CSS.

Shadow
![Spidertocat](https://octodex.github.com/images/spidertocat.png?classes=shadow)
Result
Border
![DrOctocat](https://octodex.github.com/images/droctocat.png?classes=border)
Result
Left
![Supertocat](https://octodex.github.com/images/okal-eltocat.jpg?classes=left)
Result
![Riddlocat](https://octodex.github.com/images/riddlocat.jpg?classes=right)
Result
Inline
![Spidertocat](https://octodex.github.com/images/spidertocat.png?classes=inline)
![DrOctocat](https://octodex.github.com/images/droctocat.png?classes=inline)
![Supertocat](https://octodex.github.com/images/okal-eltocat.jpg?classes=inline)
![Riddlocat](https://octodex.github.com/images/riddlocat.jpg?classes=inline)
Combinat'n
![X-tocat](https://octodex.github.com/images/xtocat.jpg?classes=shadow,border,left)
Result

Add th' query parameter lightbox=false t' th' image link t' dis'ble th' lightbox.

![Homercat](https://octodex.github.com/images/homercat.png?lightbox=false)
Result

Homercat


  1. An' that’s th' footnote. ↩︎

  2. Anyth'n o' interest goes here.

    Blue light glows blue. ↩︎