Markdown Cheat Sheet: Format Text the Easy Way
Markdown lets you format text with a few plain characters — no toolbar required. Learn it once and you will write faster everywhere from GitHub to your notes app.
By ToolJolt Team · May 10, 2026
Headings and emphasis
- # Heading 1, ## Heading 2, ### Heading 3.
- *italic* or _italic_; **bold** or __bold__.
- ~~strikethrough~~ for crossed-out text.
Lists
- Bullets: start a line with -, * or +.
- Numbered: 1. 2. 3. (the actual numbers do not even have to be in order).
- Indent two spaces to nest a sub-list.
Links, images and code
- Link: [text](https://example.com).
- Image:  — the ! is what makes it an image.
- Inline code: `like this`; code blocks: fence with three backticks.
Tables and quotes
Quotes start a line with >. Tables use pipes and dashes: a header row, a row of |---| separators, then data rows. It looks fiddly typed out but renders into a clean table.
Where Markdown is used and converting it
Markdown powers GitHub READMEs, many docs sites, chat apps, static blogs and note tools. When you need real HTML — for an email or a CMS — convert it. ToolJolt's Markdown-to-HTML tool (and the reverse) do it instantly in your browser.
Free tools mentioned in this guide
Frequently asked questions
How do I make text bold in Markdown?
Wrap it in double asterisks or double underscores: **bold** or __bold__.
What is the difference between a link and an image in Markdown?
An image is a link with an exclamation mark in front: . Without the !, it is a clickable text link.
Can I convert Markdown to HTML?
Yes — use a Markdown-to-HTML converter. ToolJolt offers both Markdown-to-HTML and HTML-to-Markdown, running entirely in your browser.