You can organize items into ordered and unordered lists.
To create an ordered list, add line items with numbers followed by periods. The numbers don’t have to be in numerical order, but the list should start with the number one.
Markdown |
HTML |
Rendered Output |
---|---|---|
|
|
First itemSecond itemThird itemFourth item |
|
|
First itemSecond itemThird itemFourth item |
|
|
First itemSecond itemThird itemFourth item |
|
|
First itemSecond itemThird itemIndented itemIndented itemFourth item |
CommonMark and a few other lightweight markup languages let you use a parenthesis ()
) as a delimiter (e.g., 1) First item
), but not all Markdown applications support this, so it isn’t a great option from a compatibility perspective. For compatibility, use periods only.
✅ Do this |
❌ Don't do this |
---|---|
|
|
To create an unordered list, add dashes (-
), asterisks (*
), or plus signs (+
) in front of line items. Indent one or more items to create a nested list.
Markdown |
HTML |
Rendered Output |
---|---|---|
|
|
First itemSecond itemThird itemFourth item |
|
|
First itemSecond itemThird itemFourth item |
|
|
First itemSecond itemThird itemFourth item |
|
|
First itemSecond itemThird itemIndented itemIndented itemFourth item |
If you need to start an unordered list item with a number followed by a period, you can use a backslash (\
) to escape the period.
Markdown |
HTML |
Rendered Output |
---|---|---|
|
|
1968. A great year!I think 1969 was second best. |
Markdown applications don’t agree on how to handle different delimiters in the same list. For compatibility, don’t mix and match delimiters in the same list — pick one and stick with it.
✅ Do this |
❌ Don't do this |
---|---|
|
|
To add another element in a list while preserving the continuity of the list, indent the element four spaces or one tab, as shown in the following examples.
Tip: If things don't appear the way you expect, double check that you've indented the elements in the list four spaces or one tab.
This is the first list item.
Here's the second list item.
I need to add another paragraph below the second list item.
And here's the third list item.
The rendered output looks like this:
This is the first list item.
Here’s the second list item.
I need to add another paragraph below the second list item.
And here’s the third list item.
This is the first list item.
Here's the second list item.
> A blockquote would look great below the second list item.
And here's the third list item.
The rendered output looks like this:
This is the first list item.
Here’s the second list item.
A blockquote would look great below the second list item.
Code blocks are normally indented four spaces or one tab. When they’re in a list, indent them eight spaces or two tabs.
Open the file.
Find the following code block on line 21:
<html>
<head>
<title>Test</title>
</head>
Update the title to match the name of your website.
The rendered output looks like this:
Open the file.
Find the following code block on line 21:
<html>
<head>
<title>Test</title>
</head>
![Tux, the Linux mascot](/assets/images/tux.png
The rendered output looks like this:
Open the file containing the Linux mascot.
Marvel at its beauty.
You can nest an unordered list in an ordered list, or vice versa.
First item
Second item
Third item
Indented item
Indented item
Fourth item
The rendered output looks like this:
First item
Second item
Third item
Indented item
Indented item
Fourth item
This guide is a Matt Cone project available on Markdown Guide under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license.