Markdown Cheat Sheet

Download the Markdown Cheat Sheet — PDF

In the words of its creator, John Gruber, “Markdown is a text-to-HTML conversion tool for web writers. Markdown allows you to write using an easy-to-read, easy-to-write plain text format, then convert it to structurally valid XHTML (or HTML).”

When I first started using Markdown, I had a really hard time finding a concise, readable cheat sheet, so I ended up making my own, which uses text within the markdown itself to demonstrate its use, and borrows heavily from Gruber’s official Markdown documentation.

Several popular text and blog editors have support for Markdown translations, such as MarsEdit and TextMate. In fact, there is an excellent screencast which demonstrates use of the Blogging Bundle for TextMate, and gives a good overview of how Markdown can be used inside the editor, and how to export to various formats.

If you use WordPress for your blog, you can install PHP Markdown Extra as a plug-in. I have also included an addendum section on the second page of the cheat sheet noting the additions and changes in this “Extra” version. [Out of date — WordPress now includes Markdown Extra as a built-in option. — Ed. 2015-08-12]

Many thanks to John Gruber and Aaron Swartz for creating Markdown, and Michel Fortin for creating the PHP “Extra” version.

Installation

Simply download the PDF. If you feel compelled to print it out and laminate it, go right ahead.

Release Notes

1.1

• 2011-05-01
• Only changes the attribution to myself here at the Station in the Metro site, as opposed to the previous HowTube attribution, an old site of mine which is no longer valid. No reason to re-download if you already have it.

1.0

• 2008-01-05
• Initial Release