The Dead Simple Markdown Guide to Lists

Lists You can organize items into ordered and unordered lists. Ordered 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 1. First item2. Second item3. Third item4. Fourth item First item Second item Third item Fourth item First itemSecond itemThird itemFourth item 1. First item1. Second item1. Third item1. Fourth item First item Second item Third item Fourth item First itemSecond itemThird itemFourth item 1. First item8. Second item3. Third item5. Fourth item First item Second item Third item Fourth item First itemSecond itemThird itemFourth item 1. First item2. Second item3. Third item 1. Indented item 2. Indented item4. Fourth item First item Second item Third item Indented item Indented item Fourth item First itemSecond itemThird itemIndented itemIndented itemFourth item Ordered List Best Practices 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 1. First item2. Second item 1) First item2) Second item Unordered Lists 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 item- Second item- Third item- Fourth item First item Second item Third item Fourth item First itemSecond itemThird itemFourth item * First item* Second item* Third item* Fourth item First item Second item Third item Fourth item First itemSecond itemThird itemFourth item + First item+ Second item+ Third item+ Fourth item First item Second item Third item Fourth item First itemSecond itemThird itemFourth item - First item- Second item- Third item - Indented item - Indented item- Fourth item First item Second item Third item Indented item Indented item Fourth item First itemSecond itemThird itemIndented itemIndented itemFourth item Starting Unordered List Items With Numbers 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. 1968. A great year! I think 1969 was second best. 1968. A great year!I think 1969 was second best. Unordered List Best Practices 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 - First item- Second item- Third item- Fourth item + First item* Second item- Third item+ Fourth item Adding Elements in Lists 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. Paragraphs 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. Blockquotes 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. And here’s the third list item. Code Blocks 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: Test 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: Test Update the title to match the name of your website. Images Open the file containing the Linux mascot. Marvel at its beauty. ![Tux, the Linux mascot](/assets/images/tux.png Close the file. The rendered output looks like this: Open the file containing the Linux mascot. Marvel at its beauty. Close the file. Lists 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. Lists You can organize items into ordered and unordered lists. Ordered 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 1. First item2. Second item3. Third item4. Fourth item First item Second item Third item Fourth item First itemSecond itemThird itemFourth item 1. First item1. Second item1. Third item1. Fourth item First item Second item Third item Fourth item First itemSecond itemThird itemFourth item 1. First item8. Second item3. Third item5. Fourth item First item Second item Third item Fourth item First itemSecond itemThird itemFourth item 1. First item2. Second item3. Third item 1. Indented item 2. Indented item4. Fourth item First item Second item Third item Indented item Indented item Fourth item First itemSecond itemThird itemIndented itemIndented itemFourth item Markdown HTML Rendered Output 1. First item2. Second item3. Third item4. Fourth item First item Second item Third item Fourth item First itemSecond itemThird itemFourth item 1. First item1. Second item1. Third item1. Fourth item First item Second item Third item Fourth item First itemSecond itemThird itemFourth item 1. First item8. Second item3. Third item5. Fourth item First item Second item Third item Fourth item First itemSecond itemThird itemFourth item 1. First item2. Second item3. Third item 1. Indented item 2. Indented item4. Fourth item First item Second item Third item Indented item Indented item Fourth item First itemSecond itemThird itemIndented itemIndented itemFourth item Markdown HTML Rendered Output Markdown Markdown HTML HTML Rendered Output Rendered Output 1. First item2. Second item3. Third item4. Fourth item First item Second item Third item Fourth item First itemSecond itemThird itemFourth item 1. First item2. Second item3. Third item4. Fourth item 1. First item 2. Second item 3. Third item 4. Fourth item 1. First item 2. Second item 3. Third item 4. Fourth item First item Second item Third item Fourth item First item Second item Third item Fourth item First item Second item Third item Fourth item First itemSecond itemThird itemFourth item First itemSecond itemThird itemFourth item 1. First item1. Second item1. Third item1. Fourth item First item Second item Third item Fourth item First itemSecond itemThird itemFourth item 1. First item1. Second item1. Third item1. Fourth item 1. First item 1. Second item 1. Third item 1. Fourth item 1. First item 1. Second item 1. Third item 1. Fourth item First item Second item Third item Fourth item First item Second item Third item Fourth item First item Second item Third item Fourth item First itemSecond itemThird itemFourth item First itemSecond itemThird itemFourth item 1. First item8. Second item3. Third item5. Fourth item First item Second item Third item Fourth item First itemSecond itemThird itemFourth item 1. First item8. Second item3. Third item5. Fourth item 1. First item 8. Second item 3. Third item 5. Fourth item 1. First item 8. Second item 3. Third item 5. Fourth item First item Second item Third item Fourth item First item Second item Third item Fourth item First item Second item Third item Fourth item First itemSecond itemThird itemFourth item First itemSecond itemThird itemFourth item 1. First item2. Second item3. Third item 1. Indented item 2. Indented item4. Fourth item First item Second item Third item Indented item Indented item Fourth item First itemSecond itemThird itemIndented itemIndented itemFourth item 1. First item2. Second item3. Third item 1. Indented item 2. Indented item4. Fourth item 1. First item 2. Second item 3. Third item 1. Indented item 2. Indented item 4. Fourth item 1. First item 2. Second item 3. Third item 1. Indented item 2. Indented item 4. Fourth item First item Second item Third item Indented item Indented item Fourth item First item Second item Third item Indented item Indented item Fourth item First item Second item Third item Indented item Indented item Fourth item First itemSecond itemThird itemIndented itemIndented itemFourth item First itemSecond itemThird itemIndented itemIndented itemFourth item Ordered List Best Practices 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. ) 1) First item ✅ Do this ❌ Don't do this 1. First item2. Second item 1) First item2) Second item ✅ Do this ❌ Don't do this 1. First item2. Second item 1) First item2) Second item ✅ Do this ❌ Don't do this ✅ Do this ✅ Do this ❌ Don't do this ❌ Don't do this 1. First item2. Second item 1) First item2) Second item 1. First item2. Second item 1. First item 2. Second item 1. First item 2. Second item 1) First item2) Second item 1) First item 2) Second item 1) First item 2) Second item Unordered Lists 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 item- Second item- Third item- Fourth item First item Second item Third item Fourth item First itemSecond itemThird itemFourth item * First item* Second item* Third item* Fourth item First item Second item Third item Fourth item First itemSecond itemThird itemFourth item + First item+ Second item+ Third item+ Fourth item First item Second item Third item Fourth item First itemSecond itemThird itemFourth item - First item- Second item- Third item - Indented item - Indented item- Fourth item First item Second item Third item Indented item Indented item Fourth item First itemSecond itemThird itemIndented itemIndented itemFourth item Markdown HTML Rendered Output - First item- Second item- Third item- Fourth item First item Second item Third item Fourth item First itemSecond itemThird itemFourth item * First item* Second item* Third item* Fourth item First item Second item Third item Fourth item First itemSecond itemThird itemFourth item + First item+ Second item+ Third item+ Fourth item First item Second item Third item Fourth item First itemSecond itemThird itemFourth item - First item- Second item- Third item - Indented item - Indented item- Fourth item First item Second item Third item Indented item Indented item Fourth item First itemSecond itemThird itemIndented itemIndented itemFourth item Markdown HTML Rendered Output Markdown Markdown HTML HTML Rendered Output Rendered Output - First item- Second item- Third item- Fourth item First item Second item Third item Fourth item First itemSecond itemThird itemFourth item - First item- Second item- Third item- Fourth item - First item - Second item - Third item - Fourth item - First item - Second item - Third item - Fourth item First item Second item Third item Fourth item First item Second item Third item Fourth item First item Second item Third item Fourth item First itemSecond itemThird itemFourth item First itemSecond itemThird itemFourth item * First item* Second item* Third item* Fourth item First item Second item Third item Fourth item First itemSecond itemThird itemFourth item * First item* Second item* Third item* Fourth item * First item * Second item * Third item * Fourth item * First item * Second item * Third item * Fourth item First item Second item Third item Fourth item First item Second item Third item Fourth item First item Second item Third item Fourth item First itemSecond itemThird itemFourth item First itemSecond itemThird itemFourth item + First item+ Second item+ Third item+ Fourth item First item Second item Third item Fourth item First itemSecond itemThird itemFourth item + First item+ Second item+ Third item+ Fourth item + First item + Second item + Third item + Fourth item + First item + Second item + Third item + Fourth item First item Second item Third item Fourth item First item Second item Third item Fourth item First item Second item Third item Fourth item First itemSecond itemThird itemFourth item First itemSecond itemThird itemFourth item - First item- Second item- Third item - Indented item - Indented item- Fourth item First item Second item Third item Indented item Indented item Fourth item First itemSecond itemThird itemIndented itemIndented itemFourth item - First item- Second item- Third item - Indented item - Indented item- Fourth item - First item - Second item - Third item - Indented item - Indented item - Fourth item - First item - Second item - Third item - Indented item - Indented item - Fourth item First item Second item Third item Indented item Indented item Fourth item First item Second item Third item Indented item Indented item Fourth item First item Second item Third item Indented item Indented item Fourth item First itemSecond itemThird itemIndented itemIndented itemFourth item First itemSecond itemThird itemIndented itemIndented itemFourth item Starting Unordered List Items With Numbers 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. \ escape Markdown HTML Rendered Output - 1968\. A great year!- I think 1969 was second best. 1968. A great year! I think 1969 was second best. 1968. A great year!I think 1969 was second best. Markdown HTML Rendered Output - 1968\. A great year!- I think 1969 was second best. 1968. A great year! I think 1969 was second best. 1968. A great year!I think 1969 was second best. Markdown HTML Rendered Output Markdown Markdown HTML HTML Rendered Output Rendered Output - 1968\. A great year!- I think 1969 was second best. 1968. A great year! I think 1969 was second best. 1968. A great year!I think 1969 was second best. - 1968\. A great year!- I think 1969 was second best. - 1968\. A great year! - I think 1969 was second best. - 1968\. A great year! - I think 1969 was second best. 1968. A great year! I think 1969 was second best. 1968. A great year! I think 1969 was second best. 1968. A great year! I think 1969 was second best. 1968. A great year!I think 1969 was second best. 1968. A great year!I think 1969 was second best. Unordered List Best Practices 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 - First item- Second item- Third item- Fourth item + First item* Second item- Third item+ Fourth item ✅ Do this ❌ Don't do this - First item- Second item- Third item- Fourth item + First item* Second item- Third item+ Fourth item ✅ Do this ❌ Don't do this ✅ Do this ✅ Do this ❌ Don't do this ❌ Don't do this - First item- Second item- Third item- Fourth item + First item* Second item- Third item+ Fourth item - First item- Second item- Third item- Fourth item - First item - Second item - Third item - Fourth item - First item - Second item - Third item - Fourth item + First item* Second item- Third item+ Fourth item + First item * Second item - Third item + Fourth item + First item * Second item - Third item + Fourth item Adding Elements in Lists 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. 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. Tip: Paragraphs 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. This is the first list item. Here's the second list item. I need to add another paragraph below the second 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. 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. This is the first list item. This is the first list item. Here’s the second 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. And here’s the third list item. And here’s the third list item. Blockquotes This is the first list item. Here's the second list item. This is the first list item. This is the first list item. Here's the second list item. Here's the second list item. > A blockquote would look great below the second list item. > A blockquote would look great below the second list item. And here's the third list item. And here's the third list item. And here's the third list item. The rendered output looks like this: 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. This is the first list item. This is the first list item. Here’s the second list item. A blockquote would look great below the second list item. Here’s the second list item. A blockquote would look great below the second list item. A blockquote would look great below the second list item. And here’s the third list item. And here’s the third list item. Code Blocks Code blocks are normally indented four spaces or one tab. When they’re in a list, indent them eight spaces or two tabs. Code blocks Open the file. Find the following code block on line 21: Test Update the title to match the name of your website. Open the file. Open the file. Find the following code block on line 21: Test Find the following code block on line 21: Test Test Update the title to match the name of your website. Update the title to match the name of your website. The rendered output looks like this: The rendered output looks like this: Open the file. Find the following code block on line 21: Test Open the file. Open the file. Find the following code block on line 21: Test Find the following code block on line 21: Test Test Update the title to match the name of your website. Update the title to match the name of your website. Images Open the file containing the Linux mascot. Marvel at its beauty. Open the file containing the Linux mascot. Marvel at its beauty. ![Tux, the Linux mascot](/assets/images/tux.png ![Tux, the Linux mascot](/assets/images/tux.png Close the file. Close the file. The rendered output looks like this: Open the file containing the Linux mascot. Marvel at its beauty. Open the file containing the Linux mascot. Open the file containing the Linux mascot. Marvel at its beauty. Marvel at its beauty. Close the file. Close the file. Lists 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 First item First item Second item Second item Third item Indented item Indented item Third item Indented item Indented item Indented item Indented item Indented item Indented item Fourth item Fourth item The rendered output looks like this: First item Second item Third item Indented item Indented item Fourth item First item First item Second item Second item Third item Indented item Indented item Third item Indented item Indented item Indented item Indented item Indented item Indented item Fourth item Fourth item This guide is a Matt Cone project available on Markdown Guide under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license. This guide is a Matt Cone project available on Markdown Guide under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license. Matt Cone Markdown Guide