Markdown Basics

Master the simple syntax for formatting text in your notes.

What is Markdown?

Markdown is a simple language for writing formatted documents. Instead of clicking buttons like in Microsoft Word, you use simple symbols and syntax to indicate formatting. The beauty of Markdown is that:

It's easy to learn and remember
Plain text is readable even without formatting
It works on any device and any text editor
It's perfect for note-taking and documentation

Key concept: Markdown lets you write formatted text using plain text syntax. When you view your note in "Reading View," all the formatting becomes visible.

Headings

Create headings by starting a line with one or more # symbols:

Syntax:

# Heading 1
## Heading 2
### Heading 3
#### Heading 4
##### Heading 5
###### Heading 6 Result:

Heading 1

Heading 2

Heading 3

Tip: Use Heading 1 for the main title, Heading 2 for sections, and Heading 3+ for subsections. This helps organize your notes!

Text Formatting

Bold

Syntax:

**bold text** or __bold text__ Result:

bold text

Italic

Syntax:

*italic text* or _italic text_ Result:

italic text

Bold and Italic

Syntax:

***bold and italic*** Result:

bold and italic

Strikethrough

Syntax:

~~strikethrough text~~ Result:

~~strikethrough text~~

Code (Inline)

Syntax:

Use `code` for technical terms. Result:

Use code for technical terms.

Lists

Unordered Lists

Syntax:

- Item 1
- Item 2
- Nested item
- Item 3 Result:

Item 1
Item 2
- Nested item
Item 3

Ordered Lists

Syntax:

1. First item
2. Second item
3. Third item Result:

First item
Second item
Third item

Task Lists

Syntax:

- [x] Completed task
- [ ] Incomplete task
- [ ] Another task Result:

Completed task
Incomplete task
Another task

Tip: Click checkboxes in Reading View to mark tasks complete!

Links

Regular Links

Syntax:

[Link text](https://example.com) Result:

Link text

Internal Links (Most Important!)

This is unique to Obsidian and incredibly powerful. We'll dive deep into this in Module 6, but here's a quick preview:

Syntax:

[[Note Name]]
[[Note Name|Custom Display Text]] Result:

Clicking the link takes you to "Note Name" in your vault.

Code Blocks

For longer code snippets, use triple backticks with an optional language:

Syntax:

```python
def hello():
print("Hello, world!")
``` Result:

def hello():
			    print("Hello, world!")

Common languages: python, javascript, java, html, css, sql, bash

Blockquotes

Syntax:

> This is a quote
> It can span multiple lines
>
> > And you can nest quotes too Result:

This is a quote
It can span multiple lines

And you can nest quotes too

Use case: Great for quotes from research papers or important excerpts!

Horizontal Rules

Syntax:

--- Result:

Use this to visually separate sections of your note.

Images

Embed images from your vault or the web:

Syntax:

![Alt text](image.png)
![Alt text](https://example.com/image.png)

Tip: Store images in a folder like "attachments" or "images" inside your vault to keep organized.

Tables

Create simple data tables:

Syntax:

| Header 1 | Header 2 |
|----------|----------|
| Cell 1 | Cell 2 |
| Cell 3 | Cell 4 | Result:

Header 1	Header 2
Cell 1	Cell 2
Cell 3	Cell 4

Tip: Use tables to organize data, comparisons, or structured information.

Quick Reference Cheat Sheet

# Heading 1
## Heading 2
**Bold**
*Italic*
***Bold and Italic***
~~Strikethrough~~
`Code`
- List item

1. Ordered list
- [ ] Task
[[Internal link]]
[Text](url)
![Image](url)
> Blockquote
--- Horizontal rule
| Table |

Practice Time!

Now that you've learned Markdown syntax, try these exercises in your Obsidian vault:

Create a note with a main heading and at least 3 subheadings
Use bold and italic formatting in a sentence
Create both an ordered and unordered list
Add a blockquote of something meaningful to you
Create a simple task list and check off some items
Try toggling between Edit and Reading views to see how it looks

Next: In Module 6, we'll explore the most powerful Obsidian feature: internal linking!