---
title: "GitHub for Beginners: Getting started with Markdown"
source_name: "The GitHub Blog"
original_url: "https://github.blog/developer-skills/github/github-for-beginners-getting-started-with-markdown/"
canonical_url: "https://www.traeai.com/articles/89369d2c-6150-4155-9d18-15c83d77d782"
content_type: "article"
language: "英文"
score: 5
tags: ["Markdown","GitHub","入门"]
published_at: "2026-04-28T18:00:00+00:00"
created_at: "2026-04-28T23:18:57.425099+00:00"
---

# GitHub for Beginners: Getting started with Markdown

Canonical URL: https://www.traeai.com/articles/89369d2c-6150-4155-9d18-15c83d77d782
Original source: https://github.blog/developer-skills/github/github-for-beginners-getting-started-with-markdown/

## Summary

文章为初学者介绍了如何在 GitHub 上使用 Markdown，但内容较为基础。

## Key Takeaways

- Markdown 是 GitHub 上文档编写的基础工具。
- 文章列举了 Markdown 的基本语法和格式化方法。
- 适合完全没有接触过 Markdown 的新手用户。

## Content

Title: GitHub for Beginners: Getting started with Markdown

URL Source: http://github.blog/developer-skills/github/github-for-beginners-getting-started-with-markdown/

Published Time: 2026-04-28T11:00:00-07:00

Markdown Content:
# GitHub for Beginners: Getting started with Markdown - The GitHub Blog

[Skip to content](http://github.blog/developer-skills/github/github-for-beginners-getting-started-with-markdown/#start-of-content)[Skip to sidebar](http://github.blog/developer-skills/github/github-for-beginners-getting-started-with-markdown/#sidebar)

[](https://github.com/)/[Blog](https://github.blog/)
*   [Changelog](https://github.blog/changelog/)
*   [Docs](https://docs.github.com/)
*   [Customer stories](https://github.com/customer-stories)

[Try GitHub Copilot](https://github.com/features/copilot?utm_source=blog-tap-nav&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=universe25)[See what's new](https://github.com/events/universe/recap?utm_source=k2k-blog-tap-nav&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=universe25)

*   [AI & ML](https://github.blog/ai-and-ml/)
    *   [AI & ML](https://github.blog/ai-and-ml/)
Learn about artificial intelligence and machine learning across the GitHub ecosystem and the wider industry. 
        *   [Generative AI](https://github.blog/ai-and-ml/generative-ai/)
Learn how to build with generative AI.

        *   [GitHub Copilot](https://github.blog/ai-and-ml/github-copilot/)
Change how you work with GitHub Copilot.

        *   [LLMs](https://github.blog/ai-and-ml/llms/)
Everything developers need to know about LLMs.

        *   [Machine learning](https://github.blog/ai-and-ml/machine-learning/)
Machine learning tips, tricks, and best practices.

    *   ![Image 6](https://github.blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/AI-DarkMode-4.png?resize=800%2C425) [How AI code generation works](https://github.blog/ai-and-ml/generative-ai/how-ai-code-generation-works/)
Explore the capabilities and benefits of AI code generation and how it can improve your developer experience.

Learn more

*   [Developer skills](https://github.blog/developer-skills/)
    *   [Developer skills](https://github.blog/developer-skills/)
Resources for developers to grow in their skills and careers. 
        *   [Application development](https://github.blog/developer-skills/application-development/)
Insights and best practices for building apps.

        *   [Career growth](https://github.blog/developer-skills/career-growth/)
Tips & tricks to grow as a professional developer.

        *   [GitHub](https://github.blog/developer-skills/github/)
Improve how you use GitHub at work.

        *   [GitHub Education](https://github.blog/developer-skills/github-education/)
Learn how to move into your first professional role.

        *   [Programming languages & frameworks](https://github.blog/developer-skills/programming-languages-and-frameworks/)
Stay current on what’s new (or new again).

    *   ![Image 7](https://github.blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Enterprise-DarkMode-3.png?resize=800%2C425) [Get started with GitHub documentation](https://docs.github.com/en/get-started)
Learn how to start building, shipping, and maintaining software with GitHub.

Learn more

*   [Engineering](https://github.blog/engineering/)
    *   [Engineering](https://github.blog/engineering/)
Get an inside look at how we’re building the home for all developers. 
        *   [Architecture & optimization](https://github.blog/engineering/architecture-optimization/)
Discover how we deliver a performant and highly available experience across the GitHub platform.

        *   [Engineering principles](https://github.blog/engineering/engineering-principles/)
Explore best practices for building software at scale with a majority remote team.

        *   [Infrastructure](https://github.blog/engineering/infrastructure/)
Get a glimpse at the technology underlying the world’s leading AI-powered developer platform.

        *   [Platform security](https://github.blog/engineering/platform-security/)
Learn how we build security into everything we do across the developer lifecycle.

        *   [User experience](https://github.blog/engineering/user-experience/)
Find out what goes into making GitHub the home for all developers.

    *   ![Image 8](https://github.blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Screenshot-2024-07-23-at-8.42.45%E2%80%AFAM.png?resize=800%2C425) [How we use GitHub to be more productive, collaborative, and secure](https://github.blog/engineering/how-we-use-github-to-be-more-productive-collaborative-and-secure/)
Our engineering and security teams do some incredible work. Let’s take a look at how we use GitHub to be more productive, build collaboratively, and shift security left.

Learn more

*   [Enterprise software](https://github.blog/enterprise-software/)
    *   [Enterprise software](https://github.blog/enterprise-software/)
Explore how to write, build, and deploy enterprise software at scale. 
        *   [Automation](https://github.blog/enterprise-software/automation/)
Automating your way to faster and more secure ships.

        *   [CI/CD](https://github.blog/enterprise-software/ci-cd/)
Guides on continuous integration and delivery.

        *   [Collaboration](https://github.blog/enterprise-software/collaboration/)
Tips, tools, and tricks to improve developer collaboration.

        *   [DevOps](https://github.blog/enterprise-software/devops/)
DevOps resources for enterprise engineering teams.

        *   [DevSecOps](https://github.blog/enterprise-software/devsecops/)
How to integrate security into the SDLC.

        *   [Governance & compliance](https://github.blog/enterprise-software/governance-and-compliance/)
Ensuring your builds stay clean.

    *   ![Image 9](https://github.blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Screenshot-2024-07-23-at-8.43.47%E2%80%AFAM.png?resize=800%2C425) [GitHub recognized as a Leader in the Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for AI Code Assistants](https://github.com/resources/whitepapers/gartner-magic-quadrant-and-critical-capabilities-for-ai-code-assistants)
Learn why Gartner positioned GitHub as a Leader for the second year in a row.

Learn more

*   [News & insights](https://github.blog/news-insights/)
    *   [News & insights](https://github.blog/news-insights/)
Keep up with what’s new and notable from inside GitHub. 
        *   [Company news](https://github.blog/news-insights/company-news/)
An inside look at news and product updates from GitHub.

        *   [Product](https://github.blog/news-insights/product-news/)
The latest on GitHub’s platform, products, and tools.

        *   [Octoverse](https://github.blog/news-insights/octoverse/)
Insights into the state of open source on GitHub.

        *   [Policy](https://github.blog/news-insights/policy-news-and-insights/)
The latest policy and regulatory changes in software.

        *   [Research](https://github.blog/news-insights/research/)
Data-driven insights around the developer ecosystem.

        *   [The library](https://github.blog/news-insights/the-library/)
Older news and updates from GitHub.

    *   ![Image 10](https://github.blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Screenshot-2024-07-23-at-8.44.23%E2%80%AFAM.png?resize=800%2C425) [Unlocking the power of unstructured data with RAG](https://github.blog/ai-and-ml/llms/unlocking-the-power-of-unstructured-data-with-rag/)
Learn how to use retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) to capture more insights.

Learn more

*   [Open Source](https://github.blog/open-source/)
    *   [Open Source](https://github.blog/open-source/)
Everything open source on GitHub. 
        *   [Git](https://github.blog/open-source/git/)
The latest Git updates.

        *   [Maintainers](https://github.blog/open-source/maintainers/)
Spotlighting open source maintainers.

        *   [Social impact](https://github.blog/open-source/social-impact/)
How open source is driving positive change.

        *   [Gaming](https://github.blog/open-source/gaming/)
Explore open source games on GitHub.

    *   ![Image 11](https://github.blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Screenshot-2024-07-23-at-8.46.23%E2%80%AFAM.png?resize=800%2C425) [An introduction to innersource](https://resources.github.com/software-development/innersource/)
Organizations worldwide are incorporating open source methodologies into the way they build and ship their own software.

Learn more

*   [Security](https://github.blog/security/)
    *   [Security](https://github.blog/security/)
Stay up to date on everything security. 
        *   [Application security](https://github.blog/security/application-security/)
Application security, explained.

        *   [Supply chain security](https://github.blog/security/supply-chain-security/)
Demystifying supply chain security.

        *   [Vulnerability research](https://github.blog/security/vulnerability-research/)
Updates from the GitHub Security Lab.

        *   [Web application security](https://github.blog/security/web-application-security/)
Helpful tips on securing web applications.

    *   ![Image 12](https://github.blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Screenshot-2024-07-23-at-8.47.04%E2%80%AFAM.png?resize=800%2C425) [The enterprise guide to AI-powered DevSecOps](https://resources.github.com/security/the-enterprise-guide-to-ai-powered-devsecops/)
Learn about core challenges in DevSecOps, and how you can start addressing them with AI and automation.

Learn more

 Search 

## Categories

*   [AI & ML](https://github.blog/ai-and-ml/)
    *   Back[AI & ML](https://github.blog/ai-and-ml/)
Learn about artificial intelligence and machine learning across the GitHub ecosystem and the wider industry. 
        *   [Generative AI](https://github.blog/ai-and-ml/generative-ai/)
Learn how to build with generative AI.

        *   [GitHub Copilot](https://github.blog/ai-and-ml/github-copilot/)
Change how you work with GitHub Copilot.

        *   [LLMs](https://github.blog/ai-and-ml/llms/)
Everything developers need to know about LLMs.

        *   [Machine learning](https://github.blog/ai-and-ml/machine-learning/)
Machine learning tips, tricks, and best practices.

    *   [How AI code generation works](https://github.blog/ai-and-ml/generative-ai/how-ai-code-generation-works/)
Explore the capabilities and benefits of AI code generation and how it can improve your developer experience.

[Learn more](https://github.blog/ai-and-ml/generative-ai/how-ai-code-generation-works/) 

*   [Developer skills](https://github.blog/developer-skills/)
    *   Back[Developer skills](https://github.blog/developer-skills/)
Resources for developers to grow in their skills and careers. 
        *   [Application development](https://github.blog/developer-skills/application-development/)
Insights and best practices for building apps.

        *   [Career growth](https://github.blog/developer-skills/career-growth/)
Tips & tricks to grow as a professional developer.

        *   [GitHub](https://github.blog/developer-skills/github/)
Improve how you use GitHub at work.

        *   [GitHub Education](https://github.blog/developer-skills/github-education/)
Learn how to move into your first professional role.

        *   [Programming languages & frameworks](https://github.blog/developer-skills/programming-languages-and-frameworks/)
Stay current on what’s new (or new again).

    *   [Get started with GitHub documentation](https://docs.github.com/en/get-started)
Learn how to start building, shipping, and maintaining software with GitHub.

[Learn more](https://docs.github.com/en/get-started) 

*   [Engineering](https://github.blog/engineering/)
    *   Back[Engineering](https://github.blog/engineering/)
Get an inside look at how we’re building the home for all developers. 
        *   [Architecture & optimization](https://github.blog/engineering/architecture-optimization/)
Discover how we deliver a performant and highly available experience across the GitHub platform.

        *   [Engineering principles](https://github.blog/engineering/engineering-principles/)
Explore best practices for building software at scale with a majority remote team.

        *   [Infrastructure](https://github.blog/engineering/infrastructure/)
Get a glimpse at the technology underlying the world’s leading AI-powered developer platform.

        *   [Platform security](https://github.blog/engineering/platform-security/)
Learn how we build security into everything we do across the developer lifecycle.

        *   [User experience](https://github.blog/engineering/user-experience/)
Find out what goes into making GitHub the home for all developers.

    *   [How we use GitHub to be more productive, collaborative, and secure](https://github.blog/engineering/how-we-use-github-to-be-more-productive-collaborative-and-secure/)
Our engineering and security teams do some incredible work. Let’s take a look at how we use GitHub to be more productive, build collaboratively, and shift security left.

[Learn more](https://github.blog/engineering/how-we-use-github-to-be-more-productive-collaborative-and-secure/) 

*   [Enterprise software](https://github.blog/enterprise-software/)
    *   Back[Enterprise software](https://github.blog/enterprise-software/)
Explore how to write, build, and deploy enterprise software at scale. 
        *   [Automation](https://github.blog/enterprise-software/automation/)
Automating your way to faster and more secure ships.

        *   [CI/CD](https://github.blog/enterprise-software/ci-cd/)
Guides on continuous integration and delivery.

        *   [Collaboration](https://github.blog/enterprise-software/collaboration/)
Tips, tools, and tricks to improve developer collaboration.

        *   [DevOps](https://github.blog/enterprise-software/devops/)
DevOps resources for enterprise engineering teams.

        *   [DevSecOps](https://github.blog/enterprise-software/devsecops/)
How to integrate security into the SDLC.

        *   [Governance & compliance](https://github.blog/enterprise-software/governance-and-compliance/)
Ensuring your builds stay clean.

    *   [GitHub recognized as a Leader in the Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for AI Code Assistants](https://github.com/resources/whitepapers/gartner-magic-quadrant-and-critical-capabilities-for-ai-code-assistants)
Learn why Gartner positioned GitHub as a Leader for the second year in a row.

[Learn more](https://github.com/resources/whitepapers/gartner-magic-quadrant-and-critical-capabilities-for-ai-code-assistants) 

*   [News & insights](https://github.blog/news-insights/)
    *   Back[News & insights](https://github.blog/news-insights/)
Keep up with what’s new and notable from inside GitHub. 
        *   [Company news](https://github.blog/news-insights/company-news/)
An inside look at news and product updates from GitHub.

        *   [Product](https://github.blog/news-insights/product-news/)
The latest on GitHub’s platform, products, and tools.

        *   [Octoverse](https://github.blog/news-insights/octoverse/)
Insights into the state of open source on GitHub.

        *   [Policy](https://github.blog/news-insights/policy-news-and-insights/)
The latest policy and regulatory changes in software.

        *   [Research](https://github.blog/news-insights/research/)
Data-driven insights around the developer ecosystem.

        *   [The library](https://github.blog/news-insights/the-library/)
Older news and updates from GitHub.

    *   [Unlocking the power of unstructured data with RAG](https://github.blog/ai-and-ml/llms/unlocking-the-power-of-unstructured-data-with-rag/)
Learn how to use retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) to capture more insights.

[Learn more](https://github.blog/ai-and-ml/llms/unlocking-the-power-of-unstructured-data-with-rag/) 

*   [Open Source](https://github.blog/open-source/)
    *   Back[Open Source](https://github.blog/open-source/)
Everything open source on GitHub. 
        *   [Git](https://github.blog/open-source/git/)
The latest Git updates.

        *   [Maintainers](https://github.blog/open-source/maintainers/)
Spotlighting open source maintainers.

        *   [Social impact](https://github.blog/open-source/social-impact/)
How open source is driving positive change.

        *   [Gaming](https://github.blog/open-source/gaming/)
Explore open source games on GitHub.

    *   [An introduction to innersource](https://resources.github.com/software-development/innersource/)
Organizations worldwide are incorporating open source methodologies into the way they build and ship their own software.

[Learn more](https://resources.github.com/software-development/innersource/) 

*   [Security](https://github.blog/security/)
    *   Back[Security](https://github.blog/security/)
Stay up to date on everything security. 
        *   [Application security](https://github.blog/security/application-security/)
Application security, explained.

        *   [Supply chain security](https://github.blog/security/supply-chain-security/)
Demystifying supply chain security.

        *   [Vulnerability research](https://github.blog/security/vulnerability-research/)
Updates from the GitHub Security Lab.

        *   [Web application security](https://github.blog/security/web-application-security/)
Helpful tips on securing web applications.

    *   [The enterprise guide to AI-powered DevSecOps](https://resources.github.com/security/the-enterprise-guide-to-ai-powered-devsecops/)
Learn about core challenges in DevSecOps, and how you can start addressing them with AI and automation.

[Learn more](https://resources.github.com/security/the-enterprise-guide-to-ai-powered-devsecops/) 

*   [Changelog](https://github.blog/changelog/)
*   [Docs](https://docs.github.com/)
*   [Customer stories](https://github.com/customer-stories)

[See what's new](https://github.com/events/universe/recap?utm_source=k2k-blog-tap-nav&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=universe25)[Try GitHub Copilot](https://github.com/features/copilot?utm_source=blog-tap-nav&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=universe25)

[Home](https://github.blog/)/[Developer skills](https://github.blog/developer-skills/)/[GitHub](https://github.blog/developer-skills/github/)

# GitHub for Beginners: Getting started with Markdown

Discover how to format and edit your comments and posts using Markdown.

![Image 13: Decorative header image with the words 'Learn Markdown fast'](https://github.blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/GIT879_THUMB_GFB_B-1.png?resize=1280%2C720)

[Kedasha Kerr](https://github.blog/author/ladykerr/ "Posts by Kedasha Kerr")·[@ladykerr](https://github.com/ladykerr)

 April 28, 2026 

| 6 minutes 

*    Share: 
*   [](https://x.com/share?text=GitHub%20for%20Beginners%3A%20Getting%20started%20with%20Markdown&url=https%3A%2F%2Fgithub.blog%2Fdeveloper-skills%2Fgithub%2Fgithub-for-beginners-getting-started-with-markdown%2F)
*   [](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?t=GitHub%20for%20Beginners%3A%20Getting%20started%20with%20Markdown&u=https%3A%2F%2Fgithub.blog%2Fdeveloper-skills%2Fgithub%2Fgithub-for-beginners-getting-started-with-markdown%2F)
*   [](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?title=GitHub%20for%20Beginners%3A%20Getting%20started%20with%20Markdown&url=https%3A%2F%2Fgithub.blog%2Fdeveloper-skills%2Fgithub%2Fgithub-for-beginners-getting-started-with-markdown%2F)

Welcome back to GitHub for Beginners. We’ve covered a wide range of topics so far this season, including [GitHub Issues and Projects](https://github.blog/developer-skills/github/github-for-beginners-getting-started-with-github-issues-and-projects/), [GitHub Actions](https://github.blog/developer-skills/github/github-for-beginners-getting-started-with-github-actions/), [security,](https://github.blog/developer-skills/github/github-for-beginners-getting-started-with-github-security/) and GitHub Pages. Now we’re going to teach you everything you need to know to get started with Markdown, the markup language used across GitHub.

Once you learn the basics of how to use Markdown, you’ll develop an essential skill that will transform how you write READMEs as well as how to format issues, pull requests, and your agent instruction files. By the end of this post, you’ll have the knowledge you need to make your projects and contributions easier for others to explore.

As always, if you prefer to watch the video or want to reference it, we have all of our [GitHub for Beginners episodes available on YouTube](https://gh.io/gfb).

## What is Markdown and why is it important?

Markdown is a lightweight language for formatting plain text. You can use Markdown syntax, along with some additional HTML tags, to format your writing on GitHub. You can do this in repository READMEs, issue and pull request descriptions, and comments on issues and pull requests.

Markdown gives you the ability to create clear, readable documentation. Having a clean README in your project or a well-formatted issue can make a huge difference when someone lands on your content for the first time.

And one of the best parts is that when you get the syntax down, you’ll find yourself using it in almost every project you work on!

## Where can I use Markdown?

The most common place where you’ll encounter Markdown is in your repository’s README file. But you’ll also find yourself using it in issues, pull requests, discussions, and even wikis. Any time you write or communicate on GitHub, Markdown is behind the scenes, helping your text look clean and consistent.

Markdown extends beyond GitHub to modern note-taking apps, blog platforms, and documentation tools. It’s a widely adopted language used across the technical space, so learning how to use it can benefit you beyond just how you interact with GitHub.

## Basic syntax

We’re going to start with the common features that you’ll use the most. While we’re going through these, you can try them out to see how they work. The easiest way to do this is by opening a markdown file on your repository.

1.   Navigate to a repository you own on [github.com](https://github.com/).
2.   Make sure you are on the **Code** tab of your repository.
3.   Click **Add file** near the top of the window and select **Create new file** from the pull-down menu.
4.   In the box at the top of the editor, name your file. Make sure the filename ends in `.md` (e.g., `markdownTestFile.md`).
5.   Select the **Edit** button.
6.   Enter any Markdown syntax into the editor window.

You can see what the Markdown text you enter will look like by selecting the **Preview** button; there’s no need to make a commit unless you want to save your test file. Just select the **Edit** button to go back to editing so you can enter more Markdown text.

Now that you know how to try it out, let’s get started with the syntax. First up are headers. These are your title and section names. You create them by adding pound signs (`#`), also known as hashtags, in front of your text. One pound sign indicates a header, two will create a subheader, and so on.

```plaintext
# GitHub for Beginners 

 

## Basic Markdown syntax 

 

### Headers
```

If you want to emphasize your text, you can use bold and italic fonts. You create these by using either asterisks (`*`) or underscores (`_`). Either of these symbols work in the same way, you just have to make sure to pair them up appropriately. A single character makes text italic, a double character makes text bold, and a triple character makes it both bold and italic. You can emphasize characters within a string or multiple strings within a line of text.

```plaintext
Here is some *italic text* 

Here is some **bold text** 

___Here is both bold and italic text 

Over multiple lines___
```

Sometimes you may want to quote important text. To do this, add the greater than (`>`) symbol as the first character in a line of text. If you would like to quote something that spans multiple lines, you need to add the greater than symbol at the start of each individual line.

```plaintext
> No design skills required. 

> 

> No overthinking allowed. 
> 

> Just ship your work.
```

## Lists

Now let’s get into something a little more involved: lists.

Lists are a common way to express your steps and procedures in an ordered and unordered manner. To create an ordered list, number each element in the list (i.e. `1.`, `2.`, `3.`, etc.).

While this can be clear to read, what if you want to add an element between two consecutive numbers? The good news is that you don’t need to renumber the entire list. Markdown interpreters allow you to order your items with any number, and they automatically interpret it as an ordered list from first to last.

```plaintext
1. Click the "Use this template” button at the top of this repo. 

1. Name your new repository (e.g., my-portfolio). 

1. Clone your new repo and start customizing!
```

For an unordered list, start a line with either a hyphen (`-`), asterisk (`*`), or a plus sign (`+`). Markdown will render any of these characters as the start of an unordered list.

```plaintext
* Click the "Use this template” button at the top of this repo. 

* Name your new repository (e.g., my-portfolio). 

* Clone your new repo and start customizing!
```

If you would like to create nested lists, indent four spaces to start a new indented list. You can do this with both ordered and unordered list items.

```plaintext
1. Click the "Use this template” button. 

    - Located at the top of the repo. 

    - This will create a new repository using this template. 

1. Name your new repository. 

    - e.g., my-portfolio 

    - This can be created under your personal GitHub account. 

1. Clone your new repo and start customizing!
```

When you’re done with your list, hit **Enter** twice to go back to plain text.

### Additional resources

Check out the GitHub docs for [a cheat sheet on formatting Markdown](https://docs.github.com/get-started/writing-on-github/getting-started-with-writing-and-formatting-on-github/basic-writing-and-formatting-syntax).

You can also start practicing your Markdown skills today by visiting the [communicate-using-markdown skills repository](https://github.com/skills/communicate-using-markdown). You’ll learn how to use Markdown to add lists, images, and links in a GitHub comment or text file.

## Code

Sometimes you may want to display a snippet of code in your Markdown as an example. This could be for steps in a procedure or as part of your project’s installation process. Many Markdown interpreters render code snippets with formatting and syntax highlighting. You can denote code in Markdown by surrounding it with a backtick (```) character.

```plaintext
`git clone https://github.com/YOUR_USERNAME/YOUR_REPO_NAME.git`
```

If you have code that spans multiple lines, you can use three backtick characters to create a code block. Any characters between these triple backticks, including spaces and new lines, will render as code.

```plaintext
```bash 

# Clone the repository 

git clone https://github.com/YOUR_USERNAME/YOUR_REPO_NAME.git 

cd YOUR_REPO_NAME 

 

# Install dependencies 

npm install 

 

# Start the development server 

npm run dev 

```
```

## Links and images

Now let’s learn how to spice up our Markdown files. We’ll start with links. Links allow you to point people to helpful resources, documentation, or other pages in your project. They’re written using brackets (`[]`) and parentheses (`()`). Place the text you want to display in the brackets, followed immediately by the URL in parentheses, with no space between the two. This keeps your writing clean and easy to follow.

```less
Open [your local host](http://localhost:3000) to see your portfolio.
```

Images work in almost the same way, but with one small difference: you need to add an exclamation point (`!`) at the beginning. This is perfect for adding screenshots, diagrams, or even a project logo to your README.

```less
![Mona](https://avatars.githubusercontent.com/u/92997159?v=4)
```

To make things even easier, on GitHub, you can just drag-and-drop an image into an issue or pull request, and it automatically generates the right Markdown for you.

Whether you’re linking out to a tutorial or showing off a screenshot, links and images help you add that extra bit of personality and clarity to your Markdown.

## What’s next?

You now know the basics of Markdown, including what it is, why it matters, where you can use it, and how to start writing it with confidence. With just a few techniques, you can create clean, readable documentation that makes your GitHub projects stand out.

Whether you’re building a README, opening an issue, or writing project notes, Markdown is going to be one of the tools you use the most.

If you want to learn more about Markdown, here are some good places to get started:

*   [Basic formatting syntax](https://docs.github.com/get-started/writing-on-github/getting-started-with-writing-and-formatting-on-github/basic-writing-and-formatting-syntax)
*   [Creating and highlighting code blocks](https://docs.github.com/get-started/writing-on-github/working-with-advanced-formatting/creating-and-highlighting-code-blocks)
*   [Quickstart for writing at GitHub](https://docs.github.com/get-started/writing-on-github/getting-started-with-writing-and-formatting-on-github/quickstart-for-writing-on-github)

Happy coding!

* * *

## Tags:

*   [GitHub for beginners](https://github.blog/tag/github-for-beginners/)
*   [Markdown](https://github.blog/tag/markdown/)

## Written by

![Image 14: Kedasha Kerr](https://avatars.githubusercontent.com/u/47188731?v=4&s=200)

### [Kedasha Kerr](https://github.blog/author/ladykerr/)

[@ladykerr](https://github.com/ladykerr)

Kedasha is a Developer Advocate at GitHub where she enjoys sharing the lessons she's learned with the wider developer community. She finds joy in helping others learn about the tech industry and loves sharing her experience as a software developer. Find her online @itsthatladydev.

*   [GitHub for beginners](https://github.blog/tag/github-for-beginners/)
*   [Markdown](https://github.blog/tag/markdown/)

## Table of Contents

*   [What is Markdown and why is it important?](http://github.blog/developer-skills/github/github-for-beginners-getting-started-with-markdown/#h-what-is-markdown-and-why-is-it-important)
*   [Where can I use Markdown?](http://github.blog/developer-skills/github/github-for-beginners-getting-started-with-markdown/#h-where-can-i-use-markdown)
*   [Basic syntax](http://github.blog/developer-skills/github/github-for-beginners-getting-started-with-markdown/#h-basic-syntax)
*   [Lists](http://github.blog/developer-skills/github/github-for-beginners-getting-started-with-markdown/#h-lists)
*   [Code](http://github.blog/developer-skills/github/github-for-beginners-getting-started-with-markdown/#h-code)
*   [Links and images](http://github.blog/developer-skills/github/github-for-beginners-getting-started-with-markdown/#h-links-and-images)
*   [What’s next?](http://github.blog/developer-skills/github/github-for-beginners-getting-started-with-markdown/#h-what-s-next)

## More on [GitHub for beginners](https://github.blog/tag/github-for-beginners/)

### [GitHub for Beginners: Getting started with GitHub Pages](https://github.blog/developer-skills/github/github-for-beginners-getting-started-with-github-pages/)

Learn how to create a free website for any repository on GitHub Pages.

[Kedasha Kerr](https://github.blog/author/ladykerr/ "Posts by Kedasha Kerr")

### [GitHub for Beginners: Getting started with GitHub security](https://github.blog/developer-skills/github/github-for-beginners-getting-started-with-github-security/)

Learn how to secure your projects and keep them safe with GitHub Advanced Security.

[Kedasha Kerr](https://github.blog/author/ladykerr/ "Posts by Kedasha Kerr")

## Related posts

![Image 15: Video thumbnail with the words "Host websites for free" with GitHub iconography](https://github.blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/GIT851_THUMB_GFB_A-1.png?resize=400%2C212)

[Developer skills](https://github.blog/developer-skills/)

### [GitHub for Beginners: Getting started with GitHub Pages](https://github.blog/developer-skills/github/github-for-beginners-getting-started-with-github-pages/)

Learn how to create a free website for any repository on GitHub Pages.

[Kedasha Kerr](https://github.blog/author/ladykerr/ "Posts by Kedasha Kerr")

![Image 16: Header image with the words 'Beginner security tools'](https://github.blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/GIT850_THUMB_GFB_A-1.png?resize=400%2C212)

[Developer skills](https://github.blog/developer-skills/)

### [GitHub for Beginners: Getting started with GitHub security](https://github.blog/developer-skills/github/github-for-beginners-getting-started-with-github-security/)

Learn how to secure your projects and keep them safe with GitHub Advanced Security.

[Kedasha Kerr](https://github.blog/author/ladykerr/ "Posts by Kedasha Kerr")

![Image 17: Copilot hovering beside a cluster of geometric cubes in a decorative scene.](https://github.blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/generic-copilot-logo-github.png?resize=400%2C212)

[AI & ML](https://github.blog/ai-and-ml/)

### [Building AI-powered GitHub issue triage with the Copilot SDK](https://github.blog/ai-and-ml/github-copilot/building-ai-powered-github-issue-triage-with-the-copilot-sdk/)

Learn how to integrate the Copilot SDK into a React Native app to generate AI-powered issue summaries, with production patterns for graceful degradation and caching.

[Andrea Griffiths](https://github.blog/author/andreagriffiths11/ "Posts by Andrea Griffiths")

## Explore more from GitHub

![Image 18: Docs](https://github.blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Icon-Circle.svg)
### Docs

Everything you need to master GitHub, all in one place.

[Go to Docs](https://docs.github.com/)

![Image 19: GitHub](https://github.blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/recirculation-github-icon.svg)
### GitHub

Build what’s next on GitHub, the place for anyone from anywhere to build anything.

[Start building](https://github.com/)

![Image 20: Customer stories](https://github.blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Icon_da43dc.svg)
### Customer stories

Meet the companies and engineering teams that build with GitHub.

[Learn more](https://github.com/customer-stories)

![Image 21: The GitHub Podcast](https://github.blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/galaxy23-icon.svg)
### The GitHub Podcast

Catch up on the GitHub podcast, a show dedicated to the topics, trends, stories and culture in and around the open source developer community on GitHub.

[Listen now](https://the-github-podcast.simplecast.com/)

## We do newsletters, too

Discover tips, technical guides, and best practices in our biweekly newsletter just for devs.

Your email address 

*Your email address 

Subscribe

- [x]  Yes please, I’d like GitHub and affiliates to use my information for personalized communications, targeted advertising and campaign effectiveness. See the [GitHub Privacy Statement](https://github.com/site/privacy) for more details.  

Subscribe

## Site-wide Links

[](https://github.com/)

### Product

*   [Features](https://github.com/features)
*   [Security](https://github.com/security)
*   [Enterprise](https://github.com/enterprise)
*   [Customer Stories](https://github.com/customer-stories?type=enterprise)
*   [Pricing](https://github.com/pricing)
*   [Resources](https://resources.github.com/)

### Platform

*   [Developer API](https://developer.github.com/)
*   [Partners](https://partner.github.com/)
*   [Atom](https://atom.io/)
*   [Electron](https://www.electronjs.org/)
*   [GitHub Desktop](https://desktop.github.com/)

### Support

*   [Docs](https://docs.github.com/)
*   [Community Forum](https://github.community/)
*   [Training](https://services.github.com/)
*   [Status](https://www.githubstatus.com/)
*   [Contact](https://support.github.com/)

### Company

*   [About](https://github.com/about)
*   [Blog](https://github.blog/)
*   [Careers](https://github.com/about/careers)
*   [Press](https://github.com/about/press)
*   [Shop](https://shop.github.com/)

*   © 2026 GitHub, Inc.
*   [Terms](https://docs.github.com/en/github/site-policy/github-terms-of-service)
*   [Privacy](https://docs.github.com/en/github/site-policy/github-privacy-statement)
*   Manage Cookies
*   Do not share my personal information

*   [GitHub on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/github)
*   [GitHub on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/github/)
*   [GitHub on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/github)
*   [GitHub on X](https://twitter.com/github)
*   [GitHub on TikTok](https://www.tiktok.com/@github)
*   [GitHub on Twitch](https://www.twitch.tv/github)
*   [GitHub’s organization on GitHub](https://github.com/github)

![Image 22](http://github.blog/developer-skills/github/github-for-beginners-getting-started-with-markdown/)×

![Image 23](https://pixel.wp.com/g.gif?v=ext&blog=153214340&post=95615&tz=-7&srv=github.blog&hp=vip&j=1%3A15.7&host=github.blog&ref=&fcp=2088&rand=0.24625175877943362)
