Lesson 2
Markdown Syntax Basics
Use headings, lists, links, emphasis, code spans, and blockquotes in everyday developer writing.
These are the Markdown patterns developers use most often.
Headings
# H1
## H2
### H3
Use one # per document title when possible, then nest sections with ## and ###.
Emphasis
*italic* or _italic_
**bold** or __bold__
`inline code`
Lists
Unordered:
- install dependencies
- run tests
- open a pull request
Ordered:
1. clone the repo
2. create a branch
3. commit changes
Links
Read the [API docs](https://example.com/docs).
Code blocks
Inline code uses backticks. Multi-line code usually uses fenced blocks:
```bash
npm test
```
Blockquotes
> Note: this endpoint requires authentication.
Key takeaway
Good Markdown stays simple: clear heading hierarchy, short lists, explicit links, and fenced code blocks for commands or JSON samples.
Paste examples into the Markdown Preview / Markdown to HTML tool to confirm headings, lists, and code render as expected.