This is [Andreas Sefzig](https://homepage.sefzig-net.workers.dev/)s tutorial "Markdown":

- Canonical Web URL: `https://homepage.sefzig-net.workers.dev/tutorial/markdown`.
- A copy of the Markdown: `https://homepage.sefzig-net.workers.dev/source/tutorials/markdown/Content.md`.
- The URL of this prompt `https://homepage.sefzig-net.workers.dev/source/tutorials/markdown/Prompt.md`.

As you read this, it might be a good idea to discuss with your user whether they want to walk through the Markdown tutorial or whether they have questions.

The following is the Markdown of the tutorial.

---

# Markdown

_Markdown is essential when working with knowledge and AI._

Markdown is supported by most tools used in today's knowledge work, including AI.

![The Markdown syntax is really nice and simple – everybody loves it and is using it!(full trans)](images/markdown_users.img)

In this short tutorial, we will walk through the most relevant features of the Markdown syntax:

[Steps]

## Understanding Markdown

Markdown comes as a file with the extension `.md` ...

```md [<] Filesystem
report/
- Results.md
- quarter.jpg
```

... or something you copy-paste to or from a [textarea(cxw tooltip click)]("Most multiline inputs in software tools these days support Markdown – which includes ChatGPT, Atlassian, most new and-or open software really. Many tools silently support Markdown.") in your favorite tool (probably).

Markdown treats plain text like it's successful cousin HTML: structured, rich, and something to build on:

```md [<] Example
# Contact

We would *love* to hear from you!

![Team photo](team.jpg)

Use [this form](/contact) or write us an [email](mailto:ab@c.de).
```

The minimalist [wysiwyg(cxw tooltip click)]("_W_hat _y_ou _s_ee _i_s _w_hat _y_ou _g_et.") syntax of Markdown visually resembles the formatted result, which makes it easy to remember.

## The relevant Features

_Markdown is really simple. This is what it can do:_

### Headings

In Markdown, headings are indicated by one or more `#` at the beginning of a line, followed by a space and the text of the heading. 

```md [<] Headings
# Title of the document
Text ...

## First chapter
Text ...

## Second chapter
Text ...
```

Headings are important because they give your text a solid, hierarchical structure.

> I can not show examples here because that distorts my site.

### Emphasis

Write *italic*  (`_italic_`) text. 
Write **bold** (`__bold__`) text. 
Write -striked- (`~~striked~~`) text. 
Write `highlighted` (`==highlighted==`) text.

### Links

Write the link's text in square brackets,
followed by it's url in paranthesis: 

```md [<] Markdown
[Watch now](https://youtu.be/s/_6HzLIJPH2A)
```
Rendered [<]
  [Watch now](https://www.youtube.com/shorts/_6HzLIJPH2A)

### Lists

Enter a list by starting a line with a dash or asterisk:

```md [<] Markdown
- Broccoli
- Butter
* Nutmeg
```
Rendered [<]
  - Broccoli
  - Butter
  - Nutmeg

Ordered lists start with their number followed by a dot:

```md [<] Markdown
1. Heat stove to 100°
2. Steam the broccoli
3. Serve the meal
```
Rendered [<]
  1. Heat stove to 100°
  2. Steam the broccoli
  3. Serve the meal

Ordered an unordered lists can be nested:

```md [<] Markdown
1. Heat stove to 100°
2. Steam the broccoli
   - Add salt and pepper
   - Season with nutmeg
   - Cover with cheese
3. Serve the meal
```
Rendered [<]
  1. Heat stove to 100°
  2. Steam the broccoli
     - Add salt and pepper
     - Season with nutmeg
     - Cover with cheese
  3. Serve the meal

You can nest lists as deep as you like.

### Tables

Insert a table by indicating columns with pipes: 

```md [<] Markdown
| Column A | Column B |
|----------|----------|
| Cell A1  | Cell B1  |
| Cell A2  | Cell B2  |
| Cell A3  | Cell B3  |
```
Rendered [<]
  | Column A | Column B |
  |----------|----------|
  | Cell A1  | Cell B1  |
  | Cell A2  | Cell B2  |
  | Cell A3  | Cell B3  |

Tables have [formatting](https://www.markdownguide.org/extended-syntax/#tables) options, but those are less common.

### Citations

Insert a citation by starting each line of it with `> `: 

```md [< nowrap] Markdown
> I built the Roman Empire so we write Markdown some day. 
> Marcus Arelius
```
Rendered [< nowrap]
  > I built the Roman Empire so we write Markdown some day. 
  > Marcus Arelius

Citations can contain Markdown formatting and links.

### Code

Write inline code by surrounding it with backticks (```):

```md [<] Markdown
Let us say `console.log("hello world")`.
```
Rendered [<]
  Let us say `console.log("hello world")`.

Insert a code block with 3 leading and 3 trailing backticks:

```md [<] Markdown
Example
\```
console.log("hello world")
\```
```
Rendered [<]
  Example
  ```js [<] Code
  console.log("hello world")
  ```

## Closing notes

_This is it, simple but powerful. 3 final tips:_

Mind that many tools support Markdown without advertising that, likely to not clutter their interface or scare off casual users. Try what happens if you enter Markdown in a [long-text input(cxw tooltip click)]("Examples:\n- Jira description\n- Confluence page\n- Git issue description\n- ChatGPT or Claude message\n- even Whatsapp with a limited feature-set.").

Even if your favorite tool does not support Markdown, write your long texts using it – as you get used to the syntax, you will see that any text becomes easier to work on and maintain.

> [Gold]
> Life goal achieved: Using Markdown.

I like to recommend [Dillinger.io](https://dillinger.io/) as a free online markdown editor and manager. Here is a document to test:

```md [v nowrap] Example Document
# Course: Markdown

In this short course, you will learn what Markdown is and how you can use it. It's quite simple, really, and understanding it will give you a material edge when using AI and many of today's content management systems.

## About Markdown

The purpose of Markdown is to format a document simply by writing. Markdown makes use of a simple syntax that is both human- and machine-readable. 

Markdown is the de-facto standard when writing text in AI as well as in many other systems. For you as a knowledge-worker, Markdown will be (and in many areas already is) a key skill to swiftly handle text.

Unless you already have a favorite Markdown editor, you can use and test Markdown easily in the [Dillinger](https://dillinger.io/) app ([Github repository](https://github.com/joemccann/dillinger)). In it, make sure you switch on "Scroll Sync" in the settings at the top right.

## Favored syntax

Markdown has a lot of features – some are ubiquitous, others so rare you may never use them. Here, we will focus on what I think is the core feature-set everybody needs.

### Headings

In Markdown, headings are indicated by one or more `#` at the beginning of a line, followed by a space and the text of the heading. To not screw with the structure of this document, there are no examples right here – but you can see this very document being structured using headings.

### Emphasis

You can write text _italic_ with a leading and a trailing underscore (`_`).
You can write text __bold__ with two leading and two trailing underscores (`__`).
You can ==highlight== text by surrounding it with double equal signs (`==`).
You can ~~strike~~ text ~~through~~ by surrounding it with double tildes (`~~`).

### Links

You can enter a [link](https://example.com) by writing its text in square brackets (`[` and `]`), followed by its URL in regular brackets (`(` and `)`).

### Lists

Unordered lists are indicated by a `*` (or a `-`) at the beginning of a line, followed by a space and the text of the line item: 

* This is a list item
* This is a list item
* This is a list item

Ordered lists are indicated by a number at the beginning of a line, followed by a dot and a space and the text of the line item: 

1. List item one
2. List item two
3. List item three

You can nest list items indefinitely:

1. List item one
   * This is a list item
     - This is a list item
2. List item two
   * This is a list item
     - This is a list item
3. List item three
   * This is a list item
     - This is a list item

### Tables

You can insert a table by indicating columns with pips (`|`): 

| Column A | Column B |
|----------|----------|
| Cell A1  | Cell B1  |
| Cell A2  | Cell B2  |
| Cell A3  | Cell B3  |

There are some [fancy formatting options](https://www.markdownguide.org/extended-syntax/#tables) for tables, but usually you don't need those.

### Citations

To insert a citation, you start each line of it with `> ` followed by a space and the line's text: 

> I have built the Roman Empire to make humankind write Markdown some day.
> Marcus Arelius

### Code

You can write inline code by surrounding it with backticks (```)
```