Syntax guidance for basic Markdown usage

  • 16 minutes to read

Azure DevOps Services | Azure DevOps Server 2019 | TFS 2018 | TFS 2017 | TFS 2015

Important

To view the content available for your platform, make sure that you select the correct version of this article from the version selector which is located above the table of contents. Feature support differs depending on whether you are working from Azure DevOps Services or an on-premises version of Azure DevOps Server, renamed from Team Foundation Server (TFS).

To learn which on-premises version you are using, see What platform/version am I using?.

Here you can find some basic Markdown syntax guidance and specific guidance for using Markdown in Azure DevOps features. You can use both common Markdown conventions and GitHub-flavored extensions.

Having the right guidance at the right time is critical to success. Use Markdown to add rich formatting, tables, and images to your project pages, README files, dashboards, and pull request comments.

For additional syntax that's supported for Wiki pages, see Wiki Markdown guidance.

You can provide guidance in the following areas using Markdown:

Note

Rich Markdown rendering in code repositories is supported for TFS 2018.2 and later versions. You can create rich README.md files in the code repositories. The Markdown rendering of the MD files in code repositories supports HTML tags, block quotes, emojis, image resizing, and mathematical formulas. There is parity in Markdown rendering in Wiki and MD files in code.

Note

With TFS 2017.1, welcome pages, the Markdown widget on team dashboards, and the Definition of Done on Kanban boards no longer supports file links in their Markdown. As a workaround, you can include your file link as text in the Markdown.

Important

Not all Markdown syntax is supported across all features. Each section in this article identifies the features the syntax is supported with the Supported in line.

Headers

Supported in: Definition of Done | Markdown widget | Pull Requests | README files | Wikis

Supported in: Definition of Done | Markdown widget | Pull Requests | README files

Supported in: Definition of Done | Markdown widget | README files

Structure your comments using headers. Headers segment longer comments, making them easier to read.

Start a line with a hash character # to set a heading. Organize your remarks with subheadings by starting a line with additional hash characters, for example ####. Up to six levels of headings are supported.

Example:

# This is a H1 header
## This is a H2 header
### This is a H3 header
#### This is a H4 header
##### This is a H5 header

Result:

Web portal, Headers 1 through 5

Paragraphs and line breaks

Supported in: Definition of Done | Markdown widget | Pull Requests | README files | Wikis

Supported in: Definition of Done | Markdown widget | Pull Requests | README files

Supported in: Definition of Done | Markdown widget | README files

Make your text easier to read by breaking it up with paragraphs or line breaks.

In pull request comments, select Enter to insert a line break, and begin text on a new line.

In a Markdown file or widget, enter two spaces before the line break to begin a new paragraph, or enter two consecutive line breaks to begin a new paragraph.

In pull request comments, select Enter to insert a line break, and begin text on a new line. In a Markdown file or widget, enter two spaces prior to the line break to begin a new paragraph, or enter two consecutive line breaks to begin a new paragraph.

In a Markdown file or widget, enter two spaces prior to the line break to begin a new paragraph, or enter two line breaks consecutively to begin a new paragraph.

Example - pull request comment:

Add lines between your text with the Enter key.
This spaces your text better and makes it easier to read.

Result: Add lines between your text with the Enter key. This spaces your text better and makes it easier to read.

Example - Markdown file or widget:

Add two spaces prior to the end of the line.(space, space)
This adds space in between paragraphs.

Result:
Add two spaces prior to the end of the line.

Space is added in between paragraphs.

Blockquotes

Supported in: Definition of Done | Markdown widget | Pull Requests | README files | Wikis

Supported in: Definition of Done | Markdown widget | Pull Requests | README files

Supported in: Definition of Done | Markdown widget | README files

Quote previous comments or text to set the context for your comment or text.

Quote single lines of text with > before the text. Use many > characters to nest quoted text. Quote blocks of lines of text by using the same level of > across many lines.

Example:

> Single line quote
>> Nested quote
>> multiple line
>> quote

Result:

Quoting in Markdown

Horizontal rules

Supported in: Definition of Done | Markdown widget | Pull Requests | README files | Wikis

Supported in: Definition of Done | Markdown widget | Pull Requests | README files

Supported in: Definition of Done | Markdown widget | README files

To add a horizontal rule, add a line that's a series of dashes ---. The line above the line containing the --- must be blank.

Example:

above
 
----
below

Result:

above

below

Emphasis (bold, italics, strikethrough)

Supported in: Definition of Done | Markdown widget | Pull Requests | README files | Wikis

Supported in: Definition of Done | Markdown widget | Pull Requests | README files

Supported in: Definition of Done | Markdown widget | README files

You can emphasize text by applying bold, italics, or strikethrough to characters:

  • To apply italics: surround the text with an asterisk * or underscore _
  • To apply bold: surround the text with double asterisks **.
  • To apply strikethrough: surround the text with double tilde characters ~~.

Combine these elements to apply emphasis to text.

Note

There is no Markdown syntax that supports underlining text. Within a wiki page, you can use the HTML <u> tag to generate underlined text. For example, <u>underlined text</u> yields underlined text.

Note

There is no Markdown syntax that supports underlining text. Within a wiki page in TFS 2018.2 and later versions, you can use the HTML <u> tag to generate underlined text. For example, <u>underlined text</u> yields underlined text.

Note

There is no Markdown syntax that supports underlining text.

Example:

Use _emphasis_ in comments to express **strong** opinions and point out ~~corrections~~  
**_Bold, italicized text_**  
**~~Bold, strike-through text~~**

Result:

Use emphasis in comments to express strong opinions and point out corrections
Bold, italicized text Bold, strike-through text

Code highlighting

Supported in: Pull Requests | README files | Wikis

Supported in: Pull Requests | README files

Highlight suggested code segments using code highlight blocks. To indicate a span of code, wrap it with three backtick quotes (```) on a new line at both the start and end of the block. To indicate code inline, wrap it with one backtick quote (`).

Note

Code highlighting entered within the Markdown widget renders code as plain preformatted text.

Example:

```
sudo npm install vsoagent-installer -g  
```

Result:

sudo npm install vsoagent-installer -g

Example:

To install the Microsoft Cross Platform Build & Release Agent, run the following: `$ sudo npm install vsoagent-installer -g`.

Result:

To install the Microsoft Cross Platform Build & Release Agent run the following command: $ sudo npm install vsoagent-installer -g.


Within a Markdown file, text with four spaces at the beginning of the line automatically converts to a code block.

Set a language identifier for the code block to enable syntax highlighting for any of the supported languages in highlightjs, version v9.10.0.

``` language
code
```

Additional examples:

``` js
const count = records.length;
```

const count = records.length;


``` csharp
Console.WriteLine("Hello, World!");
```

Console.WriteLine("Hello, World!");

Tables

Supported in: Markdown widget | Pull Requests | README files | Wikis

Supported in: Markdown widget | Pull Requests | README files

Supported in: Markdown widget | README files

Organize structured data with tables. Tables are especially useful for describing function parameters, object methods, and other data that has a clear name to description mapping. You can format tables in pull requests, wiki, and Markdown files such as README files and Markdown widgets.

  • Place each table row on its own line
  • Separate table cells using the pipe character |
  • The first two lines of a table set the column headers and the alignment of elements in the table
  • Use colons (:) when dividing the header and body of tables to specify column alignment (left, center, right)
  • To start a new line, use the HTML break tag (<br/>) (Works within a Wiki but not elsewhere)
  • Make sure to end each row with a CR or LF.
  • A blank space is required before and after work item or pull request (PR) mentions inside a table cell.

Example:

| Heading 1 | Heading 2 | Heading 3 |  
|-----------|:-----------:|-----------:|  
| Cell A1 | Cell A2 | Cell A3 |  
| Cell B1 | Cell B2 | Cell B3<br/>second line of text |

Result:

Heading 1 Heading 2 Heading 3
Cell A1 Cell A2 Cell A3
Cell B1 Cell B2 Cell B3
second line of text

Lists

Supported in: Definition of Done | Markdown widget | Pull Requests | README files | Wikis

Supported in: Definition of Done | Markdown widget | Pull Requests | README files

Supported in: Definition of Done | Markdown widget | README files

Organize related items with lists. You can add ordered lists with numbers, or unordered lists with just bullets.

Ordered lists start with a number followed by a period for each list item. Unordered lists start with a -. Begin each list item on a new line. In a Markdown file or widget, enter two spaces prior to the line break to begin a new paragraph, or enter two line breaks consecutively to begin a new paragraph.

Ordered or numbered lists

Example:

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

Result:

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

Bullet lists

Example:

- Item 1
- Item 2
- Item 3

Result:

  • Item 1
  • Item 2
  • Item 3

Nested lists

Example:

1. First item.
   - Item 1
   - Item 2
   - Item 3
1. Second item.
   - Nested item 1
   - Nested item 2
   - Nested item 3

Result:

  1. First item.
    • Item 1
    • Item 2
    • Item 3
  2. Second item.
    • Nested item 1
    • Nested item 2
    • Nested item 3

Supported in: Definition of Done | Markdown widget | Pull Requests | README files | Wikis

Supported in: Definition of Done | Markdown widget | Pull Requests | README files

Supported in: Definition of Done | Markdown widget | README files

In pull request comments and wikis, HTTP and HTTPS URLs are automatically formatted as links. You can link to work items by entering the # key and a work item ID, and then choosing the work item from the list.

Avoid auto suggestions for work items by prefixing # with a backslash (\). This can be useful if you want to use # for color hex codes.

In Markdown files and widgets, you can set text hyperlinks for your URL using the standard Markdown link syntax:

[Link Text](Link URL)

When linking to another Markdown page in the same Git or TFVC repository, the link target can be a relative path or an absolute path in the repository.

Supported links for Welcome pages:

  • Relative path: [text to display](/target.md)
  • Absolute path in Git: [text to display](/folder/target.md)
  • Absolute path in TFVC: [text to display]($/project/folder/target.md)
  • URL: [text to display](http://address.com)

Supported links for Markdown widget:

  • URL: [text to display](http://address.com)

Supported links for Wiki:

  • Absolute path of Wiki pages: [text to display](/parent-page/child-page)
  • URL: [text to display](http://address.com)

Note

Links to documents on file shares using file:// aren't supported on 2017.1 and later versions. This restriction has been implemented for security purposes.

For information on how to specify relative links from a Welcome page or Markdown widget, see Source control relative links.

Example:

[C# language reference](https://msdn.microsoft.com/library/618ayhy6.aspx)

Result:

C# language reference

Links to source control files are interpreted differently depending on whether you specify them in a Welcome page or a Markdown widget. The system interprets relative links as follows:

  • Welcome page: relative to the root of the source control repository in which the welcome page exists
  • Markdown widget: relative to the team project collection URL base

For example:

Welcome page Markdown widget equivalent
/BuildTemplates/AzureContinuousDeploy.11.xaml /DefaultCollection/Fabrikam Fiber/_versionControl#path=$/Tfvc Welcome/BuildTemplates/AzureContinuousDeploy.11.xaml
./page-2.md /DefaultCollection/Fabrikam Fiber/_versionControl#path=$/Tfvc Welcome/page-2.md

Within Markdown files, anchor IDs are assigned to all headings when rendered as HTML. The ID is the heading text, with the spaces replaced by dashes (-) and all lower case. In general, the following conventions apply:

  • Punctuation marks and leading white spaces within a file name are ignored
  • Upper case letters are converted to lower
  • Spaces between letters are converted to dashes (-).

Example:

###Link to a heading in the page

Result:

The syntax for an anchor link to a section...

[Link to a heading in the page](#link-to-a-heading-in-the-page)

The ID is all lower case, and the link is case sensitive, so be sure to use lower case, even though the heading itself uses upper case.

You can also reference headings within another Markdown file:

[text to display](./target.md#heading-id)

In wiki, you can also reference heading in another page: 
[text to display](/page-name#section-name)

Images

Supported in: Markdown widget | Pull Requests | README files | Wikis

Supported in: Markdown widget | Pull Requests | README files

Supported in: Markdown widget | README files

To highlight issues or make things more interesting, you can add images and animated GIFs to the following in your pull requests:

  • Comments
  • Markdown files
  • Wiki pages

Use the following syntax to add an image: 

![Text](URL)
The text in the brackets describes the image being linked and the URL points to the image location.

Example:


![Illustration to use for new users](https://azurecomcdn.azureedge.net/cvt-779fa2985e70b1ef1c34d319b505f7b4417add09948df4c5b81db2a9bad966e5/images/page/services/devops/hero-images/index-hero.jpg)

Result:

Illustration of linked image

The path to the image file can be a relative path or the absolute path in Git or TFVC, just like the path to another Markdown file in a link.

  • Relative path: ![Image alt text](./image.png)
  • Absolute path in Git: ![Image alt text](/media/markdown-guidance/image.png)
  • Absolute path in TFVC: ![Image alt text]($/project/folder/media/markdown-guidance/image.png)
  • Resize image: ![Image alt text]($/project/folder/media/markdown-guidance/image.png =WIDTHxHEIGHT)

Checklist or task list

Supported in: Pull Requests | Wikis

Lightweight task lists are great ways to track progress on a list of todos as a pull request creator or reviewer in the PR description or in a wiki page. Select the Markdown toolbar to get started or apply the format to selected text.

You can Use [ ] or [x] to support checklists. You need to precede the checklist with either -<space> or 1.<space> (any numeral).

Example - Apply the task list Markdown to a highlighted list

Apply Markdown task list format to a highlighted list in a PR

After you've added a task list, you can check the boxes to mark items as completed. These are expressed and stored within the comment as [ ] and [x] in Markdown.

Apply Markdown task list format to a highlighted list in a PR

Example - Format a list as a task list

- [ ] A  
- [ ] B  
- [ ] C  
- [x] A  
- [x] B  
- [x] C

Result:

Checklists

Note

A checklist within a table cell isn't supported.

Emoji

Supported in: Pull Requests | Wikis

In pull request comments and wiki pages, you can use emojis to add character and react to comments in the request. Enter what you're feeling surrounded by : characters to get a matching emoji in your text. The full set of emojis are supported.

Supported in: Pull Requests

In pull request comments, you can use emojis to add characters and react to comments in the request. Enter what you're feeling surrounded by : characters to get a matching emoji in your text. The full set of emojis are supported.

Example:

:smile:
:angry:

Result:

Emojis in Markdown

To escape emojis, enclose them using the ` character.

Example:

`:smile:` `:)` `:angry:`

Result:

:smile: :) :angry:

Ignore or escape Markdown syntax to enter specific or literal characters

Supported in: Definition of Done | Markdown widget | Pull Requests | README files | Wikis

Supported in: Definition of Done | Markdown widget | Pull Requests | README files

Supported in: Definition of Done | Markdown widget | README files

Syntax Example/notes

To insert one of the following characters, prefix with a \(backslash).

\, backslash

`, backtick

_, underscore

{}, curly braces

[], square brackets

(), parentheses

#, hash mark

+, plus sign

-, minus sign (hyphen)

., period

!, exclamation mark

Some examples on inserting special characters:

Enter \\ to get \

Enter \_ to get _

Enter \# to get #

Enter \( to get (

Enter \. to get .

Enter \! to get !

Attachments

Supported in: Pull Requests | README files | Wikis

Supported in: Pull Requests | README files

In pull request comments and wiki pages, you can attach files to illustrate your point or to give more detailed reasoning behind your suggestions. To attach a file, drag and drop it into the comment field or wiki page edit experience. You can also select the paper-clip icon in the upper right of the comment box or the format pane in wiki page.

In pull request comments, you can attach files to illustrate your point or to give more detailed reasoning behind your suggestions. To attach a file, drag and drop it into the comment field. You can also select the paper-clip icon in the upper right of the comment box.

Note

Attachments in pull requests is available with TFS 2017.1 and later versions.

Web portal, Pull Request, Attach files via drag and drop i

If you have an image in your clipboard, you can paste it from the clipboard into the comment box or wiki page and it renders directly into your comment or wiki page.

Attaching non-image files creates a link to the file in your comment. Update the description text between the brackets to change the text displayed in the link. Attached image files render directly into your comment or wiki pages. After you save or update a comment or wiki page with an attachment, you can see the attached image(s) and can select links to download attached files.

Attachments support the following file formats.

Type File formats
Code CS (.cs), Extensible Markup Language (.xml), JavaScript Object Notation (.json), Hypertext Markup Language(.html, .htm), Layer (.lyr), Windows PowerShell script (.ps1), Roshal Archive (.rar), Remote Desktop Connection (.rdp), Structured Query Language (.sql) - Note: Code attachments aren't permitted in PR comments
Compressed files ZIP (.zip) and GZIP (.gz)
Documents Markdown (.md), Microsoft Office Message (.msg), Microsoft Project (.mpp), Word (.doc and .docx), Excel (.xls, .xlsx and .csv), and Powerpoint (.ppt and .pptx), text files (.txt), and PDFs (.pdf)
Images PNG (.png), GIF (.gif), JPEG (both .jpeg and .jpg), Icons (.ico)
Visio VSD (.vsd and .vsdx)
Video MOV (.mov), MP4 (.mp4)

Note

Not all file formats are supported within pull requests, such as Microsoft Office Message (.msg) files.

Mathematical notation and characters

Supported in: Pull Requests | Wikis

Both inline and block KaTeX notation is supported in wiki pages and pull requests. The following supported elements are included:

  • Symbols
  • Greek letters
  • Mathematical operators
  • Powers and indices
  • Fractions and binomials
  • Other KaTeX supported elements

To include mathematical notation, surround the mathematical notation with a $ sign, for inline, and $$ for block, as shown in the following examples:

Note

This feature is supported within Wiki pages and pull requests for TFS 2018.2 or later versions.

Example: Greek characters

$
\alpha, \beta, \gamma, \delta, \epsilon, \zeta, \eta, \theta, \kappa, \lambda, \mu, \nu, \omicron, \pi, \rho, \sigma, \tau, \upsilon, \phi, ...
$  


$\Gamma,  \Delta,  \Theta, \Lambda, \Xi, \Pi, \Sigma, \Upsilon, \Phi, \Psi, \Omega$

Result:

Greek letters

Example: Algebraic notation

Area of a circle is $\pi r^2$

And, the area of a triangle is:

$$
A_{triangle}=\frac{1}{2}({b}\cdot{h})
$$

Result:

Algebraic notation

Example: Sums and Integrals

$$
\sum_{i=1}^{10} t_i
$$


$$
\int_0^\infty \mathrm{e}^{-x}\,\mathrm{d}x
$$

Result:

Greek letters