VS Code Markdown: Complete Guide
Visual Studio Code has excellent built-in markdown support. It includes a live preview pane, syntax highlighting, outline view, and IntelliSense for markdown files. The extension marketplace offers hundreds of additional markdown tools for linting, formatting, and enhanced preview.
Markdown support:Full
Markdown Support in VS Code
| Format | Syntax | Support |
|---|---|---|
| Bold | **text** | Yes |
| Italic | *text* | Yes |
| Strikethrough | ~~text~~ | Yes |
| Headings | # H1 ... ###### H6 | Yes |
| Links | [text](url) | Yes |
| Images |  | Yes |
| Blockquotes | > quote | Yes |
| Ordered Lists | 1. item | Yes |
| Unordered Lists | - item | Yes |
| Code (inline) | `code` | Yes |
| Code Blocks | ```lang\ncode\n``` | Yes |
| Tables | | col | col | | Yes |
| Task Lists | - [ ] task | Yes |
| Footnotes | [^1] | Partial Requires an extension like Markdown Footnotes |
| Horizontal Rule | --- | Yes |
Things to know
- Built-in markdown preview with Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + V or side-by-side with Ctrl/Cmd + K V.
- The Outline view shows heading structure for navigation.
- Extensions like Markdownlint add linting and formatting rules.
- Supports markdown path completion and link validation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does VS Code support markdown?
Yes. VS Code has built-in markdown support including syntax highlighting, live preview, outline view, and IntelliSense. Extensions can add linting, formatting, table tools, and more.
How do you preview markdown in VS Code?
Press Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + V to open the preview in a new tab. For side-by-side preview, press Ctrl/Cmd + K V. The preview updates in real time as you edit.
How do you bold text in VS Code?
Type **bold text** in your markdown file. You can also select text and use the markdown extension's formatting commands from the command palette.
What markdown extensions are useful for VS Code?
Popular extensions include Markdownlint for linting, Markdown All in One for shortcuts and table formatting, Markdown Preview Enhanced for advanced preview, and Mermaid diagram support.