# Markdown style guide
Much of what makes Markdown great is the ability to write plain text, and get
great formatted output as a result. To keep the slate clean for the next author,
your Markdown should be simple and consistent with the whole corpus wherever
possible.
We seek to balance three goals:
1. *Source text is readable and portable.*
2. *Markdown files are maintainable over time and across teams.*
3. *The syntax is simple and easy to remember.*
Contents:
1. [Document layout](#document-layout)
1. [Character line limit](#character-line-limit)
1. [Trailing whitespace](#trailing-whitespace)
1. [Headings](#headings)
1. [ATX-style headings](#atx-style-headings)
1. [Add spacing to headings](#add-spacing-to-headings)
1. [Lists](#lists)
1. [Use lazy numbering for long lists](#use-lazy-numbering-for-long-lists)
1. [Nested list spacing](#nested-list-spacing)
1. [Code](#code)
1. [Inline](#inline)
1. [Codeblocks](#codeblocks)
1. [Declare the language](#declare-the-language)
1. [Escape newlines](#escape-newlines)
1. [Nest codeblocks within lists](#nest-codeblocks-within-lists)
1. [Links](#links)
1. [Use informative Markdown link titles](#use-informative-markdown-link-titles)
1. [Images](#images)
1. [Prefer lists to tables](#prefer-lists-to-tables)
1. [Strongly prefer Markdown to HTML](#strongly-prefer-markdown-to-html)
## Document layout
In general, most documents benefit from some variation of the following layout:
```markdown
# Document Title
Short introduction.
[TOC]
## Topic
Content.
## See also
* https://link-to-more-info
```
1. `# Document Title`: The first heading should be a level one heading, and
should ideally be the same or nearly the same as the filename. The first
level one heading is used as the page `<title>`.
1. `author`: *Optional*. If you'd like to claim ownership of the document or
if you are very proud of it, add yourself under the title. However,
revision history generally suffices.
1. `Short introduction.` 1-3 sentences providing a high-level overview of the
topic. Imagine yourself as a complete newbie, who landed on your "Extending
Foo" doc and needs to know the most basic assumptions you take for granted.
"What is Foo? Why would I extend it?"
1. `[TOC]`: if you use hosting that supports table of contents, such as Gitiles,
put `[TOC]` after the short introduction. See
[`[TOC]` documentation](https://gerrit.googlesource.com/gitiles/+/master/Documentation/markdown.md#Table-of-contents).
1. `## Topic`: The rest of your headings should start from level 2.
1. `## See also`: Put miscellaneous links at the bottom for the user who wants
to know more or didn't find what she needed.
## Character line limit
Obey projects' character line limit wherever possible. Long URLs and tables are
the usual suspects when breaking the rule. (Headings also can't be wrapped, but
we encourage keeping them short). Otherwise, wrap your text:
```markdown
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, nec eius volumus patrioque cu, nec et commodo
hendrerit, id nobis saperet fuisset ius.
* Malorum moderatius vim eu. In vix dico persecuti. Te nam saperet percipitur
interesset. See the [foo docs](https://gerrit.googlesource.com/gitiles/+/master/Documentation/markdown.md).
```
Often, inserting a newline before a long link preserves readability while
minimizing the overflow:
```markdown
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet. See the
[foo docs](https://gerrit.googlesource.com/gitiles/+/master/Documentation/markdown.md)
for details.
```
## Trailing whitespace
Don't use trailing whitespace, use a trailing backslash.
The [CommonMark spec](http://spec.commonmark.org/0.20/#hard-line-breaks) decrees
that two spaces at the end of a line should insert a `<br />` tag. However, many
directories have a trailing whitespace presubmit check in place, and many IDEs
will clean it up anyway.
Best practice is to avoid the need for a `<br />` altogether. Markdown creates
paragraph tags for you simply with newlines: get used to that.
## Headings
### ATX-style headings
```markdown
## Heading 2
```
Headings with `=` or `-` underlines can be annoying to maintain and don't fit
with the rest of the heading syntax. The user has to ask: Does `---` mean H1 or
H2?
```markdown
Heading - do you remember what level? DO NOT DO THIS.
---------
```
### Add spacing to headings
Prefer spacing after `#` and newlines before and after:
```markdown
...text before.
# Heading 1
Text after...
```
Lack of spacing makes it a little harder to read in source:
```markdown
...text before.
#Heading 1
Text after... DO NOT DO THIS.
```
## Lists
### Use lazy numbering for long lists
Markdown is smart enough to let the resulting HTML render your numbered lists
correctly. For longer lists that may change, especially long nested lists, use
"lazy" numbering:
```markdown
1. Foo.
1. Bar.
1. Foofoo.
1. Barbar.
1. Baz.
```
However, if the list is small and you don't anticipate changing it, prefer fully
numbered lists, because it's nicer to read in source:
```markdown
1. Foo.
2. Bar.
3. Baz.
```
### Nested list spacing
When nesting lists, use a 4 space indent for both numbered and bulleted lists:
```markdown
1. 2 spaces after a numbered list.
4 space indent for wrapped text.
2. 2 spaces again.
* 3 spaces after a bullet.
4 space indent for wrapped text.
1. 2 spaces after a numbered list.
8 space indent for the wrapped text of a nested list.
2. Looks nice, don't it?
* 3 spaces after a bullet.
```
The following works, but it's very messy:
```markdown
* One space,
with no indent for wrapped text.
1. Irregular nesting... DO NOT DO THIS.
```
Even when there's no nesting, using the 4 space indent makes layout consistent
for wrapped text:
```markdown
* Foo,
wrapped.
1. 2 spaces
and 4 space indenting.
2. 2 spaces again.
```
However, when lists are small, not nested, and a single line, one space can
suffice for both kinds of lists:
```markdown
* Foo
* Bar
* Baz.
1. Foo.
2. Bar.
```
## Code
### Inline
`Backticks` designate `inline code`, and will render all wrapped content
literally. Use them for short code quotations and field names:
```markdown
You'll want to run `really_cool_script.sh arg`.
Pay attention to the `foo_bar_whammy` field in that table.
```
Use inline code when referring to file types in an abstract sense, rather than a
specific file:
```markdown
Be sure to update your `README.md`!
```
Backticks are the most common approach for "escaping" Markdown metacharacters;
in most situations where escaping would be needed, code font just makes sense
anyway.
### Codeblocks
For code quotations longer than a single line, use a codeblock:
<pre>
```python
def Foo(self, bar):
self.bar = bar
```
</pre>
#### Declare the language
It is best practice to explicitly declare the language, so that neither the
syntax highlighter nor the next editor must guess.
#### Indented codeblocks are sometimes cleaner
Four-space indenting is also interpreted as a codeblock. These can look
cleaner and be easier to read in source, but there is no way to specify the
language. We encourage their use when writing many short snippets:
```markdown
You'll need to run:
bazel run :thing -- --foo
And then:
bazel run :another_thing -- --bar
And again:
bazel run :yet_again -- --baz
```
#### Escape newlines
Because most commandline snippets are intended to be copied and pasted directly
into a terminal, it's best practice to escape any newlines. Use a single
backslash at the end of the line:
<pre>
```shell
bazel run :target -- --flag --foo=longlonglonglonglongvalue \
--bar=anotherlonglonglonglonglonglonglonglonglonglongvalue
```
</pre>
#### Nest codeblocks within lists
If you need a codeblock within a list, make sure to indent it so as to not break
the list:
```markdown
* Bullet.
```c++
int foo;
```
* Next bullet.
```
You can also create a nested code block with 4 spaces. Simply indent 4
additional spaces from the list indentation:
```markdown
* Bullet.
int foo;
* Next bullet.
```
## Links
Long links make source Markdown difficult to read and break the 80 character
wrapping. **Wherever possible, shorten your links**.
### Use informative Markdown link titles
Markdown link syntax allows you to set a link title, just as HTML does. Use it
wisely.
Titling your links as "link" or "here" tells the reader precisely nothing when
quickly scanning your doc and is a waste of space:
```markdown
See the syntax guide for more info: [link](syntax_guide.md).
Or, check out the style guide [here](style_guide.md).
DO NOT DO THIS.
```
Instead, write the sentence naturally, then go back and wrap the most
appropriate phrase with the link:
```markdown
See the [syntax guide](syntax_guide.md) for more info.
Or, check out the [style guide](style_guide.md).
```
## Images
Use images sparingly, and prefer simple screenshots. This guide is designed
around the idea that plain text gets users down to the business of communication
faster with less reader distraction and author procrastination. However, it's
sometimes very helpful to show what you mean.
See [image syntax](https://gerrit.googlesource.com/gitiles/+/master/Documentation/markdown.md#Images).
## Prefer lists to tables
Any tables in your Markdown should be small. Complex, large tables are difficult
to read in source and most importantly, **a pain to modify later**.
```markdown
Fruit | Attribute | Notes
--- | --- | --- | ---
Apple | [Juicy](https://example.com/SomeReallyReallyReallyReallyReallyReallyReallyReallyLongQuery), Firm, Sweet | Apples keep doctors away.
Banana | [Convenient](https://example.com/SomeDifferentReallyReallyReallyReallyReallyReallyReallyReallyLongQuery), Soft, Sweet | Contrary to popular belief, most apes prefer mangoes.
DO NOT DO THIS
```
[Lists](#lists) and subheadings usually suffice to present the same information
in a slightly less compact, though much more edit-friendly way:
```markdown
## Fruits
### Apple
* [Juicy](https://SomeReallyReallyReallyReallyReallyReallyReallyReallyReallyReallyReallyReallyReallyReallyReallyReallyLongURL)
* Firm
* Sweet
Apples keep doctors away.
### Banana
* [Convenient](https://example.com/SomeDifferentReallyReallyReallyReallyReallyReallyReallyReallyLongQuery)
* Soft
* Sweet
Contrary to popular belief, most apes prefer mangoes.
```
However, there are times when a small table is called for:
```markdown
Transport | Favored by | Advantages
--- | --- | ---
Swallow | Coconuts | Otherwise unladen
Bicycle | Miss Gulch | Weatherproof
X-34 landspeeder | Whiny farmboys | Cheap since the X-38 came out
```
## Strongly prefer Markdown to HTML
Please prefer standard Markdown syntax wherever possible and avoid HTML hacks.
If you can't seem to accomplish what you want, reconsider whether you really
need it. Except for [big tables](#prefer-lists-to-tables), Markdown meets almost
all needs already.
Every bit of HTML or Javascript hacking reduces the readability and portability.
This in turn limits the usefulness of integrations with
other tools, which may either present the source as plain text or render it. See
[Philosophy](philosophy.md).
Gitiles does not render HTML.