Markdown Code Block: Fences and Inline Code

Code blocks and inline code in Markdown

Tables and code

Markdown syntax

Works everywhere

`inline code`

One backtick on each side, inside a sentence.

Use single backticks for code inside a sentence and a fence of three backticks for a block. Add a language name after the opening fence (js, python, bash, json, diff) to get syntax highlighting.

All ways to write it

```
`inline code`
```
One backtick on each side, inside a sentence.Works everywhere
```
```js
const x = 1;
```
```
A fenced block. The word after the fence picks the syntax highlighting.Works everywhere
```
~~~
fenced with tildes
~~~
```
Tildes work too, handy when the code contains backticks.Works everywhere
```
    indented code
```
Four spaces of indent. Older form, no language.Works everywhere

Example

You type

Run `npm run build` first, then:

```bash
curl -X POST https://example.com/api/import \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $TOKEN"
```

You get

Run npm run build first, then:

curl -X POST https://example.com/api/import \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $TOKEN"

Questions

How do I show backticks inside inline code?

Wrap it in two backticks with spaces: `` `code` `` shows `code` with its backticks.

How do I show a code fence inside a code block?

Use a longer outer fence: four backticks around a block that contains three, or tildes around backticks.

Which language names work?

Highlighters use their own lists; js, ts, python, java, bash, json, yaml, sql, html, css and diff are safe nearly everywhere.

Code block in Confluence

Markdown Macro+ highlights fenced code blocks by language, and Markdown Importer turns them into Confluence code blocks with highlighting. For Confluence's own code formatting, see inline code and code blocks in Confluence.