Markdown Table Syntax Guide
Learn how to create tables in Markdown with proper syntax for columns, alignment, and formatting. Try examples in the live editor and see the rendered table instantly. Everything runs client-side in your browser.
Markdown Table Generator
Build Markdown tables visually. Edit cells, set column alignment, import CSV, or start from a preset. Copy the generated Markdown to your clipboard.
Presets
| H | |||
What is Markdown table syntax?
Markdown tables use pipes (|) to separate columns and hyphens (-) to define the header row separator. Each row is a single line of text with pipe-delimited values. Column alignment is controlled by placing colons in the separator row — :--- for left, :---: for center, and ---: for right. While not part of the original Markdown spec, table syntax is supported by GitHub Flavored Markdown, CommonMark extensions, and most modern Markdown processors.
Common use cases
Markdown tables are used in README files to display feature comparisons, API parameter documentation, configuration options, changelog summaries, and quick-reference data. They are especially common in GitHub repositories, documentation sites, and knowledge bases where content is authored in Markdown.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I align columns in a Markdown table?
Use colons in the separator row: :--- for left-align (default), :---: for center-align, and ---: for right-align. For example, | :--- | :---: | ---: | creates a three-column table with left, center, and right alignment.
Can I merge cells or span columns in Markdown tables?
Standard Markdown does not support cell merging or colspan/rowspan. If you need complex table layouts, you can embed raw HTML tables in your Markdown file, which most processors will render correctly.