Footnotes in Markdown
Learn how to add references and citations to your Markdown documents using footnotes
What are Footnotes?
Footnotes allow you to add references or additional information to your document without disrupting the main flow of text. They're commonly used for citations, clarifications, or providing supplementary details. Footnotes work well with paragraphs, links, and emphasized text.
In Markdown, footnotes consist of two parts. You can try creating footnotes in our Markdown Editor to see how they work:
- A marker in the main text that indicates a footnote
- The footnote content itself, which appears at the bottom of the document
When rendered, clicking on a footnote marker typically jumps to the corresponding footnote at the bottom of the page, and clicking on the footnote number jumps back to the reference in the text.
Basic Footnote Syntax
To create a footnote in Markdown, you need to:
- Add a footnote marker in the text using
[^label]syntax - Define the footnote content elsewhere in the document using
[^label]: Your footnote text here.
Here's a basic example:
Here is a sentence with a footnote[^1].\n\n[^1]: This is the footnote content.When rendered, this will appear as:
Note: Footnotes are part of the extended Markdown syntax and may not be supported in all Markdown processors.
Footnote Examples
Numeric Footnotes
You can use numbers as footnote labels for simple sequential references:
According to recent studies[^1], markdown usage has increased by 30%[^2].\n\n[^1]: Smith, J. (2023). The Rise of Markdown. *Journal of Documentation*, 45(2), 18-27.\n[^2]: Based on survey data collected between 2020-2023.When rendered, this will appear as:
Named Footnotes
You can use descriptive names instead of numbers for your footnote labels, which can make your markdown more readable:
The project deadline is next Friday[^deadline].\n\n[^deadline]: Subject to approval from the management team.When rendered, this will appear as:
Note: Even though you use descriptive names in your Markdown, most renderers will still display footnotes as sequential numbers in the output.
Multi-paragraph Footnotes
For longer footnotes that span multiple paragraphs, indent the subsequent paragraphs with four spaces or a tab:
This statement requires further explanation[^complex].\n\n[^complex]: This is the first paragraph of the footnote.\n\n This is the second paragraph of the footnote.\n \n This is the third paragraph of the footnote.When rendered, the footnote will include all paragraphs.
Best Practices for Footnotes
1. Use Descriptive Labels
Instead of using sequential numbers like [^1], [^2], consider using descriptive labels like [^source] or [^explanation]. This makes your markdown more maintainable, especially when adding or removing footnotes later.
2. Keep Footnotes Concise
Footnotes are best used for brief clarifications or citations. If you find yourself writing very long footnotes, consider whether that information belongs in the main text or perhaps in an appendix section.
3. Place Definitions at the End
While you can technically place footnote definitions anywhere in your document after they're referenced, it's conventional and more readable to group them all together at the end of your document or section.
4. Be Consistent with Citation Style
If you're using footnotes for academic citations, maintain a consistent citation style (APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.) throughout your document. This makes your references more professional and easier to follow.
5. Test Your Footnotes
Always preview your document to ensure footnotes are rendering correctly. Check that the links between references and footnotes work properly, especially when using a specific Markdown processor or publishing platform.
6. Don't Overuse Footnotes
Too many footnotes can disrupt the reading experience. Use them sparingly and only when they add value without breaking the flow of your main content.
Interactive Footnote Generator
Markdown
This is a sample text with a footnote[^1].
[^1]: This is the footnote content.Try changing the text, footnote label, or footnote content to see how footnotes work in Markdown. The preview will update automatically to show how your footnote will appear when rendered.
Additional Resources
Related Markdown Elements
Explore other Markdown elements that work well with footnotes:
External Resources
Learn more about footnotes from these resources: