Footnotes
Footnotes let you add reference notes without cluttering the main text.
Syntax
Here is a sentence with a footnote.[^1]
[^1]: This is the footnote content.
Named Footnotes
You can use descriptive names instead of numbers:
Markdown was created by John Gruber.[^gruber]
[^gruber]: John Gruber created Markdown in 2004 with Aaron Swartz.
Multi-line Footnotes
Here is a complex footnote.[^complex]
[^complex]: This footnote has multiple paragraphs.
Indent subsequent paragraphs with 4 spaces.
You can even add code blocks.
Important Notes
- Footnote definitions can be placed anywhere in the document
- They will always render at the bottom of the page
- Footnotes are auto-numbered regardless of your label
- Not all renderers support footnotes (it's an extension)
- GitHub supports footnotes in Markdown files
Best Practices
- Use footnotes for citations and references
- Keep footnote content concise
- Don't overuse footnotes — they interrupt reading flow
💡 Footnotes are perfect for academic writing, blog posts, and documentation!