---
title: Markdown
description: A block of standard GitHub-flavored markdown, for text you didn't hand-assemble into rich text.
---

`markdown` takes one raw markdown string and lets Slack do the parsing, instead of you building a
`rich_text` tree or a `mrkdwn` string by hand. Slack expands it into the same headings, lists,
dividers, code blocks, and tables you'd get from other blocks. It's meant for text an LLM
produced, where you don't control the exact markdown shape ahead of time.

<Preview
  payload={{
    blocks: [
      {
        type: "markdown",
        text: "Text can be **bold**, _italic_, ~~strikethrough~~, or `inline code`.\n\nCombine them: **_bold italic_** and [links](https://api.slack.com).\n\n> Blockquotes work too, with **formatting** inside.",
      },
    ],
  }}
/>

## Fields

| Prop | Type | Default | Description |
| - | - | - | - |
| `type` | `string` | - | Always `markdown`. |
| `text` | `string` | - | Standard markdown-formatted text. Limit 12,000 characters. |
| `block_id?` | `string` | - | A unique identifier for the block, up to 255 characters. Slack generates one if omitted. |

:::note
A `markdown` block isn't the same as `mrkdwn` text inside a `section`. `mrkdwn` is Slack's own
lightweight syntax (`*bold*`, `_italic_`) with no headings or tables. It also differs from
`rich_text`, which is a structured JSON tree rather than a text string. `markdown` is closer to
plain GitHub-flavored markdown, parsed by Slack on render.
:::

## Examples

### Inline styles

<Preview
  payload={{
    blocks: [
      {
        type: "markdown",
        text: "Text can be **bold**, _italic_, ~~strikethrough~~, or `inline code`.\n\nCombine them: **_bold italic_** and [links](https://api.slack.com).\n\n> Blockquotes work too, with **formatting** inside.",
      },
    ],
  }}
/>

### Headings and dividers

Headings past `###` still render at the same size as `###`. A line of `---` renders as a divider.

<Preview
  payload={{
    blocks: [
      {
        type: "markdown",
        text: "# Heading 1\n\nIntroduction paragraph.\n\n---\n\n## Heading 2\n\nMore details here.\n\n---\n\n### Heading 3\n\nEven more details.\n\n#### Heading 4\n\n##### Heading 5\n\n###### Heading 6",
      },
    ],
  }}
/>

### Fenced code blocks

A fenced code block with a language tag renders with a language label and copy button, the same
chrome used by `rich_text`'s preformatted sections:

<Preview
  code
  payload={{
    blocks: [
      {
        type: "markdown",
        text: 'Here is a JavaScript function:\n\n```javascript\nfunction greet(name) {\n  return "Hello, " + name + "!";\n}\n\nconsole.log(greet("world"));\n```',
      },
    ],
  }}
/>

### Tables

Standard GFM table syntax renders as a table, right inside the markdown text:

<Preview
  payload={{
    blocks: [
      {
        type: "markdown",
        text: "## Sprint Status\n\n| Task | Owner | Status |\n|---|---|---|\n| **Authentication** | Ada Lovelace | ~~Done~~ _Shipped_ |\n| `Dashboard` | Grace Hopper | **In Progress** |\n| [API Docs](https://api.slack.com) | Alan Turing | _Not Started_ |",
      },
    ],
  }}
/>

## Related

**[Rich text](/blocks/rich-text)**

The structured block for text you assemble field by field instead of as a markdown string.

**[Section](/blocks/section)**

A single line of `mrkdwn` or plain text, optionally paired with an accessory element.

**[Table](/blocks/table)**

The plain grid block, for tabular data outside of markdown text.