Markdown Code Block Generator

Generate fenced code blocks with language syntax highlighting.

Code

Programming Language

Block Type

Filename (optional, some platforms support this)

About Markdown Code Blocks

Code blocks display code with proper formatting and optional syntax highlighting, making them essential for technical documentation.

Fenced Code Blocks

The modern standard using triple backticks:

```javascript
function hello() {
    console.log("Hello, world!");
}
```

Advantages: Syntax highlighting, easier to write, language specification

Indented Code Blocks

Classic markdown style using 4 spaces or 1 tab:

    function hello() {
        console.log("Hello, world!");
    }

Advantages: Works everywhere, simple syntax

Disadvantages: No syntax highlighting, no language specification

Inline Code

For short code snippets within text, use single backticks:

Use the `console.log()` function to print output.

Syntax Highlighting

Specify the language after the opening backticks for syntax highlighting:

JavaScript: ```javascript or ```js
Python: ```python or ```py
HTML: ```html
CSS: ```css
Shell: ```bash or ```shell
JSON: ```json

Platform-Specific Features

GitHub

Line numbers on hover
Line highlighting with #L10 in URLs
Range selection with #L10-L20
Diff highlighting with ```diff

GitLab

Filename annotation: ```javascript:example.js
Line highlighting in snippets

Best Practices

Always specify language: Enables syntax highlighting
Keep code blocks concise: Long code hurts readability
Add context: Explain what the code does
Use inline code: For short snippets, commands, filenames
Test code examples: Ensure they work before publishing
Highlight key lines: Use comments to draw attention

Common Language Identifiers

javascript, js
python, py
java
csharp, cs
cpp, c++
ruby, rb
go
rust, rs

html
css
json
yaml, yml
bash, shell
sql
typescript, ts
markdown, md

Escaping Backticks

To show backticks in code, use more backticks:

`` Use `backticks` for inline code ``

Quick Examples

JavaScript:

```javascript
const x = 42;
```

Python:

```python
def hello():
    print("Hi")
```

Inline:

Use `npm install`

Common Mistakes

Forgetting closing backticks
Wrong language identifier
Mixing tabs and spaces
Not testing code examples
Too much code without explanation