Markdown · <code>> text</code>
Blockquotes
A > marker at the start of a line creates a blockquote; markers nest.
Key facts
| Marker | <code>> text</code> |
|---|---|
| Multi-line | Repeat the marker on each line |
| Nesting | Two markers for a nested quote |
| Lazy | Continuation lines may omit the marker |
| GFM alerts | <code>> [!NOTE]</code> |
| Standard | CommonMark §5.1 |
Quoting blocks
The greater-than sign starts a blockquote. Each subsequent line can repeat the marker or rely on lazy continuation, where a plain paragraph line is still part of the quote. Lazy continuation is convenient but fragile: a blank line or a new block ends the quote.
Blockquotes can contain other blocks, including headings, lists and code. Nesting uses additional markers, and the renderer typically adds a left border and indentation.
Alerts are an extension
GitHub Flavored Markdown recognises > [!NOTE], [!TIP], [!IMPORTANT], [!WARNING] and [!CAUTION] as alert blocks. Other renderers show the marker as literal text. Do not rely on alerts for information that must be visible everywhere.
For ordinary quotations, keep the source attribution outside the quote or in a final line. A blockquote implies quoted material, not emphasis.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need > on every line?
No, lazy continuation allows plain lines, but repeating it is clearer and avoids surprises.
Are [!NOTE] alerts standard Markdown?
No. They are a GitHub extension and render as text elsewhere.