markdown-tables

# Markdown Tables

Comprehensive guide to creating and formatting tables in markdown.

## Basic Table Syntax

```markdown
| Header 1 | Header 2 | Header 3 |
|----------|----------|----------|
| Cell 1   | Cell 2   | Cell 3   |
| Cell 4   | Cell 5   | Cell 6   |
```

Renders as:

| Header 1 | Header 2 | Header 3 |
|----------|----------|----------|
| Cell 1   | Cell 2   | Cell 3   |
| Cell 4   | Cell 5   | Cell 6   |

## Column Alignment

```markdown
| Left     | Center   | Right    |
|:---------|:--------:|---------:|
| Left     | Center   | Right    |
| aligned  | aligned  | aligned  |
```

Renders as:

| Left     | Center   | Right    |
|:---------|:--------:|---------:|
| Left     | Center   | aligned  |
| text     | text     | text     |

- `:---` Left align (default)
- `:--:` Center align
- `---:` Right align

## Minimum Syntax

The pipes and dashes don't need to align:

```markdown
|Header|Header|
|-|-|
|Cell|Cell|
```

However, aligned tables are more readable in source.

## Escaping Pipe Characters

Use `\|` to include a literal pipe in a cell:

```markdown
| Command | Description |
|---------|-------------|
| `a \| b` | Pipe operator |
| `cmd \|\| exit` | Or operator |
```

## Inline Formatting in Tables

Tables support inline markdown:

```markdown
| Feature | Syntax |
|---------|--------|
| **Bold** | `**text**` |
| *Italic* | `*text*` |
| `Code` | `` `code` `` |
| [Link](url) | `[text](url)` |
```

## Multi-line Cell Content

Standard markdown tables don't support multi-line cells. Workarounds:

### Using `<br>` Tags

```markdown
| Step | Description |
|------|-------------|
| 1 | First line<br>Second line |
| 2 | Another step |
```

### Using HTML Tables

For complex layouts, use HTML:

```html
<table>
  <tr>
    <th>Header</th>
    <th>Description</th>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>Item</td>
    <td>
      <ul>
        <li>Point one</li>
        <li>Point two</li>
      </ul>
    </td>
  </tr>
</table>
```

## Empty Cells

Use a space or leave empty:

```mark