A blockquote visually separates a piece of text from the rest of the content — typically a quote, a note, a warning, or something you want the reader to pay attention to.
In Markdown, blockquotes start with a greater-than sign >.
Basic Blockquote
> The best way to predict the future is to create it.The best way to predict the future is to create it.
HTML equivalent:
<blockquote>
<p>The best way to predict the future is to create it.</p>
</blockquote>Multi-line Blockquote
Add > at the start of each line, or just at the start of the paragraph — both work.
> Markdown is a lightweight markup language.
> It was created by John Gruber in 2004.
> The goal was to be readable even as plain text.Markdown is a lightweight markup language. It was created by John Gruber in 2004. The goal was to be readable even as plain text.
Multi-paragraph Blockquote
Include a > on blank lines between paragraphs to keep them inside the same blockquote.
> First paragraph of the quote.
>
> Second paragraph of the same quote.First paragraph of the quote.
Second paragraph of the same quote.
Nested Blockquotes
You can nest blockquotes by adding additional > symbols.
> Outer quote.
>
> > Inner quote nested inside.Outer quote.
Inner quote nested inside.
This is useful for showing a reply quoting an earlier message — common in email-style documentation.
Blockquotes with Other Markdown Elements
You can use bold, italic, headings, lists, and code inside a blockquote.
> ### Important Note
>
> Always **back up** your data before running `rm -rf`.
>
> - Check what you're deleting.
> - Double-check the path.Important Note
Always back up your data before running
rm -rf.
- Check what you’re deleting.
- Double-check the path.
Common Use Cases
| Use case | Example |
|---|---|
| Quotation | Attributing someone’s words |
| Note / Tip | Highlighting helpful information |
| Warning | Alerting the reader to a risk |
| Callout | Drawing attention to key content |
Many documentation sites extend blockquote syntax with custom callout types (like > [!NOTE] or > [!WARNING]), but plain > is the universal baseline supported everywhere.
Best Practices
- Don’t use blockquotes just to indent text — use them for content that genuinely needs visual separation.
- If quoting someone, attribute them clearly below the blockquote.
- Keep blockquote content concise — long walls of quoted text are hard to read.
Quick Reference
> Single line blockquote
> Multi-line
> blockquote
> > Nested blockquoteHope you find this helpful!
Keep smiling
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