Markdown is a lightweight markup language that makes it easy to write formatted content. When combined with 11ty, it provides a powerful way to create blog posts and other content. Let's explore how to make the most of Markdown in your 11ty projects.

Markdown Basics

If you're new to Markdown, here are some basics to get you started:

Headers:

# Header 1
## Header 2
### Header 3

Emphasis:

*italic text*
**bold text**

Lists:

- Item 1
- Item 2
  - Nested item

1. Numbered item 1
2. Numbered item 2

Links:

[Link text](https://example.com)

Using Markdown with 11ty

11ty makes it easy to work with Markdown files. By default, any .md file in your project will be processed and converted to HTML.

You can combine Markdown with front matter (the YAML at the top of the file) to add metadata to your posts:

---
title: My Post Title
date: 2025-02-01
---

Your Markdown content here...

Extending Markdown in 11ty

11ty allows you to extend Markdown's capabilities using plugins. Some popular plugins include:

  • markdown-it-anchor: Adds anchors to your headings
  • markdown-it-toc-done-right: Generates a table of contents
  • markdown-it-emoji: Converts emoji shortcodes to actual emojis

Stay tuned for more content creation tips for your 11ty blog!