GFM

# Tables (extension)

GFM enables the table extension, where an additional leaf block type is available.

A table (opens new window) is an arrangement of data with rows and columns, consisting of a single header row, a delimiter row (opens new window)separating the header from the data, and zero or more data rows.

Each row consists of cells containing arbitrary text, in which inlines (opens new window) are parsed, separated by pipes (|). A leading and trailing pipe is also recommended for clarity of reading, and if there’s otherwise parsing ambiguity. Spaces between pipes and cell content are trimmed. Block-level elements cannot be inserted in a table.

The delimiter row (opens new window) consists of cells whose only content are hyphens (-), and optionally, a leading or trailing colon (:), or both, to indicate left, right, or center alignment respectively.

Example 198

Markdown HTML Demo
 
| foo | bar |
| --- | --- |
| baz | bim |


<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>foo</th>
<th>bar</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>baz</td>
<td>bim</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

Cells in one column don’t need to match length, though it’s easier to read if they are. Likewise, use of leading and trailing pipes may be inconsistent:

Example 199

Markdown HTML Demo
 
| abc | defghi |
:-: | -----------:
bar | baz


<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th align="center">abc</th>
<th align="right">defghi</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td align="center">bar</td>
<td align="right">baz</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

Include a pipe in a cell’s content by escaping it, including inside other inline spans:

Example 200

Markdown HTML Demo
 
| f\|oo  |
| ------ |
| b `\|` az |
| b **\|** im |


<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>f|oo</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>b <code>|</code> az</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>b <strong>|</strong> im</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

The table is broken at the first empty line, or beginning of another block-level structure:

Example 201

Markdown HTML Demo
 
| abc | def |
| --- | --- |
| bar | baz |
> bar


<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>abc</th>
<th>def</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>bar</td>
<td>baz</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<blockquote>
<p>bar</p>
</blockquote>

Example 202

Markdown HTML Demo
 
| abc | def |
| --- | --- |
| bar | baz |
bar

bar


<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>abc</th>
<th>def</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>bar</td>
<td>baz</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>bar</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>bar</p>

The header row must match the delimiter row (opens new window) in the number of cells. If not, a table will not be recognized:

Example 203

Markdown HTML Demo
 
| abc | def |
| --- |
| bar |


<p>| abc | def |
| --- |
| bar |</p>

The remainder of the table’s rows may vary in the number of cells. If there are a number of cells fewer than the number of cells in the header row, empty cells are inserted. If there are greater, the excess is ignored:

Example 204

Markdown HTML Demo
 
| abc | def |
| --- | --- |
| bar |
| bar | baz | boo |


<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>abc</th>
<th>def</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>bar</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>bar</td>
<td>baz</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

If there are no rows in the body, no <tbody> is generated in HTML output:

Example 205

Markdown HTML Demo
 
| abc | def |
| --- | --- |


<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>abc</th>
<th>def</th>
</tr>
</thead>
</table>