A box for words
This is a text box. Websites use boxes like this when they want you to type.
Challenge: Type your name in the box.
Hi, ! The computer saw every single letter.
No letters yet.
This is what the computer sees. Just letters in a line, one after another.
The computer does not know which words are important. Every letter is the same to it.
Some words are special
When you talk, you can say a word LOUD so people know it matters.
Challenge: Make one word stand out. Write it in BIG LETTERS, or put a star on each side.
You made a word stand out! People can see it. But to the computer, it is still just letters.
People use little tricks to make a word stand out:
- I LOVE otters.
- I love otters.
A plain text box can't make a word bigger or stronger. To the computer, stars are just more letters. Unless it knows the secret.
Secret marks
Markdown is a set of marks that people and computers both understand.
This box knows the secret. Put two stars on each side of a word and watch what happens.
Challenge: Make a word strong. Put two stars on each side, like this.
Strong! You can still see the stars, and now the computer knows that word matters.
Challenge: Now put one star on each side of a word. It leans over, like it is running.
That word is leaning! This is called italic.
You see the marks, and the computer sees them too. That's Markdown: a middle ground for people and computers.
Big titles
Put a hash mark and a space at the start of a line. That line becomes a title.
One makes a big title. Two make a smaller one, for the parts of your story.
Challenge: Give this story a title. Type and a space before the first line.
What a title! Now the computer knows what your story is called.
Without the mark, a title is just another line. With it, the computer knows it's the name of the whole story.
Lists
A dash and a space at the start of a line make a list.
Lists are for things that go together, like groceries or birthday wishes. Put square brackets after the dash, like , and you get a box to tick.
Challenge: Add two more things to the list, so it has three.
Three things! The computer knows they belong together.
Challenge: Tick the box next to Clean my room. Tap inside the brackets.
Done! The x means that thing is finished.
A list tells the computer something too. These things go together.
Make it beautiful
Here is a story, with all its marks.
The marks tell the computer what each part means.
- This is a title.
- This word is strong.
- These things are a list.
Then the computer decides how it looks. Try a different outfit!
Same words, different look.
Your page
Now it's all yours. Write a story, a list, or a letter to a friend.
Everything you write stays on this computer, so it will be here next time.
All the marks
- **strong**
- *leaning*
- # Title
- ## Smaller title
- - A list
- - [ ] A box to tick
Print it
Pick an outfit for your page. Then print it and hang it up!