Markdown formatting in Cork
Every card is markdown underneath — here's the full formatting reference, from bold and headings to live checklists.
Cork's editor shows rich text, but every card is stored as plain markdown. Type formatting shortcuts and they convert as you go — or flip any card to Markdown mode to work with the raw source directly. Either way, what you export is clean, portable markdown.
The essentials
| Type this | Get this |
|---|---|
**bold** | bold |
*italic* | italic |
# Heading | A top-level heading |
## Smaller heading | A section heading |
- item | A bulleted list |
1. item | A numbered list |
> quote | A block quote |
`code` | Inline code |
[title](https://example.com) | A regular web link |
[[Card name]] | A link to another card |
The toolbar has buttons for all of these if you'd rather click than type.
Checklists
Type - [ ] to start a task list. Checkboxes are real everywhere they appear — tick them in the editor, or click them right on the card face without opening the card. Done items get a satisfying strikethrough.
Links
Paste a URL or type [text](url) and it becomes a clickable link. Click a link to open it in a new tab; right-click it to change the text or address, or to remove the link. The link button in the toolbar opens the same editor, pre-filled with whatever text you had selected.
Line breaks
A single line break in Cork is a real line break — press <kbd>Enter</kbd> once and your line ends, the way writers expect, not the way markdown specifications argue about.
Rich vs. Markdown mode
The toggle at the top-right of every card switches between the rich editor and the raw source. They're the same content — edit in whichever feels right, switch any time. Markdown mode is handy for pasting in text from other markdown apps or for fine-tuning something the rich editor is being opinionated about.