Let's start with:
A Title:
# This is a big header
In Markdown, the pound sign (number sign or octothorpe if you prefer) is the symbol used to indicate that this line of text is a header – used to separate and help organize content.
A single pound sign is usually used for the title of a document.
In HTML 5 lingo, it is the equivalent of an H1 tag (tag: markup code which is the foundation for all webpages), e.g. :
<h1>This is a big header</h1>
You're not here to learn HTML 5 though, so we won't spend too much time on that. However, stick around until the end of this Write Once, Post Anywhere series to see the link between Markdown and HTML 5 and to fully understand the power of a simple .md file.
Now when you need sub-headers to divide your content into further sections, after you write your title, use more pound signs.
## This is a sub-header
Two pound signs create a sub-header to the single pound sign, three pound signs create a sub-header to the two pound sign line, ect.
# This is a big header
## This is a sub-header
### This is a sub-sub-header
## This is a second sub-header
## This is a third sub-header
### This is a sub-sub-header to the third sub-header
How many pound signs can I use?
You can divide your sections using up to six pound signs, but will probably only use three at the most in reality. The pound signs are the equivalent of H1 – H6 HTML 5 tags.
That's really all you need to know about Markdown headers.
Summary
Pound signs are the headers and sub- headers (or titles and sub-titles) used to organize your content into sections.
Remember: save your file so that it has .md at the end of the name (the file extension).
