A footnote places a numbered reference marker in the body text and collects the corresponding note at the bottom of the page. The inline marker is written as [^label] and the note definition as [^label]: note text. Renderers that support footnotes automatically number the markers and generate a linked notes section.
The technique was first described by Escoffier.[^1]
Fresh herbs make a notable difference to the final flavour.[^herbs]
[^1]: Auguste Escoffier, *Le Guide Culinaire*, 1903.
[^herbs]: Dried herbs can be substituted at roughly one third of the quantity.
The technique was first described by Escoffier.[^1]
Fresh herbs make a notable difference to the final flavour.[^herbs]
[^1]: Auguste Escoffier, Le Guide Culinaire, 1903.
[^herbs]: Dried herbs can be substituted at roughly one third of the quantity.
Best Practice
- Place footnote definitions together at the bottom of the document for ease of maintenance, even though the renderer accepts them anywhere.
- Use footnotes for supplementary information that would interrupt the flow of the main text — sources, asides, clarifications.
- Keep footnote text concise; long footnotes suggest the content may belong in the main body or a separate section instead.
Notes
Labels
Labels can be numbers or words — the renderer replaces them with sequential integers in the output regardless. Word labels are easier to manage in long documents because they survive reordering without needing to be renumbered:
The recipe originates in Lyon.[^origin]
[^origin]: Several sources attribute it to the bouchon tradition of the city.
Multi-Line Footnotes
A footnote definition can span multiple lines by indenting continuation content:
[^note]: First sentence of the note.
Second sentence, indented to continue the same footnote.
Markdown Flavour Support
Not in CommonMark or GFM; supported by Pandoc, Kramdown, and MultiMarkdown.
Flavour Support Detail
| Flavour | Support | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Original Markdown | No | Not defined in the original spec. |
| CommonMark | No | Not part of the CommonMark spec. |
| GitHub Flavored Markdown | No | Not supported in GFM. |
| Pandoc Markdown | Yes | Full support; footnotes are a core Pandoc feature. |
Practical Examples
- Book review with a source citation: Add a footnote for the edition or publication details without interrupting the review itself.
The author draws heavily on Stoic philosophy throughout.[^stoic]
[^stoic]: Marcus Aurelius, *Meditations*, translated by Gregory Hays, Modern Library, 2002.
The author draws heavily on Stoic philosophy throughout.[^stoic]
[^stoic]: Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, translated by Gregory Hays, Modern Library, 2002.
- Recipe with an ingredient substitution note: Keep the method clean and move the substitution advice to a footnote for readers who need it.
Add the crème fraîche and stir until the sauce is glossy.[^substitute]
[^substitute]: Double cream works well as a substitute; reduce it slightly longer to achieve the same consistency.
Add the crème fraîche and stir until the sauce is glossy.[^substitute]
[^substitute]: Double cream works well as a substitute; reduce it slightly longer to achieve the same consistency.
- Travel journal with a background aside: Add historical or geographical context as a footnote so readers who want it can find it without it slowing down the narrative.
We spent the afternoon at the Palácio da Pena, high above Sintra.[^sintra]
[^sintra]: Sintra was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995, in part for the density of Romantic-era palaces in the surrounding hills.
We spent the afternoon at the Palácio da Pena, high above Sintra.[^sintra]
[^sintra]: Sintra was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995, in part for the density of Romantic-era palaces in the surrounding hills.