The quick answer: Use
- [ ] for an unchecked box and - [x] for a checked box.
Syntax
- [ ] Task not started
- [x] Completed task
- [ ] Another pending taskThe space between the brackets creates an empty (unchecked) checkbox. An x creates a checked checkbox. For the full syntax reference including all checkbox variants, see the Markdown checklist reference.
The Space Inside [ ] is Required
- [ ] renders a checkbox. - [] (no space) renders as a bullet point with literal [] text. The space is mandatory.
Platform Support
- GitHub — fully supported and interactive in issues and pull requests (click to toggle)
- Obsidian — interactive checkboxes with keyboard shortcut
- Notion — converts to Notion checklist blocks
- Discord, Slack — not supported; renders as plain bullet text
Progress Indicator on GitHub
GitHub shows task list progress in pull request and issue summaries: "3 of 5 tasks complete". This is great for tracking implementation work.
Nested Checklists
Indent sub-tasks with 2 spaces:
- [ ] Main task
- [x] Sub-task completed
- [ ] Sub-task pending
Use Cases
- Project planning — track deliverables in a README or issue
- Onboarding checklists — step-by-step setup guides
- Release checklists — pre-launch checks in a PR
- Personal notes — daily or weekly to-do lists in Obsidian
Full reference: Markdown Task Lists.
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