How to Create a Checklist in Markdown

The quick answer: Use - [ ] for an unchecked box and - [x] for a checked box.

Syntax

- [ ] Task not started - [x] Completed task - [ ] Another pending task

The space between the brackets creates an empty (unchecked) checkbox. An x creates a checked checkbox.

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

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Full reference: Markdown Task Lists.