A paragraph is a basic block element. It is composed of consecutive lines of text. These lines may be indented up to three spaces (four spaces marks a code block). By default lines of text flow into each other. Lines should end with at most one space - two spaces or a backslash mark a hard line break.
Any of the inline (span) elements may be used within a paragraph.
A blank line always ends a paragraph. In flexmark a paragraph may also be interrupted (ended) by a block quote, a fenced code block, or an ATX header. A paragraph not followed by a blank line subsumes any following paragraph, theme break, indented code block, list item, or table - these elements usually become ordinary text. A setext header subsumes the preceding paragraph.
In pegdown and in pandoc, the precedence of paragraphs over some containers are handled differently, as noted below.
~~~
This is
a paragraph.
~~~
This is a paragraph.
~~~
This sentence is followed by a hard line break (two spaces).
A sentence on a new line.
~~~
This sentence is followed by a hard line break (two spaces).
A sentence on a new line.
~~~
This paragraph text is indented
three spaces on the first line,
and more on subsequent lines.
~~~
This paragraph text is indented three spaces on the first line, and more on subsequent lines.
A paragraph may follow a header, and it may be interrupted by a ATX header - no blank line is needed to end the paragraph in flexmark (a blank line is required in pandoc).
In flexmark, setext header text may be lazy - it may be broken over several contiguous lines. So in flexmark a blank line is required to separate a paragraph and a following setext header (In pegdown setext headers are not lazy, and no blank line is required. In pandoc this just wraps into a paragraph.)
~~~
#### ATX header text
Paragraph after a header.
#### Another ATX header.
~~~
Paragraph after a header.
~~~
Setext header text
==================
Paragraph after a header.
A lazy setext
header
======
~~~
Paragraph after a header.
In flexmark and pandoc a paragraph may follow a theme break with no intervening blank line. (In pegdown, theme breaks need blank lines after them.) Theme breaks do not interrupt paragraphs. (Also note that dashes can also denote a setext header, so a "theme break" without a preceding blank could alter text before or after.)
~~~
* * *
Paragraph after a theme break.
* * *
~~~
Paragraph after a theme break. * * *
~~~
Paragraph
---
with an included \"theme break\"
~~~
with an included "theme break"
In flexmark a paragraph needs no blank lines either after or before a fenced code block (as with a header).
~~~~
~~~
generate x = y
~~~
After a code block.
~~~
replace y = x
~~~
~~~~
generate x = y
After a code block.
replace y = x
However, indented code blocks are run into paragraphs that precede them without a blank line (like theme breaks and other elements).
~~~
generate x = y
After an indented code block.
replace y = x
~~~
generate x = y
After an indented code block. replace y = x
A table after a paragraph requires a line break. However, a paragraph interrupts a table.
~~~
Some text.
column 1 | column 2
---------|---------
value 1 | value 2
More text.
column A | column B
---------|---------
value a | value b
~~~
Some text.
| column 1 | column 2 |
|---|---|
| value 1 | value 2 |
More text. column A | column B ———|——— value a | value b
A paragraph after a list item requires an intervening blank line, but not before! (The opposite of theme breaks and indented code blocks.)
~~~
- item 1
After a list item.
- not item 2
- item 1
Not after a list item.
- item 2
~~~
After a list item. - not item 2
In the preceding example, the paragraph separates two lists.
A list item may contain multiple paragraphs, if they are indented four spaces(and include a preceding blank line).
~~~
- item A
An included new paragraph.
- item B
~~~
An included new paragraph.
A paragraph after a block quotes requires an intervening blank line (like list items, block quotes allow lazy wrapping). However, a block quote interrupts a paragraph.
~~~
> Quoted text.
After a blockquote requires a blank line.
> More quoted text.
~~~
Quoted text.
After a blockquote requires a blank line.
More quoted text.
Paragraphs may be contained within a blockquote (like lists) - the end of the first paragraph is marked with a quoted blank line.
~~~
> First this.
>
> Then that.
~~~
First this.
Then that.