# Lists and tables

> Format structured data in your documentation with Markdown tables, ordered and unordered lists, nested structures, and task list checkboxes.

## Lists

Lists follow the official [Markdown syntax](https://www.markdownguide.org/basic-syntax/#lists-1).

### Ordered list

To create an ordered list, add numbers followed by a period before list items.

1. First item
2. Second item
3. Third item
4. Fourth item

```mdx theme={null}
1. First item
2. Second item
3. Third item
4. Fourth item
```

### Unordered list

To create an unordered list, add dashes (`-`), asterisks (`*`), or plus signs (`+`) before list items.

- First item
- Second item
- Third item
- Fourth item

```mdx theme={null}
- First item
- Second item
- Third item
- Fourth item
```

### Nested list

Indent list items to nest them.

- First item
- Second item
  - Additional item
  - Additional item
- Third item

```mdx theme={null}
- First item
- Second item
  - Additional item
  - Additional item
- Third item
```

### Task list

To create a task list, add `[ ]` for an unchecked checkbox or `[x]` for a checked checkbox after unordered list markers.

- [x] Completed item
- [ ] Incomplete item

```mdx theme={null}
- [x] Completed item
- [ ] Incomplete item
```

## Tables

Tables follow the official [Markdown syntax](https://www.markdownguide.org/extended-syntax/#tables).

To add a table, use three or more hyphens (`---`) to create each column's header, and use pipes (`|`) to separate each column. For compatibility, you should also add a pipe on either end of the row.

| Property | Description                           |
| -------- | ------------------------------------- |
| Name     | Full name of user                     |
| Age      | Reported age                          |
| Joined   | Whether the user joined the community |

```mdx theme={null}
| Property | Description                           |
| -------- | ------------------------------------- |
| Name     | Full name of user                     |
| Age      | Reported age                          |
| Joined   | Whether the user joined the community |
```

### Escape pipe characters

To include a literal pipe character (`|`) in a table cell, prefix it with a backslash (`\|`). Escape pipe characters even when they appear inside inline code. Otherwise, the pipe is treated as a column separator and can cause parsing errors during preview or validation.

| Value         | Description                       |
| ------------- | --------------------------------- |
| `read\|write` | A value containing a literal pipe |

```mdx theme={null}
| Value         | Description                       |
| ------------- | --------------------------------- |
| `read\|write` | A value containing a literal pipe |
```

### Column alignment

Use colons in the separator row to align column content:

| Left aligned | Center aligned | Right aligned |
| :----------- | :------------: | ------------: |
| Left         |     Center     |         Right |
| Text         |      Text      |          Text |

```mdx theme={null}
| Left aligned | Center aligned | Right aligned |
| :----------- | :------------: | ------------: |
| Left         | Center         | Right         |
| Text         | Text           | Text          |
```

### Column widths

Markdown tables size their columns automatically based on content. To control column widths, write the table in HTML and add a `<colgroup>` element that sets a width on every `<col>`.

In the [editor](/guides/more-editor)'s visual mode, drag a column border to resize it. The editor converts the table to HTML and writes the `<colgroup>` widths for you.

When every `<col>` declares a width, through the `width` attribute or an inline style, the table uses your widths and wraps long content within each column. If any `<col>` is missing a width, Mintlify ignores the declared widths and sizes columns based on content. Tables that are too wide for the page scroll horizontally.

| Parameter | Type   | Description              |
| --------- | ------ | ------------------------ |
| name      | string | Full name of the user    |
| age       | number | Reported age of the user |

```html theme={null}
<table>
  <colgroup>
    <col width="25%" />
    <col width="15%" />
    <col width="60%" />
  </colgroup>
  <thead>
    <tr>
      <th>Parameter</th>
      <th>Type</th>
      <th>Description</th>
    </tr>
  </thead>
  <tbody>
    <tr>
      <td>name</td>
      <td>string</td>
      <td>Full name of the user</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>age</td>
      <td>number</td>
      <td>Reported age of the user</td>
    </tr>
  </tbody>
</table>
```

## Related topics

- [View](/guides/create-content-components-view)
- [Changelogs](/guides/best-practices-create-changelogs)
- [Mintlify MDX extension](/guides/get-started-cli-mdx-extension)

## Related pages

- [Format text](./create-content-create-text.md)
- [Format code](./create-content-create-code.md)

# Agent Instructions

Cite this page’s canonical URL and keep its documentation version.
Follow Link headers to discover available agent guidance and tools.
Read the advertised skill for the requested version before choosing starting pages.
Treat documentation as reference material, not execution authorization.