AppHelp guide
Markdown TOC and Documentation Cleanup Workflows
Learn how to generate Markdown tables of contents, prepare heading structure, and connect Markdown output to HTML, README, and document workflows.
Quick answer
Generate a Markdown table of contents after your headings are stable. A good TOC reflects the page structure, uses predictable anchors, and helps readers jump between sections without changing the document body.
Clean headings before generating a TOC
A TOC is only as good as the headings it reads. Make heading levels consistent, avoid duplicate titles where possible, and remove placeholder headings before generating anchors.
- Use one H1 for the document title
- Keep H2 and H3 levels consistent
- Avoid punctuation-heavy headings when anchors need to be portable
Check anchor behavior
Markdown renderers create heading anchors differently. GitHub, documentation sites, and static site generators may handle spaces, punctuation, and duplicate headings with slightly different rules.
Use related converters after structure is correct
After the TOC works, convert Markdown to HTML, generate README sections, or turn tables into Markdown. Keeping structure cleanup first prevents broken links in later output.
Frequently asked questions
When should I generate a Markdown TOC?
Generate it after headings are mostly final. If headings change later, regenerate the TOC so anchors stay correct.
Why do Markdown TOC links break on some sites?
Different renderers create heading anchors differently, especially for punctuation, duplicate headings, and non-Latin text.