Keeping Learn Columns to Basic Markdown records a distinct Microsoft Learn authoring convention and keeps it scoped to that documentation environment rather than presenting it as a universal writing rule.
ReviewedEvidence1 sourceSectionWriting & Style
Quick answer
Keep Microsoft Learn columns to basic Markdown, including images; do not put headings, tables, tabs, or other complex structures inside them, and do not put row content outside the columns.
Key details
Core Issuecontent allowed inside Learn columns
RegisterMicrosoft Learn technical documentation
Important caveats
Scope Boundary
This is a platform-specific restriction for the Learn columns extension, not a general rule about what ordinary Markdown documents can contain.
Further guidance
Content
Keep Microsoft Learn columns to basic Markdown, including images; do not put headings, tables, tabs, or other complex structures inside them, and do not put row content outside the columns.
Purpose
Keep Microsoft Learn source readable, accessible, reusable, and predictable while following current contributor-platform conventions.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
Markdown reference for Microsoft Learn — Contributor guide↗ (opens in a new tab)Microsoft · Current Microsoft Learn contributor reference for Markdown authoring, including headings/navigation, conceptual images and icons, includes, lists/checklists, nonlocalized strings, alerts, comments, tables, and other Learn extensions.
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