md055.md

MD055 - Table pipe style

Tags: table

Aliases: table-pipe-style

Parameters:

• style: Table pipe style (string, default consistent, values consistent / leading_and_trailing / leading_only / no_leading_or_trailing / trailing_only)

This rule is triggered when a GitHub Flavored Markdown table is inconsistent about its use of leading and trailing pipe characters (|).

By default (consistent style), the header row of the first table in a document is used to determine the style that is enforced for all tables in that document. A specific style can be required by setting the style parameter accordingly.

This table's header row has leading and trailing pipes, but its delimiter row is missing the trailing pipe and its first row of cells is missing the leading pipe:

| Header | Header |
| ------ | ------
  Cell   | Cell   |

To fix these issues, make sure there is a pipe character at the beginning and end of every row:

| Header | Header |
| ------ | ------ |
| Cell   | Cell   |

Note that text immediately following a table (i.e., not separated by an empty line) is treated as part of the table (per the specification) and may also trigger this rule:

| Header | Header |
| ------ | ------ |
| Cell   | Cell   |
This text is part of the table

Rationale: Some parsers have difficulty with tables that are missing their leading or trailing pipe characters. The use of leading/trailing pipes can also help provide visual clarity.