Place important badges near the project title
License, version, build status, coverage, and documentation are common choices.
Markdown Badge Generator
Build a clean Markdown badge without manually editing badge URLs or nested link syntax. Choose the badge details, preview the result, and copy the finished Markdown for your GitHub README or other Markdown documents.
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Create a Markdown Badge
A badge in Markdown is usually an image with an optional link around it when you want readers to open another page by clicking the badge. The generator creates this syntax for you, so you can change the badge settings without manually editing the image URL or link brackets. The example below shows the difference between a standard badge and a badge that sends readers to another page when clicked.
A basic badge looks like this
For a clickable badge, place the image inside a Markdown link
[](https://github.com/example/project)
How to Create a Markdown Badge
Choose a badge type
Select a category such as License, Version, Build, Coverage, Documentation, Downloads, or Custom.
Set the badge details
Enter the label and message, then choose the available color and style options.
Add a destination link
If the badge should be clickable, enter the page you want readers to open.
Preview and copy
Check the result, then copy the generated Markdown into your README or Markdown file.
Badge Types and Common Uses
Different badges can communicate useful project information at a glance. Choose the types that add value to your README instead of adding badges simply to fill the project header.
| Badge Type | Common Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| License | Show the project's open-source license | license: MIT |
| Version | Display a package or release version | version: v2.4.0 |
| Build | Show CI or build pipeline status | build: passing |
| Coverage | Display test coverage percentage | coverage: 92% |
| Documentation | Point readers to project documentation | docs: available |
| Downloads | Show package or release downloads | downloads: 10k |
| Custom | Display project-specific information | status: active |
README Badge Tips and Common Problems
A useful badge row makes important project details easier to find without making the README harder to scan.
Make badges clickable when useful
Link a version badge to releases, a documentation badge to the docs, or a build badge to the relevant CI workflow.
Keep styles consistent
Using unrelated badge shapes and styles together can make the top of a README look cluttered.
Use clear labels
The purpose of a badge should be understandable without inspecting its source code.
Check destination URLs
A badge can display correctly even when its link points to an outdated page.
Check broken image URLs
If a badge does not render, open the generated image URL directly and verify that it returns a valid image.
Avoid unnecessary badges
A short row of useful badges is usually easier to scan than a long collection covering every project detail.
Frequently Asked Questions
- 1
What is the Markdown syntax for a badge?
A basic badge uses standard Markdown image syntax:
. For a clickable badge, place the image inside a Markdown link:[](TARGET_URL). - 2
Can I create a custom Markdown badge?
Yes. You can set the label, message, color, style, and other options available in the generator. You can also add a destination URL when the badge needs to be clickable.
- 3
Can I make a GitHub README badge clickable?
Yes. Add a destination URL to the badge, and the generated Markdown will use the image-inside-a-link format.
- 4
Do Markdown badges work outside GitHub?
Yes. Standard Markdown image and link syntax is supported by many Markdown platforms and documentation systems. The exact result can vary depending on whether the platform allows externally hosted images.
- 5
What is Shields.io used for?
Shields.io provides badge images that can be embedded in Markdown. A Shields.io-compatible URL can be used as the image source in standard Markdown badge syntax.
- 6
Why is my badge image not displaying?
Open the image URL directly and check whether it returns a valid image. If it works there, check whether your Markdown platform allows remote images. For a clickable badge, also test the destination URL separately.
Related Markdown Tools
Building a complete README? Pair badges with these tools for navigation, links, editing, and Markdown syntax reference.
Last updated: Category: Markdown Generators