Markdown Notes Beside Your Code
Documenting analysis right next to results.
Markdown Notes Beside Your Code is a free Data Science Academy lesson on CoddyKit — lesson 3 of 4. You can read the complete lesson below for free — then practise it hands-on in the browser with a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor. It is part of the Data Science Academy learning path, one of 4 lessons in the course, and your progress syncs across the web and the CoddyKit app.
Two Kinds of Cells
A notebook cell can hold code or words. Switching one to a Markdown cell lets you write notes that sit right beside your analysis.
Make a Cell Markdown
Select a cell, press Esc, then M to turn it into a Markdown cell. Press Y to turn it back into code whenever you need.
Render It With Run
A Markdown cell shows raw text until you run it. Shift+Enter renders it into clean, formatted prose, just like running code.
Headings Give Structure
Start a line with # to make a heading. More hashes mean smaller headings, so you can outline your analysis like a real document.
# Sales Analysis
## Data CleaningBold and Italic Emphasis
Wrap words in double stars for bold and single stars for italic. A little emphasis makes the key finding jump off the page.
**Key result** and *a soft note*Bullet Lists for Steps
Begin lines with a dash to build a list. Lists are perfect for laying out the steps or assumptions behind your analysis.
- Loaded the data
- Removed duplicates
- Computed totalsLinks to Sources
Add a link by putting text in brackets and the URL in parentheses. Now your reader can jump straight to the data source.
[Data source](https://example.com/data)Inline Code Snippets
Wrap a name in single backticks to show it as inline code. It signals that df or mean() is a literal name, not prose.
Tables Summarize Neatly
Pipes and dashes build a small table in Markdown. Use it to summarize a result without writing a single line of code.
| Month | Sales |
|-------|-------|
| Jan | 120 |Math With LaTeX
Wrap an expression in dollar signs to render math. It is ideal for showing the formula behind a metric right in your notes.
$mean = \frac{1}{n}\sum x_i$Notes Make Notebooks Reusable
Good Markdown turns a pile of cells into a story a teammate, or future you, can follow months later without guessing.
Quick Check
You want a large title above your data-cleaning section in a notebook.
Recap: Document as You Go
You can now write Markdown cells with headings, lists, links, tables, and math, so your analysis explains itself clearly. 📝
Frequently asked questions
Is the “Markdown Notes Beside Your Code” lesson free?
Yes — the full text of “Markdown Notes Beside Your Code” is free to read here on the web, and the Data Science Academy course includes 4 lessons in total. To practise it interactively (a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor) and unlock the rest of the Data Science Academy course, upgrade to CoddyKit PRO.
What will I learn in “Markdown Notes Beside Your Code”?
Documenting analysis right next to results. You practise Data Science Academy with hands-on code you run directly in the browser, and a 24/7 AI tutor answers your questions as you work through the lesson.
Do I need any experience to start Data Science Academy?
No prior experience is required. Data Science Academy on CoddyKit is structured for beginners through advanced learners; this is — lesson 3 of 4, so you can start here or from the beginning and move at your own pace.
How long does the “Markdown Notes Beside Your Code” lesson take?
Most CoddyKit lessons take about 5–10 minutes. Each one is bite-sized and interactive, so you make steady progress and pick up exactly where you left off across the web and the app.
Can I write and run code in this Data Science Academy lesson?
Yes. Every Data Science Academy lesson includes a built-in code editor, so you write and run real code right in your browser and get instant AI feedback — no local setup required.
All lessons in this course
- Install Python the Painless Way
- Cells, Kernels, and Run Order
- Markdown Notes Beside Your Code
- Import, Inspect, Repeat