Syntax elements

Different syntax elements and constructs are used in reStructuredText to mark words, phrases and paragraphs:

• Blank lines and indentation
• Simple and complex markup
• Explicit markup blocks
• Directives
• Inline markup

To obtain the standard meaning of the characters used for the markup, there is an escaping mechanism in reStructuredText:

• Escaping mechanism

The identifiers of hyperlinks (reference names) are subject to certain requirements:

• Reference names