# `MD014` - Dollar signs used before commands without showing output Tags: `code` Aliases: `commands-show-output` Fixable: Most violations can be fixed by tooling This rule is triggered when there are code blocks showing shell commands to be typed, and *all* of the shell commands are preceded by dollar signs ($): ```markdown $ ls $ cat foo $ less bar ``` The dollar signs are unnecessary in this situation, and should not be included: ```markdown ls cat foo less bar ``` Showing output for commands preceded by dollar signs does not trigger this rule: ```markdown $ ls foo bar $ cat foo Hello world $ cat bar baz ``` Because some commands do not produce output, it is not a violation if *some* commands do not have output: ```markdown $ mkdir test mkdir: created directory 'test' $ ls test ``` Rationale: It is easier to copy/paste and less noisy if the dollar signs are omitted when they are not needed. See for more information.