# BBCode tags don't work accross multiple 'blocks'

**URL:** <https://meta.discourse.org/t/bbcode-tags-dont-work-accross-multiple-blocks/66132>\
**Category:** Support\
**Created:** [July 13, 2017, 1:07pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/bbcode-tags-dont-work-accross-multiple-blocks/66132 "2017-07-13T13:07:41Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

## AI-generated summary

The user [ccatlett2000](/t/-/66132/1) reports that BBCode tags, such as `[b]` and `[i]`, fail to apply formatting when the content includes line breaks or spans multiple paragraphs. They argue that, unlike Markdown, BBCode should theoretically bold or italicize all content within the tags regardless of internal line breaks. The user provides examples demonstrating that while single-line BBCode works, multi-line and multi-paragraph instances do not render as expected. [sam](/t/-/66132/2) responds that this behavior is by design, referencing a discussion on the Discourse Meta forum regarding CommonMark testing to explain the underlying technical reasoning.

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ccatlett2000](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/meta/user_avatar/meta.discourse.org/ccatlett2000/32/75202_2.png) [@ccatlett2000](https://meta.discourse.org/u/ccatlett2000)\
**Post date:** [July 13, 2017, 1:07pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/bbcode-tags-dont-work-accross-multiple-blocks/66132/1 "2017-07-13T13:07:42Z")

</div>

BBCode tags such as [b] don’t work if the content inside includes line breaks.  
(Yes, I know that in markdown you’re supposed to keep it all on one line, but in bbcode everything inside a [b] tag should be bold regardless of content)

Example:

```
[i]one line test[/i]

[i]consecutive lines test
line 2[/i]

[i]consecutive paragraphs test

paragraph 2[/i]

```

one line test

consecutive lines test  
line 2

[i]consecutive paragraphs test

paragraph 2[/i]

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![sam](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/meta/user_avatar/meta.discourse.org/sam/32/102149_2.png) [@sam](https://meta.discourse.org/u/sam)\
**Post date:** [July 13, 2017, 1:50pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/bbcode-tags-dont-work-accross-multiple-blocks/66132/2 "2017-07-13T13:50:40Z")

</div>

This is by design, was discussed here:

> [@CommonMark testing started here!](https://meta.discourse.org/t/commonmark-testing-started-here/65121):
>
> Per our [migration plans](https://meta.discourse.org/t/discourse-commonmark-migration-plans-confetti-ball-balloon), I just enabled [markdown.it](https://github.com/markdown-it/markdown-it) at Meta. It is an excellent [CommonMark](http://commonmark.org/) compliant engine. I expect quite a few edges to be found during this period of testing. Do not open bugs about the new Engine, just reply here. I/we will be updating the top post here with the list of issues and striking out stuff as it is fixed. Current known issues (to be fixed)white_check_mark Onebox vanishes after you start typing and works not-super consistently white_check_mark pending…

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![zogstrip](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/meta/user_avatar/meta.discourse.org/zogstrip/32/512781_2.png) [@zogstrip](https://meta.discourse.org/u/zogstrip)\
**Post date:** [July 13, 2017, 2:46pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/bbcode-tags-dont-work-accross-multiple-blocks/66132/3 "2017-07-13T14:46:50Z")

</div>