== Overview ==
ReStructuredText (aka ReST, reST, or RST) is an easy-to-read, what-you-see-is-what-you-get plaintext markup syntax and parser system. It is useful for in-line program documentation (such as Python docstrings), for quickly creating simple web pages, and for stand-alone documents. ReStructuredText is designed for extensibility for specific application domains. It is a candidate markup syntax for the Python Docstring Processing System. ReStructuredText is a revision and re-interpretation of the StructuredText and Setext lightweight markup systems.

The ReStructuredText markup competes with other plaintext markup like the native wiki markup used in MoinMoin.

== Markup Differences ==
Although the goals of ReST and Wiki markup are similar, the markup looks different. The most important differences are:

 * Links: MoinMoin uses Camelcase; ReST uses an appended underscore.
 * italics, bold, monospace: MoinMoin uses {{{''}}}, {{{'''}}} and {{{ {{{ }}}; ReST uses {{{*}}}, {{{**}}} and {{{``}}}.
 * Sectionheadings: MoinMoin uses a different number of equal signs {{{=}}} on same line as the heading; ReST uses a line of text with an underline-adornment made of non-alphanumeric characters like {{{= _ - . ~}}} and more.

What markup looks more natural to you is simply a matter of taste. When working within a community wiki refuse the temptation to reformat from either markup into another, or people probably will become upset with you.

== Using ReST in MoinMoin ==
The page HelpOnParsers/ReStructuredText contains more information about using ReST within MoinMoin wiki pages.

It is possible to make use of some MoinMoin macros (see HelpOnMacros) functionality from within ReStructuredText.

== Links ==
 * [[http://docutils.sourceforge.net/rst.html|reStructuredText]] -- Overview and more links.
 * http://docutils.sourceforge.net/docs/user/rst/quickstart.html -- A good introduction.
 * [[http://docutils.sourceforge.net/|Docutils project homepage]] -- formerly known as [[http://docstring.sourceforge.net/|Python Docstring Processing System]].
 * http://docutils.sourceforge.net/docs/ref/rst/introduction.html#goals -- The goals.

See also BizarStructuredText for a description of another markup alternative.