# MD067 - Footnote definition order
Aliases: `footnote-definition-order`
## What this rule does
Checks that footnote definitions appear in the same order as their first references in the document.
## Why this matters
- **Improves readability**: Readers expect footnotes in the order they encounter them
- **Reduces confusion**: Out-of-order footnotes make it harder to follow the document
- **Maintains consistency**: Ordered footnotes are easier to review and maintain
## Examples
### Correct
```markdown
Text with first[^1] and then second[^2] reference.
```
### Incorrect
```markdown
Text with first[^2] and then second[^1] reference.
```
**Warning**: `Footnote [^1] is defined before [^2] but referenced after it`
## Configuration
This rule has no configuration options.
## Automatic fixes
This rule supports automatic fixing. Running `rumdl fix` will reorder footnote definitions to match their reference order.
## Note on numbered footnotes
This rule checks definition order, not the footnote identifiers themselves.
You can use any identifiers you like (`[^1]`, `[^note]`, `[^ref-2024]`),
as long as the definitions appear in the order the references first occur.
## Related rules
- [MD066 - Footnote validation](md066.md)
- [MD068 - Empty footnote definitions](md068.md)