# MD068 - Empty footnote definitions
Aliases: `empty-footnote-definition`
## What this rule does
Checks that footnote definitions have content and are not empty.
## Why this matters
- **Prevents mistakes**: Empty footnotes are almost always unintentional
- **Avoids confusion**: Readers clicking a footnote expect to find information
- **Catches incomplete work**: Flags placeholder footnotes that need content
## Examples
### Correct
```markdown
Text with a footnote[^1] reference.
```
### Correct - multi-line footnote
```markdown
Text with a footnote[^1] reference.
```
### Incorrect
```markdown
Text with a footnote[^1] reference.
```
**Warning**: `Footnote definition [^1] is empty`
### Incorrect - whitespace only
```markdown
Text with a footnote[^1] reference.
```
**Warning**: `Footnote definition [^1] is empty`
## Configuration
This rule has no configuration options.
## Automatic fixes
This rule cannot automatically fix issues because it cannot determine what content should be added to empty footnotes.
## Related rules
- [MD066 - Footnote validation](md066.md)
- [MD067 - Footnote definition order](md067.md)