Unclosed front matter

error An error stops the build: nothing is published until it is fixed.

A Markdown file starts with a --- line, which opens front matter, but no later --- line closes it.

What you’ll see

error  Unclosed front matter: no `---` line ends it
  Add a `---` line after the last field.
  More: https://statac.dev/e/unclosed-front-matter/

In the terminal the message also names the file and line where there is one, and marks the exact text.

Why Statac stops

Without the closing line, Statac can’t tell where the fields end and the writing begins. Reading the whole file as fields would lose the writing, and reading it all as writing would lose the fields.

How to fix it

Add a --- line on its own after the last field.

Example

In content/post-1.md:

---
title: Post 1
date: 2026-10-04

The first paragraph.

Close the front matter:

---
title: Post 1
date: 2026-10-04
---

The first paragraph.

Its name

Name	`unclosed-front-matter`
In the terminal	`statac explain unclosed-front-matter`
To stop showing it	It stops the build, so it can't be quietened.