Markdown turns plain text into structured HTML with a minimal, readable syntax. This live preview renders as you type — great for READMEs, documentation, notes and messages.
The core syntax
Hash marks make headings, asterisks make bold and italic, backticks mark code, and dashes or numbers make lists. Each construct maps to a predictable HTML element, so what you see is what readers get.
Why developers love it
Markdown is plain text — version-controllable, diffable and tool-agnostic — yet renders anywhere HTML does. That's why READMEs, docs sites and comments across the web use it.
Frequently asked questions
Markdown is a lightweight syntax for formatting text — headings, emphasis, lists, links and code — that reads cleanly as plain text and converts to HTML.
No. Conversion happens locally in your browser. Nothing you write is uploaded anywhere.
Headings, bold, italic, inline code, fenced code blocks, ordered and unordered lists, blockquotes, links, and horizontal rules.