Markdown Preview provides a live editing environment for writing and previewing Markdown documents. See your formatted output instantly as you type. Export to HTML when ready. Perfect for README files, documentation, and blog posts.
What is Markdown?
Markdown is a lightweight markup language created by John Gruber in 2004. It uses simple symbols like # for headings and * for emphasis to format plain text. The goal is to be readable even in raw form while converting cleanly to HTML. Today Markdown is the standard for README files, documentation, forums, and static site generators.
Common Markdown Syntax
- Headings: # H1, ## H2, ### H3 (up to 6 levels)
- Emphasis: *italic*, **bold**, ***bold italic***, ~~strikethrough~~
- Lists: - or * for unordered, 1. 2. 3. for ordered, nested with indentation
- Links & Images: [text](url) for links,  for images
- Code: `inline code`, ``` for code blocks with optional language
- Others: > blockquote, --- horizontal rule, | tables |
GitHub Flavored Markdown (GFM)
GFM extends standard Markdown with features like tables, task lists (- [x]), fenced code blocks with syntax highlighting, autolinked URLs, and strikethrough text. Most Markdown editors today support GFM as it's become the de facto standard for developer documentation.
FAQ
Q: What's the difference between Markdown and HTML?
A: Markdown is designed for writing - it's human-readable even in raw form. HTML is designed for web rendering - powerful but verbose. Markdown converts to HTML, so you get readability during writing and proper rendering for display. You can also embed raw HTML in Markdown when needed.
Q: How do I create line breaks in Markdown?
A: A single line break in source doesn't create a break in output. For a new paragraph, use a blank line (two line breaks). For a line break within a paragraph (<br>), end the line with two or more spaces, or use <br> directly.
Q: Does Markdown support code syntax highlighting?
A: Standard Markdown doesn't specify highlighting, but most renderers support fenced code blocks with language hints: ```javascript. The actual highlighting depends on the renderer/platform. GitHub, VS Code, and this tool all support syntax highlighting for common languages.