Markdown Preview

1. Type or paste your Markdown in the left editor panel.
2. The rendered HTML preview updates instantly on the right.
3. Try the example snippets to see common Markdown formatting.

What is Markdown?

Markdown is a lightweight markup language created by John Gruber in 2004 as a way to write formatted text using plain-text syntax that is easy to read and write. Unlike HTML, which uses verbose tags like <strong> and <em>, Markdown uses simple characters like **bold** and *italic*. It converts directly to valid HTML and is supported by GitHub, GitLab, Stack Overflow, Reddit, Discord, Notion, and hundreds of other platforms. Markdown has become the standard format for developer documentation, README files, technical blogs, and knowledge bases.

How This Preview Tool Works

This tool uses the marked library to parse Markdown syntax and convert it to HTML in real time. As you type in the editor panel on the left, the rendered preview updates instantly on the right. The parser supports standard Markdown syntax including headings (# through ######), emphasis, links, images, code blocks with syntax fencing, blockquotes, ordered and unordered lists, horizontal rules, and tables. It also supports most GitHub Flavored Markdown (GFM) extensions such as strikethrough text, task lists, and fenced code blocks with language identifiers. All parsing happens entirely in your browser with no server communication.

Common Use Cases

• Previewing README files before pushing to GitHub or GitLab
• Drafting blog posts and documentation in Markdown format
• Learning Markdown syntax with instant visual feedback
• Formatting issue descriptions and pull request templates
• Creating structured notes and meeting agendas
• Preparing content for static site generators like Hugo, Jekyll, or Astro

Markdown Syntax Quick Reference

Headings use hash symbols (# for h1 through ###### for h6). Bold text is wrapped in double asterisks (**bold**) and italic in single asterisks (*italic*). Links follow the pattern [text](url) and images use ![alt](url). Code blocks are fenced with triple backticks, optionally followed by a language name for syntax highlighting. Tables use pipes (|) and hyphens to define columns and alignment. Blockquotes are prefixed with >, and nested lists use indentation. Understanding these patterns is essential for any developer, since Markdown is used in Git commit messages, documentation systems, and virtually every modern collaboration platform.

For converting between data formats, try the JSON Formatter. For generating placeholder content to test your Markdown layouts, use the Lorem Ipsum Generator. For comparing document versions, see the Diff Checker.