Markdown is the markup language used by GitHub, Notion, Obsidian, Reddit, Discord and much of the technical internet. It lets you format text (bold, lists, links, code) by typing simple symbols, without touching HTML. This guide covers the full syntax with examples.
What is Markdown and why it's used
Markdown is a way to write formatted text using normal characters. The idea: the text is readable as-is, before being "rendered." **bold** makes sense even unconverted. That's why it dominates documentation, READMEs and notes.
Its advantage over a visual editor: it's fast, portable (plain text), works in any editor and versions well with Git.
Headings
Use hashes #. The more, the lower the level:
# Heading 1
## Heading 2
### Heading 3
Emphasis: bold and italic
*italic* or _italic_
**bold** or __bold__
***bold and italic***
~~strikethrough~~
Lists
- Item (with a dash)
- Another item
- Nested (two spaces)
1. First
2. Second
Links and images
[link text](https://example.com)
The difference: the image has a ! in front. The image's "alt text" is important for accessibility and SEO.
Code
For inline code, backticks: `code`. For blocks, three backticks and optionally the language:
```javascript
const greeting = "hello";
```
Tables (GitHub Flavored Markdown)
| Name | Age |
|------|-----|
| Ana | 30 |
| Luis | 25 |
The colons in the separator row control alignment: :--- left, :---: center, ---: right.
Quotes, rules and tasks
> This is a quote
--- (horizontal rule)
- [x] Done task
- [ ] Pending task
Markdown vs HTML
Markdown is converted to HTML to display on the web. ## Heading becomes <h2>Heading</h2>. Markdown doesn't replace HTML: it simplifies it for 90% of formatted-text cases. In fact, in most variants you can mix HTML inside Markdown when you need something Markdown doesn't cover.
How to convert Markdown to HTML or PDF
- Write or paste your Markdown.
- See the rendered preview in real time.
- Export to HTML, PDF or copy the result.
You can do it free with the Markdown converter on this site, which renders and converts everything in your browser.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a single Markdown? Not exactly. The base standard is CommonMark, and GitHub Flavored Markdown (GFM) adds tables, strikethrough and task lists. Those are the most common variants.
Can I use HTML inside Markdown? Yes, in most processors. Useful for things Markdown doesn't support.
How do I make a line break? Leave a blank line between paragraphs, or end a line with two spaces for a single break.
Is my data uploaded when converting? No, if you use a local converter. Everything happens in your browser.
Write, preview and convert Markdown to HTML or PDF with the free Markdown converter, 100% in your browser.