What is Markdown?
Markdown is a lightweight markup language created by John Gruber in 2004.
It allows you to write formatted text using a plain-text editor with simple
syntax like # for headings, **bold** for bold text,
and - item for lists. Markdown files use the .md or
.mdx extension and are widely used for documentation, README files,
blog posts, and technical writing. Learn more about the
original Markdown specification
.
This free online Markdown editor provides a live preview alongside your editor, so you can see exactly how your document will render in real time. It supports common Markdown features including headings, bold/italic text, links, images, code blocks with syntax highlighting labels, tables, task lists, and blockquotes. All processing happens in your browser — your content never leaves your device.
Common Use Cases
- Writing and previewing GitHub README files before committing
- Drafting blog posts and documentation in Markdown format
- Converting Markdown to HTML for web publishing
- Printing Markdown documents with customizable paper sizes (A4, Letter, Legal)
- Quick formatting of notes and technical documentation
- Previewing Markdown email templates and changelogs
