Markdown to HTML
Convert Markdown text to HTML instantly.
What is Markdown and why is it the documentation standard?
Markdown is a lightweight markup language created by John Gruber in 2004 with the goal of allowing you to write formatted text using a simple and readable syntax that can be easily converted to valid HTML. Its core philosophy is that a Markdown document should be readable as-is, without formatting tags distracting from the reading.
Today, Markdown is the standard format for technical documentation (README.md on GitHub), static blogs (Jekyll, Hugo, Astro), personal notes (Obsidian, Notion), messaging (Slack, Discord), and Q&A platforms (Stack Overflow). Mastering Markdown is essential for any modern developer.
Practical use cases
Project READMEs: Every Git repository needs a well-formatted README.md with installation, usage, and contribution instructions. It's the first impression of your project for other developers.
Technical blogs: Static site generators like Hugo, Jekyll, Astro, and Next.js use Markdown as the primary format for writing articles, allowing you to focus on content without WYSIWYG editor distractions.
API documentation: Tools like Docusaurus and MkDocs generate complete documentation sites from Markdown files, with navigation, search, and versioning.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use HTML inside Markdown?
Yes, most Markdown processors allow embedded HTML. You can use tags like <details>, <table>, <img>, or <div> directly. However, some processors (like GitHub) sanitize HTML for security, removing scripts and styles.
What is GFM (GitHub Flavored Markdown)?
GFM is the Markdown variant used by GitHub, which adds features like tables, task lists (checkboxes), strikethrough text (~~text~~), autolinks, and syntax highlighting in code blocks with triple backticks.
How do I add images in Markdown?
The syntax is . You can use absolute URLs or relative paths. For more control over size, use HTML: <img src="url" width="400" alt="description">.
Does Markdown support footnotes?
Not in the original standard, but extensions like Markdown Extended and GFM support footnotes with the syntax [^1] for the reference and [^1]: footnote text for the definition.
Essential Markdown syntax
| Element | Syntax | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Bold | **text** | text |
| Italic | *text* | text |
| Link | [text](url) | clickable link |
| Code | `code` | inline code |
| List | - item | bulleted list |