Markdown Syntax Guide & Live Reference
Learn every Markdown syntax element with a live preview editor. Type or modify examples and see the rendered output instantly. This reference covers standard Markdown and common extensions like tables and task lists. Everything runs client-side.
Markdown Preview
Write Markdown on the left, see the rendered preview on the right.
Hello, Markdown!
This is a live preview editor. Start typing on the left to see rendered output here.
Features
- Bold and italic text
- Links
- Inline
codeand code blocks - Lists, blockquotes, and more
Code Block
function greet(name) {
return `Hello, ${name}!`;
}
Blockquotes work too. This is great for documentation.
| Feature | Status |
|---|---|
| Headings | Supported |
| Lists | Supported |
| Tables | Supported |
What is Markdown syntax?
Markdown is a lightweight markup language created by John Gruber in 2004 that uses plain-text formatting symbols to indicate structure. Headings use # symbols, bold uses ** or __, links use [text](url), and code uses backticks. Markdown files (.md) are readable as plain text but can be rendered into formatted HTML by any Markdown processor.
Common use cases
Markdown is the standard for README files on GitHub and GitLab, documentation sites built with tools like Docusaurus and MkDocs, blog platforms like Ghost and DEV.to, note-taking apps like Obsidian and Notion, and comment systems on platforms like Reddit and Stack Overflow. Learning Markdown syntax is an essential skill for developers and technical writers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Markdown and HTML?
Markdown is a simplified shorthand that compiles to HTML. It covers the most common formatting needs (headings, lists, links, images, code) in a more readable syntax. For anything Markdown does not support, you can embed raw HTML directly.
What Markdown flavor does this tool support?
This tool supports CommonMark plus GitHub Flavored Markdown (GFM) extensions including tables, task lists, strikethrough, and fenced code blocks with syntax highlighting.
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