Markdown Previewer

Write Markdown and see a live rendered preview side by side. Supports headings, lists, code, and more.

Markdown Previewer

71 words476 chars31 lines

Markdown Source

Preview

Hello, Markdown!

This is a bold statement, and this is italic.

Code Example

const greet = (name) => Hello, ${name}!;
console.log(greet('World'));

Inline code also works.

Lists

Item one
Item two
Item three

First step
Second step
Third step

"Simplicity is the soul of efficiency." — Austin Freeman

Visit ConvertWithMi for more tools.

~~Strikethrough~~ and bold with bold italic.

How to Use

Write or paste Markdown

Type Markdown in the editor and see the rendered HTML preview update instantly.

Use toolbar shortcuts

Insert headings, bold, italic, code, links, and lists with toolbar buttons.

Preview GFM extensions

Test GitHub Flavored Markdown: task lists, tables, and strikethrough.

Copy Markdown for publishing

Copy verified Markdown source to use in GitHub, wikis, documentation, or forums.

What is Markdown?

Markdown is a lightweight markup language for creating formatted text using a plain-text editor. It is widely used for README files, documentation, forums, and content management systems. Our previewer renders standard Markdown including GFM extensions.

Real-World Examples & Use Cases

GitHub README and Project Documentation

GitHub renders Markdown in README.md files, issue descriptions, pull request comments, and wiki pages. Developers use a Markdown previewer to draft READMEs with proper headings, code blocks with syntax highlighting, lists, links, and tables — verifying formatting before committing. A README missing code block fences (```language) or improperly nested lists looks broken on GitHub. A previewer catches these issues before the file is pushed.

Blog Post and Article Writing

Many blog platforms (Ghost, Substack, Hashnode, Dev.to) accept Markdown as their native writing format. Technical writers drafting articles write in Markdown for the clean, distraction-free syntax and preview the output to check heading hierarchy, inline code formatting, and image placement. The live preview confirms that Markdown shorthand translates to the intended HTML: that **bold** appears bold, that # creates an h1, and that [link text](url) creates a clickable link.

Technical Documentation and Wiki Creation

Documentation teams writing product docs, API guides, and internal wikis use Markdown for its simplicity and portability. A Markdown previewer helps writers who aren't Markdown experts verify their formatting: that fenced code blocks with language hints (```python) render correctly, that numbered lists maintain proper sequence, and that table column widths align properly. Previewing catches markdown rendering differences between platforms (GitHub vs. GitBook vs. Confluence).

Forum Posts and Community Contributions

Stack Overflow, Reddit, Discord (code blocks), Slack, and many developer forums use Markdown or Markdown-like syntax for formatting posts. Writing a technical question with properly formatted code blocks, correct emphasis, and readable structure significantly improves response rates. A Markdown previewer helps community members compose well-formatted posts before submitting, particularly for complex questions with multiple code snippets, file paths, and technical terms that benefit from inline code formatting.

How It Works

Markdown Syntax Reference (CommonMark + GFM): Headings: # H1 ## H2 ### H3 (up to ######) Emphasis: **bold** or __bold__ *italic* or _italic_ ***bold italic*** ~~strikethrough~~ (GFM) Lists: - Unordered item * Also unordered 1. Ordered item - Nested (3 spaces or 1 tab indent) - [x] Task list complete (GFM) - [ ] Task list incomplete (GFM) Code: `inline code` ```javascript code block with language ``` Links and Images: [Link text](https://url.com) ![Alt text](image.jpg) [Reference link][1] ... [1]: https://url.com Blockquotes: > Quoted text >> Nested blockquote Tables (GFM): | Col1 | Col2 | |------|------| | Data | Data | Horizontal rule: --- or *** (3+ dashes or asterisks alone) HTML is also valid in most Markdown parsers (inline HTML passes through to rendered output)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between Markdown and GitHub Flavored Markdown (GFM)?▼

Standard Markdown (CommonMark) covers basic formatting: headings, bold, italic, links, images, lists, code blocks, and blockquotes. GitHub Flavored Markdown (GFM) adds: tables (pipe-delimited), task lists (- [ ] and - [x]), strikethrough (~~text~~), autolinked URLs (URL automatically becomes clickable without markdown link syntax), and code blocks with language syntax highlighting. GFM is a strict superset of CommonMark — valid CommonMark is valid GFM. Most platforms use some GFM-like extension set on top of CommonMark.

Why does my code block show as plain text instead of a code block?▼

Most code block issues are indentation or fence character problems. Fenced code blocks require three backticks (```) or three tildes (~~~) on their own lines: opening fence on its own line immediately above the code, closing fence on its own line immediately below. If there's any leading text or wrong characters (e.g., quotes instead of backticks), the fence isn't recognized. Indented code blocks (4 spaces or 1 tab indentation) work in CommonMark but require the code to be in its own paragraph with a blank line above it.

How do I add a line break within a paragraph?▼

In Markdown, a single newline within a paragraph is treated as a space (the paragraph continues). To force a line break (HTML <br> tag), end the line with two spaces before pressing Enter, or use a backslash at the end of the line (backslash line break is GFM/CommonMark). To start a new paragraph, use a blank line (press Enter twice). This behavior surprises many Markdown beginners who expect their single line breaks to appear in the rendered output.

Can I use Markdown for tables?▼

Yes, but only with GFM extensions (not basic CommonMark). Table syntax uses pipe characters to separate columns. A header row, a separator row (|---|), and data rows create a table: | Name | Age | then | --- | --- | then | Alice | 30 |. Alignment: |:---| (left), |---:| (right), |:---:| (center). Tables are supported on GitHub, GitLab, Stack Overflow, Ghost, and most modern Markdown renderers, but not in basic Markdown editors or some older platforms. When portability matters, consider HTML tables instead.

Which Markdown parser and renderer is used?▼

Different platforms use different Markdown parsers, which can cause rendering differences. GitHub uses its own GFM parser. npm documentation uses remark. Gatsby and Next.js sites often use remark or marked. Discord uses a custom lightweight Markdown subset. Obsidian, Typora, and Notion use their own parsers. A Markdown previewer typically uses a standard library like marked.js or markdown-it in the browser. Minor rendering differences between platforms are normal — always preview on the actual target platform for pixel-perfect accuracy when exact rendering matters.

Related Tools

Explore other tools in this category.

JSON Formatter

Format, validate, prettify, and minify your JSON data quickly.

Password Strength Checker

Analyze how secure your password is and generate a strong one instantly.

CSS Unit Converter

Convert between CSS units: px, rem, em, pt, vw, vh, cm, mm, and inches.

Binary ? Text Converter

Convert plain text to binary code and decode binary back to readable text.

Text to Binary Converter

Convert letters and strings into computer binary format.

QR Code Generator

Create and download customized QR codes for URLs, text, and contacts.