Markdown Preview — Free Online Editor
Free online Markdown editor with live preview. Write or paste Markdown on the left, see the rendered HTML on the right — updated in real time. No signup, no tracking, everything runs in your browser.
What Is Markdown?
Markdown is a lightweight markup language created by John Gruber in 2004. It lets you format text using simple symbols — **bold**, *italic*, # headings — which are then converted to HTML.
Markdown is used everywhere: GitHub README files, documentation sites, static site generators (Jekyll, Hugo, Gatsby), note-taking apps (Obsidian, Notion), and content management systems. Our online Markdown editor lets you write and preview Markdown without installing anything.
Markdown Syntax Cheat Sheet
Quick reference for the most common Markdown syntax:
| Element | Markdown Syntax | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Bold | **bold text** | bold text |
| Italic | *italic text* | italic text |
| Heading 1 | # Heading | Heading |
| Heading 2 | ## Heading | Heading |
| Link | [text](url) | text |
| Image |  | (image) |
| Inline code | `code` | code |
| Code block | ```lang ... ``` | (code block) |
| Blockquote | > quote | quote |
| Unordered list | - item | • item |
| Ordered list | 1. item | 1. item |
| Horizontal rule | --- | |
| Strikethrough | ~~text~~ |
Where Is Markdown Used?
GitHub & GitLab
README files, issues, pull requests, wikis
Documentation Sites
Docusaurus, MkDocs, VitePress, ReadTheDocs
Static Site Generators
Jekyll, Hugo, Gatsby, Astro, Next.js
Note-Taking Apps
Obsidian, Notion, Bear, Typora
Blogging Platforms
Dev.to, Hashnode, Ghost, WordPress
Chat & Forums
Slack, Discord, Reddit, Stack Overflow
Markdown vs HTML
| Feature | Markdown | HTML |
|---|---|---|
| Readability | Easy to read as plain text | Verbose with tags |
| Learning curve | Minutes | Hours to days |
| Flexibility | Limited to common elements | Full control |
| Styling | Depends on renderer | Inline styles + CSS |
| Best for | Docs, READMEs, notes, blogs | Web pages, email templates |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Markdown editor?
A Markdown editor lets you write text using Markdown syntax and see the rendered HTML output in real time. Our online editor provides a split-pane view: Markdown on the left, formatted preview on the right. You can also copy the generated HTML.
Is Markdown the same as HTML?
No. Markdown is a simplified syntax that converts to HTML. For example, **bold** becomes <strong>bold</strong>. Markdown is easier to write and read, but HTML gives you more control over styling and layout.
What is GitHub Flavored Markdown (GFM)?
GFM is an extended version of Markdown by GitHub. It adds support for tables, strikethrough (~~text~~), task lists (- [x] done), and fenced code blocks with language syntax highlighting. Our editor supports all GFM features.
Can I export Markdown as HTML?
Yes. Click View HTML in the preview panel to see the raw HTML source, then click Copy HTML to copy it to your clipboard. You can paste the HTML into any website, email template, or CMS.
Is my text stored or sent to a server?
No. This Markdown editor runs 100% in your browser. Rendering is done client-side using the marked.js library. Your text is never sent to any server.