Markdown Preview
Type Markdown and see the rendered HTML preview instantly — copy HTML or download the .md file.
Markdown
Preview
How to use Markdown Preview
The Markdown Preview tool renders Markdown source text into formatted HTML in real time, supporting the CommonMark specification plus popular extensions: tables (GitHub Flavored Markdown), fenced code blocks with syntax highlighting, task lists, footnotes and strikethrough. Writers, developers and documentation authors use it to check how Markdown will render before committing to GitHub, a CMS or a static site generator.
- Type or paste Markdown source text into the editor panel on the left.
- The rendered HTML preview updates live in the right panel as you type.
- Toggle GFM (GitHub Flavored Markdown) extensions to enable tables, task lists and strikethrough syntax.
- Click "Copy HTML" to get the rendered HTML source for use in a CMS or email template.
- Click "Export PDF" or "Print" to produce a formatted document from your Markdown.
- Use the word count badge at the top to monitor document length while writing.
Your data never leaves your device — 100% private processing.
CommonMark and Markdown flavour differences
Markdown was created by John Gruber in 2004 but never had a formal specification, leading to dozens of incompatible implementations. CommonMark (commonmark.org, 2014) is a comprehensive, unambiguous specification that resolves the most common inconsistencies. GitHub Flavored Markdown (GFM) extends CommonMark with tables, task lists, strikethrough, autolinks and fenced code blocks. Most documentation platforms (GitHub, GitLab, npm README, Notion, Obsidian) support GFM or a close superset. When writing for portability, stick to CommonMark syntax.
| Element | Markdown syntax | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Heading 1 | # Heading | Or underline with === |
| Heading 2 | ## Heading | Or underline with --- |
| Bold | **text** or __text__ | Both are equivalent |
| Italic | *text* or _text_ | Both are equivalent |
| Inline code | `code` | Single backtick |
| Code block | ```language\ncode\n``` | Fenced; language enables highlighting |
| Link | [label](url) | Or [label][ref] with ref definition |
| Image |  | Same as link but with ! prefix |
| Table (GFM) | | col | col | | Pipes + dashes for separator row |
| Task list (GFM) | - [x] Done | [ ] for unchecked, [x] for checked |
Using Markdown for documentation and README files
Markdown is the universal language for developer documentation. GitHub automatically renders any file named README.md in a repository, making it the default front page for open-source projects. Writing effective README files requires understanding Markdown for headings, code blocks, badges, tables and blockquotes. For larger documentation sites, tools like MkDocs, Docusaurus and Jekyll compile directories of Markdown files into searchable static websites. When writing API documentation, fenced code blocks with language identifiers (```json, ```bash) enable syntax highlighting that dramatically improves readability.
Glossary
- Markdown
- A lightweight markup language created by John Gruber in 2004, converting plain text to formatted HTML.
- CommonMark
- A standardised, unambiguous specification for Markdown syntax, ensuring consistent rendering across implementations.
- GFM
- GitHub Flavored Markdown — a CommonMark superset adding tables, task lists, strikethrough and autolinks.
- Front matter
- YAML metadata at the top of a Markdown file (between --- delimiters) used by static site generators.
- Fenced code block
- A Markdown block delimited by triple backticks (```) that preserves formatting and enables syntax highlighting.
Related reading
Frequently Asked Questions
Get weekly tool tips & updates
New tools, power-user tips, and productivity hacks — delivered free every Friday.
No spam, ever. Unsubscribe with one click.
Why use Markdown Preview?
- Instant results with no signup or account creation
- Works offline once the page is loaded
- Supports Unicode and multilingual text
- Copy results to clipboard with a single click
Common use cases
- Count words in an essay before submission
- Sort a list of items alphabetically
- Remove duplicate lines from CSV exports
- Change the case of text copied from PDFs
- Find and replace text across large documents
Related Text Tools
Word Counter
Count words, characters, sentences, and paragraphs, and estimate reading time. Free, instant, and private — ideal for essays, articles, and posts.
JSON Formatter & Validator
Format, validate, and minify JSON instantly. Includes syntax highlighting, error detection, and a collapsible tree view — free, private, in-browser.
Case Converter
Convert text to camelCase, PascalCase, snake_case, kebab-case, UPPERCASE, lowercase, Title Case, and Sentence case instantly.
Lorem Ipsum Generator
Generate Lorem Ipsum placeholder text in paragraphs, sentences, or words. Optionally wrap in HTML paragraph tags.
Text Diff Checker
Compare two texts and see the differences highlighted. Line-by-line diff with added, removed, and changed lines clearly marked.
Find and Replace Text
Find and replace text online with support for regex, case sensitivity, and whole word matching. Bulk text replacement tool — free and private.
Explore all Text Tools.