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Markdown to HTML
Understanding Markdown
Markdown is a text-to-HTML conversion tool for web writers. It allows you to write using an easy-to-read, easy-to-write plain text format, then convert it to structurally valid XHTML (or HTML).
Created by John Gruber in 2004, it has become the standard for documentation, readme files, and forum posts. The key design goal is readability—the language is readable as-is, without looking like it's been marked up with tags or formatting instructions.
💡 Expert Tip: GitHub Flavored Markdown (GFM)
Most developers use a variant called "GitHub
Flavored Markdown" (GFM). It adds useful features like tables, task lists
(- [ ] task), and strikethrough (~~text~~) that weren't in the
original spec. Our converter supports these modern extensions!
⚠️ Common Mistake: Trailing Spaces
In standard Markdown, a single line break in your
text doesn't create a new line in the HTML output. To force a line break
(<br>), you need to end a line with two spaces before
hitting Enter. This is one of the most confusing aspects for beginners.
Quick Syntax Guide
# Header 1→ <h1>Header 1</h1>**Bold**→ <strong>Bold</strong>*Italic*→ <em>Italic</em>[Link](url)→ <a href="url">Link</a>- List item→ <li>List item</li>
Reviewed by: David Chen, Technical Writer
Last updated: November 26, 2025
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Markdown?
Markdown is a lightweight markup language that allows you to format text using simple symbols (like # for headers or * for italics). It was created by John Gruber in 2004 to be easy to read and write in its raw form, while being easily convertible to HTML.
Why should I use Markdown?
Markdown is faster to write than HTML because you don't need to type cumbersome tags like <h1> or <strong>. It's also much more readable in its source format. It's widely supported by platforms like GitHub, Reddit, Stack Overflow, and most CMSs.
How do I make text bold or italic?
To make text bold, wrap it in double asterisks (**text**) or double underscores (__text__). To make text italic, wrap it in single asterisks (*text*) or single underscores (_text_).
Can I put HTML inside Markdown?
Yes, Markdown is a superset of HTML, so you can use raw HTML tags anywhere in your Markdown document. This is useful when you need complex formatting (like tables with specific widths or colored text) that standard Markdown doesn't support.