Write Markdown on the left and see the formatted result on the right as you type. Copy the Markdown or the finished HTML, or download a .md file. The draft is saved in your browser and never uploaded.
Markdown is a lightweight way of writing formatted text with plain characters: a pound sign for a heading, asterisks for emphasis, dashes for lists. Created in 2004, it is now the everyday format for documentation, README files, notes, forum posts and static websites.
Because the source is ordinary text, Markdown files are tiny, easy to version, search and share, and they open in any editor. A live preview shows how the text will look once it is converted to HTML, which makes it easier to catch a missing list marker or a broken link before publishing.
Typical uses include drafting articles and documentation, writing commit messages and issue descriptions, keeping personal notes and preparing content for blogs or content management systems. Variants differ in small details, so check the rules of the platform where the text will finally be published.