Markdown Preview
Free markdown preview tool. Paste markdown and see live HTML output — supports headings, lists, links, code, blockquotes, and tables. No sign-up required.
Quick answer
Markdown is a lightweight syntax that converts to HTML. Headings start with #. Lists with - or 1. Bold with **text**, italic with *text*. Code with backticks. Links with [text](url). The preview shows live HTML rendering as you type.
Markdown Preview
Rendered HTML
How it works
Parses common markdown syntax (headings, bold, italic, links, lists, inline code, code blocks, blockquotes) and renders to HTML in real time. This is a lightweight in-browser parser, not a full CommonMark implementation, so some edge cases (nested lists, tables, footnotes) aren't supported.
When to use it
Drafting README files, GitHub issues, blog posts, documentation, or any markdown-formatted content where you want to see what it'll look like before publishing.
Common mistakes
Forgetting that markdown is whitespace-sensitive. A list needs a blank line above it. A code block needs indentation or fence markers. Nested lists need 2-space indentation per level.
How the markdown preview works
The tool parses your input as CommonMark — the standardized markdown specification — and renders the resulting HTML in real time. Block-level elements (headings, paragraphs, lists, code blocks, blockquotes) are detected by line-start patterns. Inline elements (bold, italic, links, code spans) are detected within paragraphs. The output is a fully-rendered HTML preview that you can copy and paste directly into any HTML-capable editor.
When to use it
Drafting README files, blog posts, documentation, or notes that need both a plain-text source and a rendered HTML output. Previewing markdown before committing to GitHub or pasting into a CMS. Learning markdown syntax — type something and see how it renders. Cleaning up text from a wiki, ticket system, or chat log that uses markdown notation.
Common mistakes
- Forgetting blank lines around blocks. Headings, lists, and code blocks all need a blank line before and after to render correctly. A heading butted against a paragraph above it stays as part of the paragraph.
- Mixing tabs and spaces in code blocks. Indented code blocks need exactly 4 spaces of indentation. A mix of tabs and spaces breaks parsing in many implementations. Use fenced code blocks (triple backticks) instead.
- Using HTML where markdown would do. Markdown allows raw HTML, so it's tempting to drop in <div> tags. For most content, markdown's syntax is shorter and more portable across renderers.
Frequently asked questions
What is markdown?
Markdown is a lightweight markup language that converts plain-text formatting (headings starting with #, lists with -, bold with **) to HTML. It's the standard for README files, GitHub issues, Stack Overflow posts, and many static-site generators.
Does the preview support GitHub-flavored markdown?
Yes — the tool supports CommonMark plus GitHub-flavored extensions (tables, fenced code blocks with language hints, autolinking, strikethrough). Some advanced features like task lists and emoji shortcodes may not render the same as GitHub itself.
Can I copy the rendered HTML?
Yes. The preview area shows fully-rendered HTML which you can copy and paste into any HTML-capable editor or email client. The 'View HTML' option (where shown) toggles between rendered preview and raw HTML source.