Headings
Input
# Heading 1
## Heading 2
### Heading 3Use one `#` per heading level. Prefer a single H1 per document for accessibility.
Content is saved only in your browser's localStorage — it is never uploaded to any server. Export regularly to avoid losing work.
Skip to Markdown editorWrite Markdown with a formatting toolbar and live HTML preview. Import .md files, autosave locally, copy or download HTML — no signup, runs in your browser.
Markdown is a plain-text formatting syntax that converts to HTML — used for README files, documentation, blogs, and notes because it is easy to read and write without HTML tags.
Markdown is a lightweight markup language created to be readable as plain text and easy to convert into HTML. Instead of wrapping words in `<strong>` tags, you write `**bold**`. Instead of `<h1>`, you write `# Heading`.
Developers use Markdown for GitHub READMEs, API docs, and static site generators (Hugo, Jekyll, Docusaurus). Writers use it for blog drafts, wikis, and notes because the source stays portable and version-control friendly.
Benefits over HTML: faster to write, less visual noise, easier diffs in Git, and readable even before rendering. HTML still wins when you need pixel-perfect layout, complex components, or interactive elements.
EverydayTools Markdown Editor runs entirely in your browser. Type on the left, see sanitized HTML preview on the right, then copy or download `.md` / `.html` files. Nothing is uploaded for normal use.
Write Markdown with live preview, export locally — pair with HTML to Markdown when converting existing web pages.
Type in the editor or click Example to load a sample README. The preview updates on every keystroke — no save button required.
Use toolbar buttons for headings, bold, lists, links, tables, and task lists. Keyboard: Ctrl+B bold, Ctrl+I italic, Ctrl+Enter fullscreen.
On desktop, use Split mode. On mobile, switch Write / Preview tabs. Preview output is sanitized with DOMPurify.
Copy Markdown or HTML, download .md or a full HTML page, or import an existing .md file. Content autosaves in localStorage on this device.
Input
# Heading 1
## Heading 2
### Heading 3Use one `#` per heading level. Prefer a single H1 per document for accessibility.
Input
**bold** *italic* ~~strikethrough~~Double asterisks for bold, single for italic. Strikethrough uses double tildes.
Input
[EverydayTools](https://everydaytools.pro)
Link syntax: [text](url). Image syntax: .
Input
- Item one
- Item two
1. First
2. SecondStart lines with `-`, `*`, or `+` for bullets, or `1.` for numbered lists.
Input
- [ ] Todo item
- [x] Done itemGitHub-style checkboxes use `- [ ]` and `- [x]` markers.
Input
> This is a quoted paragraph.
> It can span one line.Prefix lines with `>` for blockquotes.
Input
Use `inline code` in a sentence.
```javascript
const x = 1;
```Single backticks for inline code; triple backticks for fenced blocks.
Input
| Feature | Syntax |
| --- | --- |
| Bold | `**text**` |Pipe tables need a header row, separator row, and body rows.
Input
Section above
---
Section belowThree or more dashes, asterisks, or underscores on their own line.
Common real-world scenarios where this tool saves time.
Draft README.md content, preview headings and code blocks, then download the .md file for your repo.
Write technical docs or blog posts in Markdown and verify HTML output before pushing to Hugo, Jekyll, or a static site.
Copy converted HTML for CMS fields, email templates, or internal tools when you only need a one-off render.
Capture structured notes with headings, task lists, and links — readable as plain text and ready to export.
Step-by-step chains that connect related tools for common tasks.
When to write Markdown versus raw HTML.
| Aspect | Markdown | HTML |
|---|---|---|
| Learning curve | Low — a few symbols | Higher — many tags and attributes |
| Readability (source) | High in plain text | Noisy with tags |
| Fine-grained layout | Limited | Full control |
| Best for | READMEs, docs, blogs, notes | Web apps, emails, complex pages |
| Version control | Clean diffs | Noisier diffs |
Quick reference for common Markdown elements.
| Element | Syntax |
|---|---|
| Heading 1 | # Heading |
| Bold | **bold** |
| Italic | *italic* |
| Link | [text](url) |
| Image |  |
| Bullet list | - item |
| Numbered list | 1. item |
| Task list | - [ ] task |
| Blockquote | > quote |
| Code block | ```lang\ncode\n``` |
| Table | | col | col |\n| --- | --- | |
| Horizontal rule | --- |
How this page compares for typical authoring workflows.
| Aspect | EverydayTools | Typical alternative |
|---|---|---|
| Preview | Live side-by-side HTML | Save and refresh build |
| Privacy | Browser-local editing | Cloud sync required |
| Export | Copy + .md / .html download | Account-locked export |
| Collaboration | Solo, local drafts | Real-time multi-user (HackMD) |
Use this tool to write Markdown and preview HTML. For converting existing HTML pages to Markdown, use HTML to Markdown instead.
| Related tool | Use this tool when | Use related tool when |
|---|---|---|
| HTML to Markdown | You are authoring new Markdown and want a live HTML preview while you write READMEs or docs. | You already have HTML (a web page or CMS export) and need to convert it into Markdown source. |
| JSON Formatter | You are writing prose, README files, or documentation in Markdown. | You need to format or validate JSON configuration or API payloads. |
| CSS Formatter | You are editing Markdown content with standard syntax. | You need to beautify or minify CSS stylesheets. |
| Online Notepad | You want structured Markdown with live HTML preview and export. | You need a plain-text notepad without formatting or preview. |
This editor supports common Markdown and GFM features (tables, task lists, strikethrough). Math (LaTeX), Mermaid diagrams, and MDX components require specialized tools or build pipelines.
Preview HTML is sanitized for authoring. Run through your site's Markdown renderer before publishing user-generated content.
Use one # for the document title, ## for sections, ### for subsections. Multiple top-level headings hurt accessibility and SEO on web pages.
Autosave helps on the same browser, but clearing site data erases drafts. Download .md files for anything you cannot afford to lose.
Fix: Start list lines with *, -, +, or 1. with a space after the marker. Leave a blank line before the list if it follows a paragraph.
Fix: Use fenced blocks with triple backticks on their own lines. Inline code uses single backticks without line breaks inside.
Fix: Include a header row, a separator row with dashes (| --- | --- |), and at least one body row. Each row must start and end with pipe characters.
Fix: Check for extremely large documents or browser extensions blocking rendering. Try Copy HTML to verify conversion output.
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Markdown is a plain-text formatting syntax that converts to HTML. You write symbols like `#`, `**`, and `-` instead of HTML tags. It is widely used for README files, documentation, blogs, and notes.
Headers (#–######), bold, italic, strikethrough (~~text~~), fenced and inline code, links, images, unordered and ordered lists, task lists (- [ ]), blockquotes, horizontal rules, and GitHub-style pipe tables. Preview HTML is sanitized with DOMPurify.
Yes. The Markdown Editor is free with no signup. Write, preview, copy, and download — all in your browser.
Yes. The HTML preview refreshes automatically as you edit — no refresh button. React deferred rendering keeps typing smooth on long documents.
Yes. Download .md saves your source Markdown. Full page downloads a complete HTML document with embedded styles. Both run locally.
Yes. Click Import and choose a .md, .markdown, or .txt file. The content loads into the editor and autosaves locally.
No. Editing, preview, and export run in your browser. Autosave uses localStorage on your device only. Export important drafts to .md files as backup.
Yes. Write README content, preview headings and code blocks, then download the .md file and commit it as README.md. GitHub uses GitHub Flavored Markdown (GFM); this editor supports common GFM syntax including tables and task lists.
GFM extends standard Markdown with tables, task lists, strikethrough, and autolinks. GitHub renders GFM on README files, issues, and wikis. This editor supports the most common GFM features used in READMEs.
HTML uses explicit tags (<h1>, <p>, <strong>) rendered by browsers. Markdown uses lightweight symbols (# for h1, ** for bold) designed for human-readable plain text. A processor converts Markdown to HTML. Markdown is faster to write; HTML gives finer control.
[Link text](https://example.com) creates a hyperlink. Optional title: [Link text](https://example.com "Title"). Images: .
Use triple backticks on their own lines before and after the code. Add a language name after the opening backticks for class hints: ```javascript ... ```. Inline code uses single backticks: `code`.
Use pipe syntax: | Column A | Column B | | --- | --- | | Cell 1 | Cell 2 | The separator row with dashes is required. Tables render in the live preview.
Write `- [ ] Unchecked task` or `- [x] Completed task`. This GitHub-style syntax renders as checkbox lists in the preview.
Yes. The CodeMirror editor highlights Markdown syntax as you type. The live preview lazy-loads highlight.js for fenced code blocks in common languages (JavaScript, Python, CSS, JSON, Bash, YAML, and more).
Yes. Click Copy HTML to copy the sanitized preview body. Use Full page download for a complete HTML document with basic styles.
Preview HTML is sanitized with DOMPurify for safe in-browser rendering. For production sites accepting user Markdown, still run content through your trusted server-side renderer or sanitizer.
Ctrl+B (Cmd+B on Mac) bold, Ctrl+I italic, Ctrl+Enter toggle fullscreen. Standard text editing shortcuts work in the textarea.
Yes. Content autosaves to localStorage on the same browser and device. Clear site data or private browsing may erase drafts — export .md files for important work.
Dillinger and StackEdit offer cloud sync and integrations (Dropbox, GitHub). EverydayTools focuses on zero-friction local editing: no account, instant load, privacy-first autosave. Choose cloud tools when you need sync; choose this for quick private drafts.
HackMD excels at real-time collaboration, math, and diagrams. This editor is optimized for solo authoring — README drafts, doc snippets, and HTML export without signing in or sharing a server session.
Yes. Those static site generators consume Markdown source files. Write and preview here, download .md, then place files in your project's content folder. Frontmatter (YAML at the top) can be typed manually.
Standard Markdown does not include color or font syntax. Some platforms allow inline HTML (<span style="color:red">) or extensions. For portable docs, prefer semantic headings and emphasis instead of inline styling.
You can paste HTML as plain text, but it will not render as HTML in the preview — Markdown processors treat it as literal text unless your flavor allows raw HTML passthrough. Use HTML to Markdown to convert existing HTML pages.
Use the EverydayTools HTML to Markdown converter (/html-to-markdown) when you have an existing web page or CMS export and need Markdown source.
List lines must start with `-`, `*`, `+`, or `1.` followed by a space. Leave a blank line before a list if it follows a paragraph. Task lists need `- [ ]` with brackets.
Bold uses **double asterisks** without spaces inside markers. Italic uses *single asterisks*. Avoid spaces: ** bold ** may not parse correctly.
Yes. Many CMS platforms and static generators accept Markdown. Draft here, preview structure and links, then copy .md or HTML into your publishing workflow.
GitHub README files, technical documentation, API references, internal wikis, meeting notes, blog drafts, changelog entries, and knowledge-base articles.
Some email tools support Markdown; many expect HTML. Use this editor to write Markdown, copy HTML, and paste into HTML-capable email clients if needed.
Markdown lacks complex layouts, interactive components, and precise typography control. It is not a replacement for HTML/CSS in rich web apps. Extensions (GFM, MDX) add features but reduce portability.
MDX extends Markdown with JSX components. This editor handles standard Markdown and common GFM — not MDX component syntax. Use an MDX-aware toolchain for MDX files.
After the page loads once, editing and preview work without network access. Initial load requires internet unless the site is installed as a PWA or cached.
Click Clear to wipe the current document, or Example to replace content with a sample README. Clearing does not disable autosave — an empty state is saved locally.
The editor uses labeled textareas, toolbar buttons with titles, keyboard shortcuts, skip link, and ARIA live regions for preview updates. Screen reader users may prefer the Markdown source pane for full control.
Markdown and HTML stay on your device during editing. Nothing is uploaded to EverydayTools servers for core use.
Local preview and export only — not a CMS, wiki, or collaborative workspace.
More free tools for the same workflow.
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Reviewed by EverydayTools Editorial Team on 2026-06-14.