Markdown to HTML Converter

Convert Markdown to HTML and HTML to Markdown instantly. See a live preview as you type and copy the output with one click.

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What is Markdown?

Markdown is a lightweight markup language created by John Gruber in 2004. It allows you to write using an easy-to-read, easy-to-write plain text format that can be converted to structurally valid HTML. Markdown is widely used for writing documentation, README files, blog posts, and content for the web.

The beauty of Markdown lies in its simplicity. Unlike HTML, which uses tags like <strong> for bold text, Markdown uses intuitive syntax like **bold**. This makes it faster to write and easier to read in its raw form.

Markdown is popular because it's:

  • Simple: Easy to learn in minutes
  • Readable: Plain text is readable without rendering
  • Portable: Works across platforms and applications
  • Versatile: Converts to HTML, PDF, and other formats

Markdown Syntax Guide

Here's a quick reference for common Markdown syntax:

ElementMarkdown SyntaxResult
Heading 1# HeadingHeading
Heading 2## HeadingHeading
Bold**bold text**bold text
Italic*italic text*italic text
Link[text](url)text
Image![alt](url)Image element
Code`code`code
Blockquote> quotequote
Unordered List- item• item
Ordered List1. item1. item
Horizontal Rule---

Why Convert Markdown to HTML?

While Markdown is great for writing content, web browsers don't natively understand Markdown. They need HTML to display formatted content. Converting Markdown to HTML bridges this gap, allowing you to:

  • Publish web content: Display your Markdown documents on websites and blogs
  • Email formatting: Convert Markdown drafts to HTML for rich email content
  • Documentation: Generate HTML documentation from Markdown source files
  • CMS integration: Import content into content management systems that require HTML
  • Preview content: See how your Markdown will look when rendered

Converting HTML back to Markdown is equally useful when you want to edit existing web content in a more readable format or migrate content to a Markdown-based system.

Common Use Cases

  • Blogging: Write blog posts in Markdown and convert to HTML for publishing
  • Documentation: Create technical docs in Markdown, export as HTML
  • GitHub READMEs: Preview how your README will render on GitHub
  • Email newsletters: Draft in Markdown, convert to HTML for email clients
  • Static site generators: Convert content for Jekyll, Hugo, or Gatsby
  • Content migration: Move content between different platforms
  • Learning: Understand how Markdown syntax maps to HTML elements
  • Quick formatting: Generate HTML snippets without writing tags manually

Frequently Asked Questions

Is my content sent to a server for conversion?

No. All conversion happens entirely in your browser using JavaScript. Your Markdown and HTML content never leaves your device. This ensures complete privacy and allows the tool to work offline once loaded.

What Markdown features are supported?

This converter supports GitHub Flavored Markdown (GFM), which includes headings, bold, italic, links, images, code blocks, blockquotes, ordered and unordered lists, tables, horizontal rules, and line breaks. Most common Markdown syntax is fully supported.

How accurate is the HTML to Markdown conversion?

The HTML to Markdown converter handles common HTML elements well, including headings, paragraphs, lists, links, images, bold, italic, and blockquotes. However, complex HTML with nested structures, custom classes, or inline styles may not convert perfectly. Always review the output for complex documents.

Can I use this for large documents?

Yes! The converter works well with documents of any reasonable size. Since processing happens in your browser, very large documents (thousands of lines) may take a moment to convert, but there's no size limit imposed by the tool itself.

Does the converter preserve code syntax highlighting?

The Markdown to HTML converter generates standard HTML code blocks with language classes (e.g., <code class="language-javascript">). To get syntax highlighting in your final output, you'll need to include a syntax highlighting library like Prism.js or Highlight.js in your project.

What's the difference between Markdown and HTML?

Markdown is a lightweight markup language designed for readability and ease of writing. HTML (HyperText Markup Language) is the standard markup language for web pages. Markdown is converted to HTML for display in browsers. Think of Markdown as a shorthand that gets expanded into proper HTML.

Can I embed HTML in my Markdown?

Yes! One of Markdown's features is that you can include raw HTML directly in your Markdown document. The HTML will be passed through unchanged when converting to HTML. This is useful for elements that Markdown doesn't support natively, like video embeds or custom styling.

Why doesn't my table convert correctly?

Markdown tables require a specific format: headers separated by pipes (|), a separator row with dashes, and data rows. Make sure your table has the proper structure. The HTML to Markdown converter handles simple HTML tables but may struggle with complex tables that have colspan, rowspan, or nested elements.