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What is Markdown?

Markdown is a lightweight markup language that uses plain-text symbols — like # for headings, * for emphasis and - for lists — to format text that converts to HTML. It is fast to write, readable as raw text, and widely used for READMEs, documentation, notes and blogging.

Markdown maps simple symbols to HTML: # for headings, **bold**, *italic*, - or 1. for lists, [text](url) for links and backticks for code. The source stays readable even before rendering.

It powers GitHub READMEs, documentation sites, chat apps and static blogs. Most processors also let you embed raw HTML for anything Markdown cannot express.

Markdown tools

Frequently asked questions

Is Markdown the same as HTML?

No — Markdown is a simpler syntax that converts to HTML. It covers common formatting; you can drop raw HTML in for the rest.

Where is Markdown used?

READMEs, documentation, static-site blogs, chat apps (Slack, Discord) and note-taking tools.