Markdown Editor

Markdown is plain text with a few symbols that mean formatting. Because it is just text, it works in any editor, it is easy to read even before it is converted, and it is used for README files, documentation, notes apps, forums and many blogging tools.

Tables use pipes between columns and a row of dashes under the header. Put a colon on the right of the dashes to align a column to the right, which is useful for numbers. The table button inserts a starter table you can extend. Task lists are bulleted items that start with [ ] or [x] and show as checkboxes in the preview, handy for to-do lists and meeting actions.

Download .md keeps the plain Markdown so you can edit it later here or in any other editor, or commit it to a project as a README. Download .html creates a complete web page with simple readable styles that opens in any browser. Copy HTML puts just the formatted content on the clipboard for pasting into a website builder or a content management system.

Need a Word document instead? Use the Markdown to DOCX tool with the same text.

The editor runs entirely in your browser. Your draft is saved in this browser's local storage so that it survives a refresh, and it is never sent anywhere; clearing the editor removes it. Raw HTML in your Markdown is sanitised and the preview runs in a locked-down frame, so pasted content cannot run scripts.

Leave an empty line between paragraphs, headings, lists and tables; Markdown joins lines that are not separated by an empty line into one paragraph. Indent a list item by two or four spaces to nest it under the item above. Use one heading level 1 for the title and level 2 and 3 headings for sections, which keeps documents easy to scan and makes a clear outline when the text is converted to HTML or Word. Put code, commands and file names in backticks so they are not changed by formatting, and use fenced code blocks with the language name, such as js or python, for longer examples.