Markdown Editor
Write Markdown and watch the formatted result appear beside it. The toolbar and shortcuts insert the syntax for you, lists continue automatically, and your text stays in your browser until you download it as Markdown or HTML.
- Runs in your browser
- No sign-up
- Free to use
Your text is saved in this browser only, so it is still here when you come back.
How to use Markdown Editor
- Type in the left pane, or open an existing .md file.
- Use the toolbar or the shortcuts Ctrl+B, Ctrl+I and Ctrl+K to format the selected text.
- Check the preview on the right as you write.
- Download the document as .md or .html, or copy the generated HTML.
Markdown Editor features
Live preview
The rendered document updates as you type, with GitHub-style tables, task lists and strikethrough.
Formatting toolbar
Bold, italic, headings, links, images, lists, quotes, code and tables with one click.
Smart lists
Pressing Enter continues a bullet, numbered or task list; an empty item ends it.
Saved locally
The text is kept in your browser's storage, so a reload or a closed tab does not lose your work.
Export options
Download Markdown, a standalone HTML page, or copy the HTML.
Private
Nothing you write is sent to a server.
When to use Markdown Editor
- Drafting a README, a changelog or project documentation.
- Writing a blog post for a platform that accepts Markdown.
- Taking structured notes with headings, lists and tables.
- Learning Markdown by seeing the effect of each piece of syntax immediately.
Markdown Editor FAQ
Where is my text stored?
In the local storage of your browser on this device. It is not uploaded and not tied to an account. It stays until you clear it with New, clear your browsing data, or use a private window, which discards storage when closed. Download a copy of anything you want to keep.
Which Markdown flavour is supported?
CommonMark with the GitHub extensions: tables, task lists, strikethrough and automatic links. This is what GitHub, GitLab and most documentation tools render.
Can I use HTML inside Markdown?
Yes, ordinary HTML tags are rendered. For safety, the preview and the exported HTML are sanitised, which removes scripts, event handlers and other active content.
How do I insert a table?
Select Table in the toolbar to insert a three-column template, then edit the cells. Columns are separated by vertical bars, and the second row of dashes separates the header from the body. For larger tables, the Markdown Table Generator is quicker.
Are there keyboard shortcuts?
Ctrl+B for bold, Ctrl+I for italic and Ctrl+K for a link, with Cmd instead of Ctrl on a Mac. Tab inserts two spaces, which is how nested list items are indented.
What is the difference between this and the Markdown to HTML converter?
The converter is for turning a finished document into HTML code. The editor is for writing: it has formatting commands, list continuation, word counts and automatic saving.
Writing in Markdown
Markdown was created so that formatted text could be written in any plain editor and still be readable as it is. A line starting with a hash is a heading. Words between asterisks are emphasised. A hyphen starts a list item. The source looks close to how people have always marked up plain-text email, and software turns it into clean HTML. That combination of readability and portability made it the standard for README files, documentation, issue trackers, chat tools and a large share of blogging and note-taking software.
An editor with a live preview shortens the path from syntax to result. You do not need to remember whether links put the text or the address first, since the toolbar inserts the pattern and selects the part you need to fill in. You see at once if a list is nested as intended or if a table row has one cell too many. After a while most of the syntax becomes automatic, and the preview serves mainly as a proofreading view.
The structure of a Markdown document deserves the same care as its wording. Use one top-level heading for the title and descend in order, since many tools build a table of contents from the headings. Keep paragraphs short. Prefer lists for steps and options, and tables only for data that is really tabular. Put code and commands in code blocks so that characters such as asterisks and underscores are not interpreted.
Because the text here is saved only on your device, treat the editor as a workspace. When a document matters, download it and keep it where your other files are: in a project folder, a repository or your notes.