How to use the Markdown to HTML Converter
Markdown is the lightweight syntax used by GitHub, Stack Overflow, Reddit, and most static-site generators. The converter outputs clean HTML you can paste directly into any CMS or template.
Paste Markdown
Drop in your Markdown content. The converter handles standard CommonMark plus GitHub-flavored extensions (tables, task lists, fenced code blocks, strikethrough).
Review the HTML output
The right pane shows the converted HTML. Headings become <h1>–<h6>, lists become <ul>/<ol>, code blocks become <pre><code>.
Toggle preview
See the rendered HTML to verify formatting before copying. Catches issues like accidental nested lists or unclosed code blocks.
Copy and paste
Use the HTML in your CMS, email template, or static-site source. Most CMSes accept HTML directly in the body editor.
Why Markdown is the universal content format
Markdown is the closest thing to a universal content interchange format. Writers use it because it's faster than HTML; developers use it because it's parseable; CMSes use it because it's portable across systems.
Where Markdown shows up
- Static-site generators — Hugo, Jekyll, Eleventy, Next.js (MDX).
- Documentation tools — Read the Docs, GitBook, Notion exports.
- Forums and dev platforms — GitHub, Stack Overflow, Reddit, Discord.
- Notes apps — Obsidian, Notion, Bear, Logseq.
- AI chat outputs — most LLM responses are formatted in Markdown by default.
Markdown flavors
- CommonMark — the standardized spec, supported by most parsers.
- GitHub Flavored Markdown (GFM) — adds tables, task lists, fenced code, strikethrough, autolinks. Most widely supported flavor.
- MDX — Markdown plus JSX components. Used in modern React docs and blogs.
Frequently asked questions
What is Markdown?
A lightweight markup language created by John Gruber in 2004 for writing formatted text without the verbosity of HTML. Common syntax: # for headings, * for bullets, ** for bold, [text](url) for links. Parsers convert Markdown to HTML for display.
Should I write blog posts in Markdown or HTML?
Markdown — it's faster to write, easier to read in source form, and renders to clean HTML. Most modern CMSes accept Markdown directly. The exception is highly customized layouts where you need full HTML control.
What's GitHub Flavored Markdown?
GitHub's extended version of Markdown. Adds tables (| col1 | col2 |), task lists (- [x] done), fenced code blocks (triple backtick with language), strikethrough (~~text~~), and autolinks. The most widely supported Markdown flavor outside CommonMark.
Can I include HTML inside Markdown?
Yes — Markdown allows raw HTML to be mixed in. Most parsers pass HTML through unchanged. Useful for things Markdown doesn't natively support (custom classes, styled blockquotes, video embeds). Keep HTML use minimal to preserve portability.
Does Markdown support images?
Yes: . The alt text is required for accessibility. For image options Markdown doesn't support (size, alignment, captions), fall back to HTML <img> or <figure> tags.