Markdown to HTML

What is Markdown?

Markdown is a lightweight markup language created by John Gruber in 2004 as a way to write formatted text using a plain-text editor. It uses simple, readable syntax that is easy to learn and write, making it the preferred format for documentation, README files, blog posts, comments, and messages across platforms like GitHub, Reddit, and Stack Overflow.

The key advantage of Markdown is its portability. Markdown files are plain text, which means they can be opened and edited with any text editor, tracked in version control systems, and easily converted to HTML for display on the web. This converter transforms your Markdown text into clean, standards-compliant HTML that can be used in websites, emails, content management systems, and more.

Our converter handles the most commonly used Markdown elements including headings, bold and italic text, lists, blockquotes, code blocks, links, and horizontal rules. It processes everything in your browser with no server round-trips, making it fast and private.

How to Use This Converter

Type or paste your Markdown text into the left panel. The converted HTML will appear in the right panel in real time as you type. You can switch between two viewing modes for the output:

• Preview -- Shows how the HTML will look when rendered in a browser. This is useful for quickly checking the visual appearance of your formatted text.
• HTML Code -- Shows the raw HTML source code. Use this when you need to copy the HTML to paste into a website, email template, or content management system.

Click the "Copy HTML" button to copy the generated HTML to your clipboard. You can then paste it directly into your HTML files, CMS editors, or any other tool that accepts HTML input.

Supported Markdown Syntax

Headings

Create headings by prefixing text with hash symbols. One hash for H1, two for H2, and three for H3. For example, "# My Heading" becomes an H1 element.

Bold and Italic

Wrap text in double asterisks for bold ("**bold**") or single asterisks for italic ("*italic*"). Combine them with triple asterisks for bold italic ("***bold italic***").

Lists

Create unordered lists by starting each line with a hyphen and a space ("- item"). Each list item becomes an HTML list element wrapped in an unordered list container.

Blockquotes

Prefix a line with a greater-than sign ("> quoted text") to create a blockquote. This is commonly used for attributing quotes or highlighting important text.

Code

Inline code is created with single backticks ("`code`"). Code blocks use triple backticks with an optional language identifier ("```javascript"). Code blocks are rendered with proper HTML escaping to prevent XSS vulnerabilities.

Links

Create links with the syntax "[link text](URL)". The converter generates proper anchor tags with href attributes.

Horizontal Rules

Three hyphens on their own line ("---") create a horizontal rule, rendered as an HTML hr element.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the converter support tables?

The current version focuses on the most commonly used Markdown elements. Tables, footnotes, and some advanced features like task lists are not yet supported. The converter handles headings, text formatting, lists, blockquotes, code, links, and horizontal rules.

Is the generated HTML safe to use directly?

Yes. The converter escapes HTML entities in code blocks to prevent rendering issues and potential XSS vulnerabilities. However, if your Markdown contains raw HTML, it will be passed through as-is. Always review the output before using it in a production environment.

Can I convert HTML back to Markdown?

This tool is designed for Markdown-to-HTML conversion only. For HTML-to-Markdown conversion, you would need a separate tool. However, you can check out the other converter tools on KnowKit for additional format conversion options.