Markdown to HTML: Complete Conversion Guide for Writers and Developers
Markdown is a lightweight markup language designed to be readable as plain text while converting to clean HTML for web rendering. It is the standard for README files, documentation, blog posts, and content management systems.
Markdown syntax quick reference
# H1 ## H2 ### H3
**bold** *italic* ~~strikethrough~~ `code`
[Link text](url) 
- Unordered list item
1. Ordered list item
> BlockquoteCode blocks
```javascript
const x = 1;
```
→ <pre><code class="language-javascript">...</code></pre>Tables
| Header | Header |
|--------|--------|
| Cell | Cell |When to write Markdown vs HTML
Use Markdown when writing documentation, README files, blog posts, or content a non-developer will edit. Speed and readability matter more than layout control.
Use HTML when you need precise layout, custom classes, inline styles, or elements Markdown does not support (video, canvas, custom attributes).
Markdown flavours
- CommonMark — strict standardised spec, most modern parsers implement this
- GitHub Flavored Markdown (GFM) — adds tables, task lists, strikethrough
- MultiMarkdown — adds footnotes, citations, metadata
The tool on this site uses marked.js which implements CommonMark with GFM extensions — tables and strikethrough are supported.
Using the converted HTML
- Copy HTML — paste into a CMS editor, email builder, or HTML file
- Download .html — saves a complete standalone HTML document
- Preview tab — see the rendered output as it would appear in a browser
Frequently asked questions
Can I convert a .md file directly?
Open your .md file in any text editor, copy the content, and paste it into the Markdown input area.
Does it support code syntax highlighting?
It outputs the correct HTML with language class attributes. Add Prism.js or Highlight.js to your page to activate syntax colouring.
Why does my table not render?
Tables require GFM syntax: pipes separating columns and a header separator row with dashes. Ensure a blank line before the table.