Markdown to HTML: Complete Guide to Markdown Syntax
Master Markdown syntax for documentation, READMEs, blog posts, and technical writing.
What Is Markdown?
Markdown is a lightweight markup language created by John Gruber in 2004. You write in plain text with simple formatting conventions, and Markdown converts to HTML automatically. It is used by GitHub, Stack Overflow, Reddit, Notion, Obsidian, and most modern documentation platforms.
Complete Markdown Syntax Reference
Headings
H1 — Largest heading
H2 — Section heading
H3 — Subsection
#### H4, ##### H5, ###### H6 — Smaller headings
Text Formatting
Bold text or __Bold text__
*Italic text* or _Italic text_
~~Strikethrough~~
Inline code
Links and Images
[Link text](https://example.com)
[Link with title](https://example.com "Title text")
Lists
Unordered: - Item (or * or +)
Ordered: 1. First item
Blockquotes
> This is a blockquote
> Continuation of quote
Code Blocks
``python
print("Hello World")
``
Tables
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Row 1 | Data | More |
| Row 2 | Data | More |
Horizontal Rule
--- (three or more hyphens)
Markdown Flavors
CommonMark: The standardised specification.
GitHub Flavored Markdown (GFM): Adds tables, task lists, auto-links, strikethrough.
MultiMarkdown: Extended features for academic writing.
For web projects, assume GitHub Flavored Markdown — it is the most widely supported.
Frequently asked questions
What is Markdown used for?
Markdown is used for README files on GitHub, documentation, blog posts (many static site generators use Markdown), and note-taking apps. It converts to HTML, making it ideal for web content written in plain text.
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