Markdown Previewer
Write Markdown and see live HTML preview. Perfect for GitHub READMEs and documentation.
Start typing to see the preview...
π Complete Guide to Markdown Syntax and This Previewer
The DC Tools Markdown Previewer is a powerful, free online editor that lets you write Markdown and instantly see how it renders as HTML. Whether you're creating GitHub README files, writing blog posts, drafting documentation, or preparing content for any Markdown-compatible platform, this tool provides real-time visual feedback as you type, helping you create perfectly formatted content efficiently.
Markdown is a lightweight markup language created by John Gruber in 2004. Its design philosophy centers on readabilityβMarkdown source files should be as readable as possible in plain text form. This simplicity has made Markdown the de facto standard for documentation on platforms like GitHub, GitLab, Stack Overflow, Reddit, and countless content management systems. Our previewer fully supports GitHub Flavored Markdown (GFM), including tables, task lists, strikethrough, and fenced code blocks.
The split-screen interface shows your Markdown source on the left and the rendered preview on the right. Every keystroke updates the preview instantly, eliminating the frustrating edit-save-refresh cycle of traditional documentation workflows. The editor also includes a comprehensive toolbar for quick formatting and automatically saves your work to your browser's local storage.
Complete Markdown Syntax Reference
Master these Markdown elements to format any type of content. Our previewer supports all standard Markdown and GitHub Flavored Markdown syntax:
| Element | Markdown Syntax | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Bold Text | **bold** or __bold__ | bold |
| Italic Text | *italic* or _italic_ | italic |
| Strikethrough | ~~deleted~~ | |
| Inline Code | `code` | code |
| Heading 1 | # Heading | Largest heading |
| Heading 2 | ## Heading | Second-level heading |
| Heading 3-6 | ### to ###### | Smaller headings |
| Link | [text](url) | Clickable link |
| Image |  | Embedded image |
| Blockquote | > quoted text | Indented quote block |
| Horizontal Rule | --- or *** | Divider line |
Working with Lists in Markdown
Markdown supports three types of lists, each with specific use cases:
- Unordered Lists: Use hyphens (-), asterisks (*), or plus signs (+) followed by a space. Each item appears with a bullet point, perfect for feature lists or items without specific order.
- Ordered Lists: Use numbers followed by periods (1. 2. 3.). Markdown automatically renumbers items correctly even if your source numbers are wrong, making reordering easy.
- Task Lists (GFM): Use "- [ ]" for unchecked items and "- [x]" for checked items. These render as interactive checkboxes on GitHub and other platforms, ideal for to-do lists and progress tracking.
π‘ Pro Tip: This previewer supports GitHub Flavored Markdown (GFM), which means your content will render exactly as it would on GitHub. This makes it perfect for writing README.md files, wiki pages, issue descriptions, and pull request comments. Use the "Load Sample" button to see examples of all supported syntax.
π― Advanced Markdown Features
Beyond basic formatting, Markdown supports advanced features that make it powerful for technical documentation and complex content structures. Understanding these features helps you create professional, well-organized documents.
Creating Tables
Tables use pipes (|) and hyphens (-) to create structured data. The second row defines column alignment using colons:
- Left align: :--- or just ---
- Center align: :---:
- Right align: ---:
Code Blocks for Developers
For developers, code blocks are essential. Markdown supports two types of code formatting:
| Type | Syntax | Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| Inline Code | Single backticks: `code` | Short code snippets within paragraphs |
| Fenced Code Block | Triple backticks: ```code``` | Multi-line code with optional syntax highlighting |
| Language-Specific | ```javascript ... ``` | Syntax highlighting for specific languages |
Export Options
The previewer offers two download options to suit different needs:
- Download .md: Saves your raw Markdown source file. Perfect for uploading to GitHub, GitLab, or any Markdown-compatible platform. The file preserves all your formatting syntax.
- Download HTML: Exports the rendered HTML with basic styling. Ideal for embedding in websites, emails, or applications that don't support Markdown natively.
- Copy HTML: Copies the rendered HTML to your clipboard for quick pasting into other applications.
Statistics and Reading Time
The stats bar at the bottom provides useful metrics about your content:
| Metric | Description | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Lines | Total number of lines in your document | Helps gauge document length and structure |
| Words | Total word count | Essential for content length requirements |
| Characters | Total character count including spaces | Useful for platforms with character limits |
| Reading Time | Estimated time to read (based on 200 WPM) | Helps readers know what to expect |
πΎ Auto-Save Feature: Your content is automatically saved to your browser's local storage as you type. If you accidentally close the tab or your browser crashes, simply return to this page and your work will be restored. To start fresh, use the "Clear" button in the toolbar.
β Frequently Asked Questions
Markdown is a lightweight markup language that lets you format text using simple, readable syntax. It's used everywhereβGitHub, Stack Overflow, Reddit, blogs, documentation systems, and more. Unlike HTML, Markdown files are easy to read even in plain text form, and they convert seamlessly to HTML. It's faster to write than HTML and produces consistent, clean output.
Yes! Our previewer fully supports GitHub Flavored Markdown, including task lists with checkboxes, tables with alignment, strikethrough text, fenced code blocks with language identifiers, and automatic URL linking. Content you create here will render correctly on GitHub, GitLab, and other GFM-compatible platforms.
Yes! Your content is automatically saved to your browser's local storage as you type. When you return to this page, your last edited content will be restored automatically. This works even if you close the browser or restart your computer. For permanent storage, use the download buttons to save your files.
Absolutely! This tool is perfect for writing and previewing GitHub README files. The preview closely matches how GitHub renders Markdown, so what you see here is what you'll get on GitHub. Download your file as .md and upload it directly to your repository.
No! All Markdown parsing and HTML rendering happens entirely in your browser using JavaScript. Your content never leaves your device, is never transmitted over the internet, and is never stored on any server. This makes the previewer completely safe for sensitive documentation, private notes, or confidential content.
Download .md saves your raw Markdown source file, which is what you'd upload to GitHub or use with any Markdown processor. Download HTML exports the rendered output with basic CSS styling, which you can open in any browser or embed in websites that don't support Markdown natively.
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