Markdown Preview Guide

Quick answer

Paste Markdown into the editor and the preview updates in real time, rendering headings, lists, quotes, links, inline code, and fenced code blocks. The current public implementation is designed for browser-side rendering.

What this tool does

The Markdown preview renders standard Markdown syntax into formatted HTML in the browser. It is useful for checking how a document will look before committing it to a repository, pasting it into a CMS, or sharing it with collaborators.

Supported input

Common Markdown syntax:

• Headings: # H1 through ###### H6
• Paragraphs and line breaks
• Bold: bold
• Italic: *italic*
• Strikethrough: ~~strikethrough~~
• Ordered lists: 1. item
• Unordered lists: - item or * item
• Blockquotes: > quote
• Inline code: code (backtick-wrapped text)
• Fenced code blocks: three backticks wrapping content
• Links: text
• Images: image syntax such as ![alt](url)
• Horizontal rules: ---

Output

• Live rendered preview in the browser
• Copy HTML button to copy the generated HTML markup

Step-by-step use

1. Paste or type Markdown into the editor panel
2. The preview updates in real time
3. Review the rendered output for formatting correctness
4. Use Copy HTML if you need the underlying HTML markup
5. Copy the Markdown source if you need it for a different platform

Practical workflow

Preview Markdown after the draft has been counted and cleaned, but before it moves into a CMS, docs repo, README, or image-card workflow. If the draft will become multiple formats, use the Content Publishing Workflow to move from word count to text cleanup, preview, PNG cards, and long-article slices.

Data handling and processing behavior

Rendering is designed to happen in your browser based on the current public implementation. Avoid entering sensitive drafts unless you have reviewed the implementation.

Limits

• Tables, footnotes, task lists, and math blocks are not supported in this version. For tables, use the Markdown Table Generator.
• Raw HTML is escaped and displayed as text, not rendered as HTML. This is intentional for safety when previewing untrusted content.
• Very long documents may cause the browser tab to use more memory. For typical README-length content this is not a concern.
• GitHub Flavored Markdown (GFM) extensions (like strikethrough and task lists) may not render here even if they work in GitHub.

Practical handoff note

For Markdown preview handoff, keep the renderer context visible. GitHub, docs sites, CMS editors, and chat tools can differ in tables, code fences, HTML, and task lists. Use preview for drafting confidence, then check the destination renderer before publishing.

Common errors

Rendering looks different from GitHub or the target platform

Markdown dialects differ. If the preview looks correct but GitHub renders it differently, the target platform may support different syntax extensions. Check the specific platform's Markdown reference for supported syntax.

Code block language label not rendering

Some platforms use language identifiers inside fenced code blocks (```javascript) and some do not. The preview shows the content regardless of the language label.

Blank lines disappearing

In standard Markdown, two blank lines between paragraphs may be collapsed. If you need deliberate spacing, use HTML spacing elements or adjust the target platform's rendering.

Next steps

• Content Publishing Workflow — prepare one draft for docs, Blog, README, cards, or social slices
• Markdown to HTML Converter — convert Markdown drafts to HTML for use in web projects
• HTML to Markdown Converter — convert HTML back to Markdown when migrating content
• Markdown to PNG — export a Markdown draft as a styled PNG image card
• Word Counter — check length and reading time before previewing final structure
• Markdown Table Generator — generate properly formatted Markdown tables for documentation