Markdown is a lightweight way to format plain text with simple symbols — # for headings, * for emphasis, - for lists — that convert cleanly to HTML. It's widely used for docs, READMEs and notes.

How do I make a link in Markdown?

Put the link text in square brackets followed by the URL in parentheses: [text](https://example.com). Add an exclamation mark in front to embed an image instead.

How do I write a heading in Markdown?

Start a line with one to six hash symbols — # for the top level, ## for the next, and so on — then a space and your text.

Can I convert Markdown to HTML?

Yes. Our Markdown to HTML tool renders your Markdown into clean HTML you can paste anywhere, and converts back the other way when you need to.

Text · 4 min read

Markdown Syntax Guide

A concise Markdown cheat sheet: headings, bold, lists, links, images, code and tables — with examples you can try in a live editor.

By the ToolsHub team · Updated May 1, 2026

Markdown is a lightweight way to format plain text using simple symbols that convert cleanly to HTML. It's the standard for READMEs, documentation and many note apps. Try any of this in our live Markdown Editor.

The essentials

# Heading, ## Subheading — one # per level.
**bold** and *italic*.
- item for bullets; 1. item for numbered lists.
[link text](https://example.com) for links.
![alt](image.png) for images.
> quote for a blockquote.
Backticks for inline code, and triple backticks for a code block.

Tables

GitHub-flavoured Markdown supports tables with pipes and dashes: | Column | Value | on one line, |--------|-------| under it, then a row per line.

Converting to and from HTML

When your content lives in Markdown but a CMS needs HTML, use Markdown to HTML. Moving the other way — pulling content out of a web page into a README — use HTML to Markdown.

A quick Markdown cheat sheet

# Heading — one to six hashes for H1–H6.
**bold** and *italic* for emphasis.
- item or 1. item for bullet and numbered lists.
[text](url) for a link, with a leading ! for an image.
`code` for inline code, and triple backticks for a code block.
> quote for a block quote.

Markdown's strength is that the source stays readable even before it's rendered. When you need HTML output, our Markdown to HTML tool converts it cleanly, and converts existing HTML back to Markdown too.

Frequently asked questions

What is Markdown?: Markdown is a lightweight way to format plain text with simple symbols — # for headings, * for emphasis, - for lists — that convert cleanly to HTML. It's widely used for docs, READMEs and notes.
How do I make a link in Markdown?: Put the link text in square brackets followed by the URL in parentheses: [text](https://example.com). Add an exclamation mark in front to embed an image instead.
How do I write a heading in Markdown?: Start a line with one to six hash symbols — # for the top level, ## for the next, and so on — then a space and your text.
Can I convert Markdown to HTML?: Yes. Our Markdown to HTML tool renders your Markdown into clean HTML you can paste anywhere, and converts back the other way when you need to.

Try the tool

Markdown Editor →Markdown to HTML →HTML to Markdown →