Markdown Previewer

What this tool does

The Markdown Previewer is a real-time rendering tool that converts Markdown syntax into formatted HTML. Markdown is a lightweight markup language that uses simple syntax to format text, and this tool provides instant visual feedback showing how your Markdown will appear when rendered.

The tool supports standard Markdown features including headers, bold and italic text, lists, links, code blocks, blockquotes, and more. It renders Markdown as you type, allowing you to see the formatted output immediately and make adjustments as needed.

All HTML output is sanitized to prevent XSS (Cross-Site Scripting) attacks, ensuring safe rendering of user-provided Markdown content. This makes the tool safe for previewing Markdown from various sources.

When to use it

Content Writing: Preview Markdown content before publishing to blogs, documentation, or websites.

Documentation: Write and preview documentation in Markdown format to ensure proper formatting.

Learning Markdown: Experiment with Markdown syntax to understand how different elements render.

Code Documentation: Preview README files, code comments, or technical documentation written in Markdown.

Blog Writing: Write blog posts in Markdown and preview them before converting to HTML or publishing.

Note Taking: Use Markdown for notes and preview them to ensure proper formatting and readability.

API Documentation: Preview API documentation written in Markdown to ensure it's properly formatted and readable.

How to use it

1. Enter Markdown: Type or paste your Markdown text into the input area. Use standard Markdown syntax.

2. View Preview: The HTML preview appears automatically as you type, showing how your Markdown will render.

3. Review Formatting: Check headers, lists, links, code blocks, and other elements to ensure they render correctly.

4. Make Adjustments: Edit your Markdown based on the preview to achieve the desired formatting.

5. Reset: Use the reset button to clear input and preview.

6. Load Example: Click the example button to see sample Markdown with various formatting elements.

Example

Markdown Input:

# Heading 1

## Heading 2

This is **bold** and this is *italic*.

- List item 1
- List item 2

[Link text](https://example.com)

\`code\` and \`\`\`code block\`\`\`

HTML Preview: Renders as formatted HTML with proper styling.

Common mistakes

Incorrect Syntax: Markdown syntax errors won't render correctly. Ensure proper syntax for headers (#), lists (-), links (), etc.

Escaping Characters: Special Markdown characters need to be escaped with backslash when used literally.

Code Blocks: Code blocks require triple backticks (```) on separate lines. Inline code uses single backticks (`).

List Formatting: Lists need proper indentation and consistent markers (-, *, or numbers).

Link Syntax: Links require both square brackets [] for text and parentheses () for URL in correct format.

Header Levels: Use # for h1, ## for h2, etc. Don't skip levels or use incorrect number of # symbols.

Tips for better results

Learn Markdown Syntax: Familiarize yourself with Markdown syntax for best results. Many guides are available online.

Preview Regularly: Preview your Markdown frequently as you write to catch formatting issues early.

Use Consistent Style: Maintain consistent Markdown style throughout your document for better readability.

Test Links: Verify that links render correctly and URLs are properly formatted.

Check Code Blocks: Ensure code blocks are properly formatted with language identifiers if needed.

Review Output: Always review the HTML preview to ensure it matches your expectations before using the content.

Sanitization: Remember that the tool sanitizes HTML output for security. Some HTML may be stripped or modified.

FAQ

What markdown features are supported? The tool supports standard markdown syntax including headers, lists, links, code blocks, blockquotes, bold, italic, and more.

Is the output sanitized? Yes, all HTML output is sanitized to prevent XSS attacks, ensuring safe rendering of user-provided Markdown content.

Can I use HTML in Markdown? Some HTML may work in Markdown, but it may be sanitized for security. Stick to Markdown syntax for best results.

Does the tool support GitHub Flavored Markdown? The tool supports standard Markdown. Some GitHub-specific features may not be supported.

Is there a size limit? While there's no strict limit, very long Markdown documents may take longer to render. For extremely large files, consider using specialized tools.

Can I use this offline? Yes, once the page is loaded, Markdown rendering happens entirely in your browser and works offline.

Can I export the HTML? The tool displays the rendered HTML preview. You can view the HTML source or copy it if needed.

Does the tool support tables? Standard Markdown tables may be supported depending on the Markdown parser used. Check the preview to verify.

Can I use this for production? This tool is for previewing Markdown. For production use, use proper Markdown-to-HTML conversion tools or services.

What happens to unsupported Markdown? Unsupported Markdown syntax will render as plain text or may not render at all, depending on the syntax.