A Markdown preview online shows you the rendered output of your Markdown as you type - making it easy to write formatted content without installing an editor or setting up a local environment.
What is Markdown?
Markdown is a lightweight markup language that converts plain text to formatted HTML using simple, readable syntax. Created by John Gruber in 2004, it is now the standard for:
- README files on GitHub, GitLab, and Bitbucket
- Documentation (Docusaurus, MkDocs, GitBook)
- Blog posts and CMS content (Ghost, Contentful, Notion)
- Chat platforms (Slack, Discord, Telegram)
- Jupyter notebooks and data science reports
Instead of writing <strong>bold</strong>, you write **bold**. Instead of <h2>Heading</h2>, you write ## Heading.
How to Use the Markdown Preview
- Open the Markdown Preview on UtilWave.
- Write or paste Markdown in the left panel.
- The rendered preview updates in real time on the right.
- Click Copy HTML to export the rendered HTML for use in your application or site.
- Everything runs in your browser - nothing is saved to any server.
Markdown Syntax Reference
Headings:
# H1 Heading
## H2 Heading
### H3 Heading
Emphasis:
**bold** or __bold__
*italic* or _italic_
~~strikethrough~~
Lists:
- Unordered item
- Another item
1. Ordered item
2. Second item
Links and images:
[Link text](https://example.com)
Code:
Inline `code` and:
```javascript
const x = 1;
**Tables:**
```markdown
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| Cell | Cell |
Common Use Cases
Writing README files - Preview your README before committing to GitHub to confirm headings, tables, and code blocks render correctly.
Blog drafting - Write article drafts in Markdown and export the HTML to paste into your CMS.
Technical documentation - Markdown's simplicity makes it ideal for team wikis and developer docs.
Email campaigns - Draft formatted newsletters in Markdown and export HTML for your email platform.
FAQ
Which Markdown flavour does the preview support? The preview supports CommonMark-compatible Markdown with GitHub Flavored Markdown (GFM) extensions: tables, task lists, strikethrough, and fenced code blocks.
Are syntax highlighting and code blocks supported?
Yes. Fenced code blocks with a language identifier (e.g., ```javascript) are supported and rendered with syntax highlighting.
Can I use the exported HTML directly?
Yes - the exported HTML is a fragment (no <html> or <body> wrapper) that you can paste into any HTML document or CMS rich-text field.
Is there autosave? Content is not automatically saved to any server. Copy your Markdown or HTML before closing the tab if you want to keep it.
Preview and export Markdown instantly with the free Markdown Preview tool.