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What is Markdown? A beginner's guide (and how to convert it to PDF, HTML or Word)

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Markdown is a way of writing formatted text using plain characters. You type # for a heading, asterisks for emphasis and hyphens for lists, and a converter turns it into formatted output such as a web page, a PDF or a Word file.

This guide covers the basic syntax with examples, and shows where to write, preview and convert Markdown for free with the Markdown editor.

What is Markdown used for?

  • README files and documentation for software projects.
  • Notes and personal knowledge bases, because the files are plain text and easy to keep.
  • Blog posts and web content that is later converted to HTML.
  • Drafts you want to turn into a PDF or Word document later.

Basic Markdown syntax

The tables and some other extras come from GitHub Flavored Markdown, which is the variant the DailyBox tools use. Different programs support slightly different extras, so check the one you are writing for.

  • Headings: start a line with # (largest) up to ###### (smallest), for example: # Title or ## Section.
  • Bold and italic: **bold** and *italic*.
  • Lists: start lines with - for bullets, or 1. 2. 3. for numbered lists.
  • Links: [link text](https://example.com).
  • Images: ![alt text](https://example.com/image.png).
  • Quotes: start a line with >.
  • Code: wrap short code in single backticks, and longer code in lines of three backticks.
  • Tables: separate columns with | and add a row of hyphens under the header row.

A short example

Typing a title line, a bullet list and a link takes only a few lines. Paste the example below into the Markdown editor and the live preview shows the formatted result next to it.

  • # Weekly notes
  • - Send the report
  • - Book the meeting room
  • Read the [guide](https://dailybox.studio).

Write and preview Markdown online

The Markdown editor shows a live preview as you type, with support for GitHub-style tables and shortcuts. If you only want to read an existing .md file, the Markdown viewer opens it with a table of contents.

For safety, raw HTML typed into the source is displayed as text instead of being run, and links and images are limited to safe address types.

Convert Markdown to PDF, HTML or Word

Each converter page explains its own options and limits, so check the result in your own viewer before sending it on.

Common beginner mistakes

  • Forgetting the space after # in a heading or after - in a list item.
  • Skipping the blank line between a paragraph and a list.
  • Leaving out the separator row of hyphens under a table header.

Questions and answers

What is Markdown?

A plain-text formatting syntax. You mark headings, lists and links with simple characters, and a converter produces formatted output such as HTML, PDF or Word.

What is a Markdown file?

A text file, usually ending in .md, that contains Markdown. You can open it in any text editor or the Markdown viewer.

How do I convert Markdown to PDF?

Paste or upload your text into Markdown to PDF, choose the page size and download the file.

Is Markdown the same everywhere?

No. The core syntax is shared, but extras such as tables and task lists vary between programs.

Tools used in this guide

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