How to Convert Markdown to HTML (and Back)
Markdown is a lightweight markup language that converts to HTML. It's the standard for READMEs, documentation, blog content, and developer communication. Converting between Markdown and HTML is a common task — writing in Markdown for simplicity, then converting to HTML for web publishing, or extracting Markdown from existing HTML content.
- Convert Markdown to clean HTML and HTML back to Markdown.
- Covers quick markdown syntax reference.
- Covers converting markdown to html.
- Covers converting html to markdown.
- Covers markdown best practices.
Quick Markdown Syntax Reference
Headings: # H1, ## H2, ### H3. Bold: text. Italic: *text*. Links: [text](url). Images: . Code: `inline` or ``` blocks. Lists: - unordered or 1. ordered. Blockquotes: > text. Horizontal rules: ---. Tables use pipes and dashes to define columns and rows.
Converting Markdown to HTML
In JavaScript, marked and markdown-it are the standard libraries: marked.parse('# Hello') returns '
Hello
'. In Python, markdown and mistune handle conversion. GitHub Flavored Markdown (GFM) adds tables, task lists, and strikethrough — most converters support this extension. The Markdown to HTML tool converts instantly in your browser — paste Markdown on the left, see rendered HTML on the right.Converting HTML to Markdown
The reverse conversion — HTML to Markdown — is useful for extracting content from web pages for documentation or migration. The HTML to Markdown tool strips HTML tags and converts them to Markdown equivalents:
becomes #, becomes , becomes [text](url). Complex HTML with nested divs and custom classes won't convert perfectly — Markdown represents a subset of HTML's capabilities.
⚠ WarningCSS gradients used as backgrounds cannot be animated with standard transitions. Use background-size animation or @property registered custom properties instead.
Markdown Best Practices
Use ATX-style headings (# H1) not Setext-style (underlines). Leave a blank line before and after headings, lists, and code blocks. Use fenced code blocks () with language identifiers for syntax highlighting. Keep lines under 80-120 characters for readability in source form. Use reference-style links for long URLs to keep the source readable.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I convert Markdown to HTML?
Use a Markdown parser library (marked for JavaScript, markdown for Python) or paste your Markdown into the Markdown to HTML tool for instant conversion with a live preview.Can I convert HTML back to Markdown?
Yes, with limitations. The HTML to Markdown tool converts standard HTML elements to their Markdown equivalents. Complex HTML with custom classes and nested structures may not convert perfectly.What is GitHub Flavored Markdown?
GFM is an extension of standard Markdown that adds tables, task lists (- [ ] item), strikethrough (~~text~~), and autolinked URLs. Most Markdown tools support GFM by default.📚 References & Further Reading
background-size animation or @property registered custom properties instead.) with language identifiers for syntax highlighting. Keep lines under 80-120 characters for readability in source form. Use reference-style links for long URLs to keep the source readable.