Live Preview
See the rendered result update as you type, without switching tools.
Markdown Editor
Write Markdown online, preview the rendered result instantly, count words and characters, and copy Markdown or clean HTML. Runs locally in your browser.
Advertisement
Advertisement
A Markdown editor lets you write and preview Markdown-formatted text in real time. Markdown is a lightweight markup language that uses plain-text symbols (# for headings, ** for bold, [link](url) for links) to create formatted documents. This editor supports GitHub-Flavored Markdown (GFM) including tables, code blocks, and task lists, with live preview and HTML export -- all running in your browser.
Write Markdown with live preview — no uploads, no sign-up
Split-pane editor with instant rendering, word count, and one-click HTML/Markdown copy. Everything runs locally in your browser.
Live preview
Word count
Free unlimited
How to use
- 1
Write Markdown
Type or paste Markdown into the editor panel.
- 2
Preview Instantly
Review the rendered preview side by side as you edit headings, lists, links, and emphasis.
- 3
Copy the Result
Copy either the Markdown source or the generated HTML for your document, CMS, or issue tracker.
Fast Markdown Drafting
Writing Stats
Track character, word, and line counts while drafting.
Clean HTML Copy
Turn Markdown into browser-rendered HTML and copy it in one click.
GitHub Flavored
Supports tables, task lists, strikethrough, code blocks with syntax highlighting, and more.
Advertisement
Understanding Markdown
What is Markdown and why use it?
Markdown was created by John Gruber in 2004 as a simple, readable text-to-HTML conversion syntax. Its design philosophy is that the source text should be readable as-is, without rendering -- a Markdown document with # Heading and **bold** text is understandable even in a plain text editor. This contrasts with HTML, where
Heading
and bold clutter the text with angle brackets. Markdown has become the standard format for documentation (GitHub README files, npm package docs), blogging (Jekyll, Hugo, Ghost), note-taking (Obsidian, Notion), and technical writing.GitHub-Flavored Markdown (GFM) extends the original Markdown specification with features requested by developers: fenced code blocks (`language), tables (| Column | Column |), task lists (- [x] done), strikethrough (~~text~~), and auto-linking URLs. GFM is the most widely used Markdown variant, supported by GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket, Discord, Reddit, and many other platforms. Our editor renders GFM using the marked.js library, which is a fast, spec-compliant Markdown parser.
Writing in Markdown has several advantages over WYSIWYG editors (like Microsoft Word or Google Docs): the files are plain text (future-proof, version-control friendly, searchable), the formatting is semantic (you describe what things are, not how they look), and the source is portable (works in any text editor). The separation of content and presentation means the same Markdown file can be rendered as HTML, PDF, EPUB, or slides with different styling.
Advertisement
Markdown syntax best practices
Use ATX-style headings (# for H1, ## for H2) with a space after the hash. Setext-style headings (underlining with === or ---) is deprecated in GFM. Leave a blank line before and after headings, lists, and code blocks -- many parsers require this for correct rendering. For emphasis, use **bold** and *italic* (asterisks) consistently. Avoid using _ for emphasis as it can conflict with variable names in technical documentation.
For code blocks, always specify the language for syntax highlighting: use triple backticks followed by the language name (javascript, python, bash). For inline code, use single backticks around the word. For links, use [text](url) format. For images, use . For tables, use the pipe syntax with a separator row: | Header | Header | / | --- | --- | / | Cell | Cell |. Tables must have a header row and a separator row -- cells in the body can be left empty but the structure must be maintained.
Advertisement
How does this compare to other Markdown editors?
A side-by-side comparison of popular online Markdown editors.
| Feature | NovaTools | StackEdit | Dillinger.io |
|---|---|---|---|
| Privacy (no server) | 100% local | Syncs to server | Server-side |
| GitHub-Flavored Markdown | GFM | ||
| Live preview | Split view | ||
| Syntax highlighting | |||
| Export to HTML | |||
| No registration | (for sync) | (for save) |
Our editor runs entirely in your browser -- your documents are never uploaded or stored on a server. Content is saved to your browser's local storage, so it persists between sessions without any account.
FAQ
Is my Markdown uploaded to a server?
No. The editor and preview run entirely in your browser using JavaScript. Your notes, drafts, documentation, and HTML output stay on your device — they are never transmitted to our servers, stored in a database, or accessible to anyone but you. The tool uses a client-side Markdown parser (marked.js) that runs in the browser's JavaScript engine. There are no autosave features that sync to the cloud, no analytics tracking what you write, and no cookies persisting your content. When you close the browser tab, all text is cleared from memory. This makes the tool safe to use for confidential documentation, internal notes, proprietary code snippets, or sensitive client communications.
Can I copy the rendered HTML?
Yes. Use the 'Copy HTML' button to copy the fully rendered HTML output of your Markdown. The HTML uses semantic tags (h1, h2, p, ul, ol, code, blockquote, etc.) with inline styles where necessary, making it ready to paste into a CMS, email template, or web page. The tool also supports a 'Copy Markdown' button for copying the raw Markdown source text. Both copy operations use the Clipboard API for reliable cross-browser support. The HTML output is sanitized to prevent XSS attacks — script tags, inline event handlers, and other potentially dangerous HTML are stripped automatically.
Does this editor render raw HTML from my Markdown?
No. Raw HTML is disabled in the preview for security reasons. Any HTML tags you type in the Markdown editor are escaped and displayed as literal text, not rendered as HTML. This prevents accidentally injecting scripts or breaking the page layout. If you need to include HTML in your Markdown output (e.g., for a CMS that supports HTML), use the 'Copy HTML' button to get the rendered HTML from your Markdown — the HTML will be clean, semantic, and sanitized. For most use cases, pure Markdown syntax is sufficient and more portable than raw HTML.
What Markdown features are supported?
The tool supports the full CommonMark specification plus several GitHub Flavored Markdown (GFM) extensions: headings (h1-h6), bold and italic text, strikethrough, inline code and code blocks with syntax highlighting, blockquotes, ordered and unordered lists, nested lists, task lists (checkboxes), tables, horizontal rules, links (inline and reference style), images, and automatic URL linking. The parser also supports footnotes and definition lists in some configurations. Check the preview pane to see how each syntax element renders in real time as you type.
Does the editor show word and character counts?
Yes. The tool displays real-time word count, character count (with and without spaces), and line count in the status bar below the editor. The word count follows the standard definition: any sequence of non-whitespace characters separated by whitespace is counted as one word. This is useful for meeting word count requirements in documentation, blog posts, academic papers, or social media content. The counts update instantly as you type — there is no need to click a button or refresh.
Can I use this editor for documentation?
Absolutely. The editor is well-suited for writing technical documentation, API docs, README files, wiki pages, and knowledge base articles. The live preview lets you see exactly how your documentation will look when rendered, and the one-click HTML copy gives you clean, semantic HTML ready to paste into any CMS or documentation platform. The tool supports code blocks with syntax highlighting, tables for data, blockquotes for callouts, and task lists for tracking documentation TODOs. For long-form documentation, consider copying the Markdown to a dedicated file on your device periodically, as the editor does not auto-save to disk.
Is my work saved if I close the tab?
The tool does not persist your work to disk or cloud storage. When you close or refresh the browser tab, all content is lost. We recommend copying your Markdown to a file on your device periodically using the 'Copy Markdown' button, or using your browser's 'Save Page As' feature to save the entire page. If you need auto-save functionality, consider using a dedicated Markdown editor application like Obsidian, Typora, or VS Code with a Markdown extension. This tool is designed for quick, private, browser-based editing rather than long-term document storage.
Can I use keyboard shortcuts?
Yes. The editor supports standard text editing shortcuts: Ctrl/Cmd+B for bold, Ctrl/Cmd+I for italic, Ctrl/Cmd+K for links, and Tab for code indentation. The editor also supports standard cursor movement and selection shortcuts. The preview pane updates in real time as you type, so there is no need to manually refresh. For a full list of supported Markdown syntax, refer to the CommonMark specification or experiment with the preview pane.
Private by Design
This tool processes Markdown locally in your browser using a client-side JavaScript parser.
- We do not upload, store, or inspect your text.
- Everything you write — notes, drafts, documentation, code snippets, or sensitive communications — stays on your device.
- The tool does not use cookies to persist your content, does not employ local storage or session storage for autosave, and does not run analytics scripts that track what you write.
- The Markdown parsing and HTML rendering happen entirely in the browser's JavaScript engine — there are no server-side API calls for processing.
- When you close the browser tab, all text and rendered HTML are cleared from memory immediately.
- This makes the tool safe to use for confidential documentation, internal notes, proprietary code, client communications, and any scenario where text content should not be exposed to third-party servers.
- The tool also works offline after the initial page load.
You might also like
Explore the topic
Helpful guides
How to Use a Markdown Editor with Live Preview
Learn how to draft Markdown faster with a live preview, writing stats, and clean HTML copy. A practical workflow for docs, README files, CMS drafts, and issue descriptions.
10 Free Developer Productivity Tools That Actually Save Time
Discover the best free tools for developers that boost productivity without breaking the bank. From code formatters to API testers, these tools will streamline your workflow.
How to Convert Markdown to Word (and Back) Without Losing Formatting
Stop struggling with document conversion. Learn how to convert Markdown to Word (DOCX) and Word to Markdown online for free. 100% private, browser-based, and handles images automatically.
Advertisement