Markdown to HTML Converter
Paste or type Markdown on the left — clean HTML appears on the right instantly. Copy the output in one click. Zero dependencies, no upload, runs entirely in your browser.
⏱ 5 min read · Complete guide below
<h1>Markdown to HTML Converter</h1>
<p>Paste your <strong>Markdown</strong> on the left — HTML appears here instantly.</p>
<h2>Text Formatting</h2>
<p>Supports <strong>bold</strong>, <em>italic</em>, <strong><em>bold italic</em></strong>, <del>strikethrough</del>, and <code>inline code</code>.</p>
<h2>Lists</h2>
<p>Unordered:</p>
<ul>
<li>Item one</li>
<li>Item two</li>
<li>Item three</li>
</ul>
<p>Ordered:</p>
<ol>
<li>First step</li>
<li>Second step</li>
<li>Third step</li>
</ol>
<h2>Links</h2>
<p>Visit <a href="https://www.publicsofttools.com">PublicSoftTools</a> for more free tools.</p>
<h2>Code Block</h2>
<pre><code class="language-javascript">function greet(name) {
return `Hello, ${name}!`;
}</code></pre>
<h2>Blockquote</h2>
<blockquote>
<p>Zero dependencies. Runs entirely in your browser.
No data sent to any server.</p>
</blockquote>
<hr>
<p><em>Start editing to see your own Markdown converted.</em></p>How the Markdown to HTML Converter Works
- 1Paste or type your Markdown source into the left panel. A sample document is pre-loaded so you can see the conversion immediately.
- 2The HTML output updates live on the right as you type — no button press needed. Line and character counts update in both panels.
- 3Click Copy HTML to copy the complete HTML string to your clipboard, ready to paste into any editor, CMS, or template.
- 4Optionally paste the output into the JS Beautifier to add indentation and formatting before using it in production.
Supported Markdown Syntax
The converter handles the elements used in everyday Markdown writing: headings (# through ######), bold, italic, bold+italic, strikethrough, inline code, fenced code blocks with language hints, unordered and ordered lists, blockquotes, links, images, and horizontal rules. This covers the CommonMark core spec and the subset of GitHub Flavored Markdown (GFM) most writers rely on daily.
Why Convert Markdown to HTML?
Markdown and HTML are two sides of the same coin: Markdown is what you write, HTML is what a browser renders. Converting between them is the everyday bridge in a huge range of publishing workflows. Writers and developers draft in Markdown because it keeps their hands on the keyboard and their source clean and readable, but the web ultimately speaks HTML — so at some point that Markdown has to become markup. You might do this to paste formatted content into a CMS or website builder that accepts a custom-HTML block, to embed a snippet inside an email template, to feed HTML into a system that has no Markdown support, or simply to see and grab the exact tags a piece of Markdown produces. Getting the HTML as copyable source— rather than just a rendered view — is the whole point of a converter, and it is what distinguishes this tool from a live preview, which shows the result but not the markup behind it.
Understanding the HTML It Produces
The converter emits clean, semantic HTML — real <h1>–<h6>, <p>, <ul>, <ol>, <blockquote>, <pre>/<code>, <strong>, and <em>elements — which is exactly what you want for accessibility and SEO. Two things are worth knowing about the output. First, it is an HTML fragment, not a complete document: there is no <html>, <head>, or <body> wrapper, because the markup is meant to be dropped inside a page or template you already have. If you need a standalone file, wrap the fragment in your own boilerplate. Second, the output is intentionally compact — minimal whitespace — which is efficient but harder to read; running it through an HTML beautifier restores indentation when you want to review or edit it by hand. As with any generated markup, if the source Markdown came from an untrusted person, sanitise the resulting HTML before publishing it to a site.
Tips for Using the Converter
Separate blocks with blank lines
Markdown treats consecutive non-empty lines as a single paragraph. Always add a blank line between headings, lists, code blocks, and paragraphs to produce clean, separate HTML elements.
Add language hints to code blocks
Opening a code fence with a language name — ```javascript — adds a class="language-javascript" attribute to the output <code> tag, which syntax highlighters like Prism and Highlight.js use automatically.
Paste directly into your CMS
WordPress, Ghost, Webflow, and most modern CMSs accept raw HTML in their custom HTML blocks. Copy the output and paste it directly — no extra processing needed.
Beautify before deploying
The output is compact but valid. If you want indented, human-readable HTML for code review or documentation, run it through the JS Beautifier — it handles HTML indentation cleanly.
Use the Diff Checker to compare versions
When editing Markdown and comparing two HTML outputs, paste both into the Diff Checker to see exactly what changed between conversions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this Markdown to HTML converter require any libraries or plugins?
No. The parser is written entirely in plain TypeScript and runs inside your browser — no external libraries, no CDN requests, and no backend. Everything executes client-side the moment you type.
Which Markdown elements are supported?
The converter supports ATX headings (# through ######), bold, italic, bold+italic, strikethrough, inline code, fenced code blocks with language hints, unordered lists, ordered lists, blockquotes, links, images, and horizontal rules. This covers the CommonMark core and most GitHub Flavored Markdown (GFM) used in practice.
Is my Markdown text sent to a server?
No. The conversion happens entirely in your browser using JavaScript. Nothing you type is transmitted over the network. Your content stays on your device at all times.
How do I copy the HTML output?
Click the "Copy HTML" button in the top-right of the output panel. The full HTML string is copied to your clipboard and ready to paste into any code editor, CMS, or website builder.
Can I use the output HTML directly in a webpage?
Yes. The output is standard HTML5 markup. Paste it inside any existing HTML structure. Note that the converter produces semantic block and inline elements (<h1>–<h6>, <p>, <ul>, <ol>, <blockquote>, <pre>, <code>, <strong>, <em>, <del>) but does not add a full document structure (<html>, <head>, <body>). Wrap the output in your own page template before deploying.
The HTML output is compact — can I format it with indentation?
Yes. Copy the HTML output and paste it into the JS Beautifier tool on this site. It will pretty-print the markup with consistent indentation, making it easier to read and debug.
Does the converter handle nested lists?
Basic single-level unordered and ordered lists are fully supported. Deeply nested lists (list items indented to create sub-lists) are treated as flat items in this lightweight implementation. If you need full nested-list support, paste your Markdown into a full CommonMark-compliant parser for production use.