What Is Markdown?
Markdown is a lightweight plain-text formatting syntax created by John Gruber in 2004. It lets you add formatting — headings, bold, lists, links, code — using simple punctuation characters that are readable even in raw text form. The most popular extended version, GitHub Flavored Markdown (GFM), adds tables, task lists, strikethrough, and fenced code blocks.
Markdown vs HTML
| Feature | Markdown | HTML |
|---|---|---|
| Readability | High — plain text | Low — tag-heavy |
| Writing speed | Fast | Slow |
| Styling control | Limited | Complete |
| Browser support | Needs conversion | Native |
| Best for | Docs, READMEs, blogs | Web pages, templates |
Why Developers Use Markdown
Markdown became the default language of developer documentation because it is fast to write, requires no special tooling, and produces clean output. Every major platform — GitHub, GitLab, Notion, Confluence, Reddit, Stack Overflow — renders Markdown natively. Writing in Markdown means your content is portable: the same source can render in a GitHub README, a static site generator, a documentation platform, or an email.
GitHub Flavored Markdown Explained
GitHub Flavored Markdown extends the CommonMark specification with features developers need every day. Tables let you document APIs and configuration options in a scannable format. Task lists track to-do items in issues and pull requests. Fenced code blocks with language labels enable syntax-highlighted snippets. Strikethrough marks deprecated options. This converter supports all GFM features.