Markdown to HTML Converter

This Markdown to HTML converter transforms plain text formatting into proper HTML markup that browsers can render. When you paste Markdown text, the converter identifies formatting patterns and replaces them with corresponding HTML tags.

The conversion process handles multiple Markdown elements systematically. Headings marked with # symbols become h1 to h6 tags, one # per level. Bold text surrounded by ** becomes strong tags, while italic text with * becomes em tags. Links in [text](url) format convert to anchor tags; a target that is not an http, https, mailto, relative or #fragment address is dropped, because a javascript: link would run code when clicked.

List conversion requires special handling since Markdown uses simple dashes or numbers while HTML needs opening and closing ul or ol tags. The converter tracks when you enter and exit list sections, automatically wrapping list items in the correct container tags. Code formatting works similarly, converting backtick-enclosed text to code tags and triple-backtick blocks to pre and code elements. A language name after the opening backticks, such as ```js, becomes class="language-js", which syntax highlighters read.

Use this Markdown to HTML converter when you have written content in Markdown format and need clean HTML output for websites, blogs, or documentation systems. This is essential when working with static site generators, content management systems that accept HTML input, or when preparing formatted content for web publication.

The converter is particularly useful for developers who write documentation in Markdown but need to embed formatted sections in HTML pages or email templates. Many technical writers prefer Markdown for its simplicity but require HTML output for final publication.

Choose this tool over manual HTML coding when you have substantial formatted content with headings, lists, and links. The automated conversion saves time and reduces the likelihood of HTML syntax errors that can break page layouts or accessibility features.

The most common mistake when converting Markdown to HTML is inconsistent spacing, which can break list formatting. Markdown lists require consistent indentation and spacing between items. Mixed tabs and spaces or irregular indentation will not convert properly to HTML list structures. This converter does not nest lists, and a blank line between items ends the list.

Another frequent issue is overlapping formatting. **bold *and italic*** nests correctly, but **bold *both** italic* has no valid nesting, so some markers stay as plain asterisks. Close inner formatting before outer formatting.

A code block ends only at a line of at least as many backticks as opened it, and a block with no closing line runs to the end of the text. Backticks inside a code block are kept as typed. To show a backtick inside inline code, wrap it in a longer run: ``a`b`` gives a`b.

Markdown to HTML conversion follows specific parsing rules that process text in a defined order. The converter first reads the text line by line for block elements (code blocks, headings, list items and paragraphs), then scans the text inside each block for inline elements like code, links, bold and italic.

The parsing sequence matters because some patterns can interfere with others. For example, the converter processes headings before paragraph tags to prevent heading text from being wrapped in p elements. Similarly, code blocks are handled before inline code to avoid conflicts with backtick characters inside larger code sections.

List processing remembers which kind of list is open (ul or ol, and the marker used), so it always closes the tag it opened. A blank line or a different kind of marker ends the list, and an ordered list that starts at 3 keeps that number as start="3". Nested lists are not supported.