Markdown Preview

What is a Markdown preview tool?

What this tool does

This tool provides a live split-pane Markdown editor: write on the left, see rendered HTML on the right. Standard syntax — headings, lists, links, emphasis, blockquotes, and fenced code blocks — updates instantly. Copy Markdown or the generated HTML when you need to paste into a CMS, README, or email template.

Why you need it

Markdown is the default format for READMEs, dev docs, GitHub issues, and static site generators — but raw syntax is hard to proofread. Committing just to preview on GitHub is slow; WYSIWYG editors hide the source. A live preview closes the loop: you see formatting mistakes, broken lists, and heading hierarchy before publishing. Copying HTML output bridges Markdown-first workflows with CMS fields that expect rich text or embedded markup.

Small syntax errors compound quickly in longer documents. A missing blank line before a list can flatten nested bullets into a single paragraph; an unclosed code fence swallows everything below it. Previewing locally catches those issues in seconds instead of after a failed deploy or a confusing render on your static site. The split layout also helps non-technical reviewers: they read the rendered pane while you keep the source editable on the left.

How to use it

1. Write or paste Markdown in the left editor pane.
2. Review the rendered preview on the right — it updates as you type.
3. Use Load sample to explore supported syntax with a working example.
4. Click Copy Markdown or Copy HTML to export the version your target platform needs.

Practical examples

• Draft a GitHub README and verify heading levels and code fences before pushing.
• Write release notes with bullet lists and blockquotes, then copy HTML into an internal wiki.
• Check link syntax and emphasis rendering before pasting into Ghost or Notion.
• Compare two Markdown drafts with the Diff Checker after exporting plain text.
• Preview a changelog with nested bullet lists and inline code before pasting into a GitHub release description.

How it works

The editor uses a CommonMark-compatible parser (marked.js) to transform Markdown into HTML on every keystroke. Headings become <h1>–<h6> tags; fenced code blocks become <pre><code>; links and images resolve to anchor and img elements. GitHub-specific extensions like tables and task lists may render differently here than on github.com. All parsing runs in your browser — documents are not stored on Kitnax servers.

Inline formatting — bold, italic, and inline code — is parsed within paragraph and list-item text without requiring HTML. Blockquotes nest by prefixing lines with >; links support both inline [text](url) and reference-style syntax. The Copy HTML action exports the preview pane’s rendered markup so you can paste into email clients, WordPress custom HTML blocks, or internal tools that do not accept raw Markdown. Copy Markdown preserves your source for repos, wikis, and note apps that store .md files directly.

Common mistakes

• Expecting GitHub-flavored tables or task lists to match exactly — stick to CommonMark basics for portable output.
• Forgetting blank lines before lists and headings — many parsers require them for correct nesting.
• Pasting raw HTML in the Markdown pane and assuming it will render — behavior depends on the target platform after export.
• Assuming content persists after refresh — save or copy before closing the tab.
• Indenting nested list items with spaces inconsistently — stick to two or four spaces per level so the parser groups bullets correctly.

FAQ

Related tools

• HTML Entity Encoder/Decoder
• Word & Character Counter
• Diff Checker
• Meta Tag / OG Preview