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Markdown

Markdown

MIME type: text/markdown

Markdown is a lightweight markup language for creating formatted text using a plain-text editor. It's the standard for README files, documentation, blog posts, and note-taking apps.

Advantages

  • +Simple, intuitive syntax
  • +Readable as plain text
  • +Converts to HTML easily
  • +Used everywhere: GitHub, Reddit, Notion, Obsidian

Limitations

  • -No standard for extended features (tables, footnotes)
  • -Limited styling control
  • -Different flavors (CommonMark, GFM, MDX)
  • -No embedded media (just links)

Common Use Cases

GitHub README filesTechnical documentationBlog posts and articlesNote-taking (Obsidian, Notion)Comments on Reddit, Stack Overflow

Technical Details

Markdown uses simple syntax: # for headings, * for bold/italic, - for lists, []() for links, ```for code blocks. CommonMark is the standardized specification. GitHub Flavored Markdown (GFM) adds tables, task lists, and strikethrough.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Markdown file?

Markdown (.md) files contain formatted text using a simple syntax. Headers use #, bold uses **, lists use -, and links use [text](url). It's the standard for documentation and README files.

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