Markdown is a simple way to format plain text using characters such as #, *, - and backticks. It is commonly used for README files, documentation, project instructions, AI agent context files, and technical notes.
For example:
# Heading
## Subheading
**Bold text**
*Italic text*
- List item
- Another item
[Link text](https://example.com)
`inline code`
```
javascript
console.log("Code block");
```
Markdown Files
Markdown files normally use the .md extension.
There are several variations of Markdown. CommonMark provides a well-defined standard, while GitHub Flavored Markdown (GFM) adds features commonly used in software projects, such as tables, task lists, and additional code formatting.
Markdown Editors
You can edit Markdown in almost any text or code editor. For a dedicated visual Markdown editor, Typora is available for both macOS and Windows and provides a live formatted view while you write.
- macOS: Typora, Visual Studio Code, Macdown
- Windows: Typora, Visual Studio Code
- Any platform: A normal text editor is enough if you do not need a preview
For beginners, Typora is particularly easy because the Markdown formatting is rendered directly in the editor rather than requiring a separate preview window.