Convert Always

format

Markdown

Markdown is plain text with a light syntax that converts cleanly to HTML.

Also known as MD.

Convert a file now

What is a Markdown file?

A readable plain-text syntax for headings, lists, links and emphasis that renders to HTML or print formats.

Technical characteristics

Representation
text
Encoding
UTF-8
Lossy
No
Open specification
Yes

History and origin

Introduced
2004
Created by
John Gruber and Aaron Swartz

Compatibility

    Applications: GitHub, Obsidian, Notion, VS Code, static site generators.

    Advantages of Markdown

    • Readable as-is
    • Version-control friendly
    • Converts cleanly to HTML

    Limitations to know about

    • Dialects differ on tables and footnotes
    • No layout control

    When to use Markdown

    • Documentation
    • READMEs
    • Note-taking
    • Blog drafts

    Convert Markdown files

    Markdown scores

    Deterministic scores calculated from the structured facts above. Identical facts always produce identical scores.

    Overall score

    80/100

    • Printing score

      100
      • lossless data means no compression artefacts appear at print resolution
      • a broad range of applications read and write it

      Confidence 51% · evidence coverage 50%

    • Editing score

      100
      • lossless data survives repeated open-edit-save cycles without degrading
      • a broad range of applications read and write it

      Confidence 48% · evidence coverage 63%

    • Openness score

      100
      • the specification is published openly
      • an openly specified format can be implemented without a licence negotiation

      Confidence 50% · evidence coverage 100%

    • Archiving score

      97
      • the specification is public, so a decoder can always be rebuilt
      • the specification is published openly
      • it is actively maintained and current
      • an openly specified format can be implemented without a licence negotiation

      Confidence 63% · evidence coverage 89%

    • Longevity score

      96
      • it is actively maintained and current
      • the specification is published openly
      • the specification is public, so a decoder can always be rebuilt
      • it sits at the centre of the format ecosystem, with many documented relationships

      Confidence 61% · evidence coverage 100%

    • AI score

      92
      • open specifications are implemented by the open-source decoders that ML stacks rely on
      • the specification is published openly
      • a broad range of applications read and write it
      • large lossless payloads cost bandwidth and memory

      Confidence 48% · evidence coverage 100%

    • Compatibility score

      88
      • a broad range of applications read and write it
      • an open specification means cloud SDKs can implement it without licensing friction

      Confidence 57% · evidence coverage 50%

    • Photography score

      63
      • lossless data survives repeated open-edit-save cycles without degrading
      • it stores data losslessly, so files stay large

      Confidence 41% · evidence coverage 44%

    • Web score

      36
      • the specification is published openly
      • it stores data losslessly, so files stay large
      • large lossless payloads cost bandwidth and memory

      Confidence 46% · evidence coverage 67%

    • Performance score

      26
      • it stores data losslessly, so files stay large
      • large lossless payloads cost bandwidth and memory

      Confidence 50% · evidence coverage 100%

    • Streaming score

      22
      • it stores data losslessly, so files stay large
      • large lossless payloads cost bandwidth and memory

      Confidence 50% · evidence coverage 50%

    What Markdown is recommended for

    Every conclusion below is derived from the structured facts on this page — nothing is written by hand.

    • Software compatibility100/100

      • Because a broad range of applications read and write it.
      • Because several mainstream applications support it.

    • Printing suitability100/100

      • Because lossless data means no compression artefacts appear at print resolution.
      • Because it is a page-description format built around fixed layout.

    • Cloud compatibility100/100

      • Because an open specification means cloud SDKs can implement it without licensing friction.
      • Because it converts into many other formats, which suits automated pipelines.

    • AI compatibility100/100

      • Because open specifications are implemented by the open-source decoders that ML stacks rely on.
      • Because lossless pixels avoid compression artefacts leaking into training data.
      • Because wide library support means common data loaders can read it.

    • Long-term archiving100/100

      • Because the specification is public, so a decoder can always be rebuilt.
      • Because lossless storage preserves the original data for future migrations.
      • Because it is a current, actively maintained format.

    • Professional editing100/100

      • Because lossless data survives repeated open-edit-save cycles without degrading.
      • Because professional applications read and write it.

    • Open standards100/100

      • Because the specification is published openly.

    • Licensing100/100

      • Because an openly specified format can be implemented without a licence negotiation.
      • Because the core patents are old enough to have expired.

    • Popularity100/100

      • Because it sits at the centre of the format ecosystem, with many documented relationships.
      • Because mainstream applications ship support for it.
      • Because it is still current rather than being phased out.

    • Future-proofing88/100

      • Because it is actively maintained and current.
      • Because open specifications outlive the companies that create them.
      • Because nothing in the graph supersedes it yet.

    What Markdown is not recommended for

    • Compression efficiency0/100

      • Because it stores data losslessly, so files stay large.
      • Because its codec generation predates modern entropy coding and block partitioning.

    • Web suitability33/100

      • Because lossless payloads cost more bandwidth than the web usually justifies.

    Related to Markdown

    File extensions

    Media types

    Compared with

    Supported by

    Data quality

    Every claim on this page is classified as a verified fact, a derived fact or an assumption.

    Overall confidence
    85%
    Verification status
    verified
    Last reviewed
    2026-08-03
    Verified facts
    2

    2 classified claims backed by 1 source.

    • Convert Always editorial review — Convert Always

    Sources and review status

    Review status: verified · confidence 80%

    Last reviewed 2026-08-03 (revision 1).

    • Convert Always editorial review — Convert Always