Markdown adds structure with simple text symbols
Markdown is a lightweight markup syntax that represents headings, lists, links, emphasis, and other structure using simple characters in ordinary text. John Gruber published it in 2004 with an emphasis on keeping the source readable before conversion to HTML.
What does Markdown look like?
- Put
#at the beginning of a line for a heading - Begin a line with
-for a list item - Surround text with
**for bold emphasis - Combine square brackets and parentheses to create a link
You can structure a document from the keyboard without pressing formatting buttons. Markdown files commonly use the .md extension and remain readable as plain text in almost any editor.
Where is it used?
Markdown appears in note-taking apps such as Obsidian, GitHub repository documents, technical documentation, blog drafts, and instructions for AI. Because both content and structure remain text, it is easy to search, compare, version, and transform.
It is also a good choice for people who do not want their writing locked into one application. A plain-text Markdown file is relatively easy to move and preserve over time.
Markdown has several variants
Apps add their own extensions and small syntax differences. CommonMark is one specification intended to define a shared core. Tables, task lists, and footnotes may work differently depending on the service.
You do not need to learn every feature. Headings, lists, and links are enough to make Markdown useful, and application-specific syntax can be learned when a real need appears.