Markdown
A lightweight plain-text markup language that converts to HTML and is widely used for developer documentation, README files, and changelogs.
Full Definition
Markdown is a plain-text formatting syntax created by John Gruber that uses simple punctuation characters (e.g., `#` for headings, `**` for bold, backticks for code) to add structure and formatting that can be rendered as HTML or other output formats. It is the de facto standard for developer documentation, README files, wikis, and static-site content. Editors working in developer tool environments must be fluent in Markdown syntax and aware of its many dialect variations, including CommonMark, GitHub Flavored Markdown (GFM), and MDX. 'Markdown' is always capitalised as a proper noun. Do not confuse with 'markup' (the broader category) or conflate it with HTML.
Usage
Usage note: Always capitalise 'Markdown' as a proper noun. The file extension is `.md`. Be aware of variant flavours (GFM, CommonMark) that may support different syntax features.
In Context
- "The project's documentation is written in Markdown and rendered by a static site generator." — Contributing guide
- "Ensure 'Markdown' is capitalised throughout; 'markdown' (lowercase) is incorrect." — Editorial style note