Introduction to Markdown
Section overview
Before diving into the syntax and details of Markdown, it's important to understand what Markdown is, why it was created, and how it fits into the landscape of document formats.
This section provides the context and background you need to understand the rolr of Markdown.
In this section
This introductory section includes the following lessons:
- What is Markdown? This lesson is and introduction to Markdown as a lightweight markup language, its creation by John Gruber, and the ideas behind it's design. Learn why Markdown has become so popular and where it's commonly used for formatting documents.
- Markdown Tools and Setup Here we cover the various tools available for writing Markdown, including popular text editors and Markdown applications. Set up your environment for effective Markdown writing and previewing both on desktop or online.
- Markdown vs. Alternative Formats Markdown is not along in the world of text formatting, here we compare Markdown to other text formatting approaches like HTML, rich text editors, and other markup languages. Understand the strengths and limitations of Markdown.
Learning objectives
By the end of this section, you'll be able to:
- Explain what Markdown is and it's primary purpose.
- Understand the philosophy behind Markdown's design.
- Identify common use cases for Markdown.
- Set up a productive environment for writing Markdown.
- Make informed decisions about when to use Markdown versus alternative formats.
- Appreciate the different flavors of Markdown and their origins.
Getting started
Begin with the first lesson, "What is Markdown?" to start your journey into the world of Markdown. Each lesson builds on the previous one, so we recommend following them in sequence for the best learning experience if you are new to the subject. Or, if you already have an understanding of Markdown, feel free to skip to the subject lesson of your choice.