What is markdown? Markdown is a text formatting syntax that helps to make writing on the internet easy. The plain text material should be readable and without any tags. But, it still allows users to add text modifiers such as lists, italics, etc. It is used in place of (what you see is what you get) that uses text which later gets changed to proper HTML. Markdown is used by popular websites such as Facebook, Skype, Reddit which helps you to format your messages. Thus, it is the best way to write for the web by using plain text.
Why it is worth using markdown?
There are many reasons for which it is worth using markdown. Some of the important benefits or reasons for using markdown are:
It is easy and fast to learn
Markdown is very simple and it is easy to learn. The first thing you should know about it is that if you type the word in astrix it will become bold and if you type the word in double astrix it will make the word in italics, lists can be written in the following three ways: click on enter and add any of these characters -, *, +, lastly if you want to add links you can write as [anchor text] (http://www.URL.com). Many tutorials are available online from where you can learn to use markdown.
So, it is easy to type markdown and is very fast than writing with a rich text editor. It is an easy way when you have to use links or bulleted lists. Not only this, but markdown also provides full HTML support so you can also code a table in HTML and can revert to markdown in the same document. It is difficult to read HTML codes while focusing on the content of the writing. But, when you use markdown you can focus on the words without worrying about formatting. Another important feature of the markdown is that there is a preview panel side by side with the writing area that helps writers to see the markdown as you work and it also makes it easy to see what it will look like after publishing. You do not have to guess anything because it will tell you at the same time if you mess up something.
Can be converted easily to HTML
If you want to write an email or a readme file where you will use HTML formatting options but not its full features, then markdown is the best option. Markdown gets converted to HTML easily thus saving you time and energy. You do not have to open and close the tags. Even, markdown can be used to convert the plain text to HTML built-in. Thus, markdown is software that can convert text to HTML in addition to being a markup language.
It will be used in the future for a long time
Markdown is used for formatting the plain text and as long as the plain text is used, markdown will be usable. Using plain text makes sure that it will never get outdated. So, there is no need to update the software to keep up with the format. Markdown has its filename extensions such as .md but it can be read as a raw text file.
It can be used everywhere
Markdown has become very popular since its discovery and its popularity is growing day by day. Markdown is used as an unofficial standard on popular coding sites such as GitHub. It is also used as a formatting option on Skype, Slack, and Facebook messenger. A modified version of markdown syntax is also used on Wikipedia which is called wikitext. Thus, it is worth learning to use markdown to keep up with modern technology and industry. Markdown helps writers and publishers to write without any distractions of a formatting toolbar and a mouse click. This helps them to focus on writing without lifting off fingers from the keyboard. Writers can get a seamless experience while using markdown for writing a document.
Few errors
HTML is all about tags and you have to use different characters for opening and closing them. You may have to use four characters for closing the tag or more to open it. If you forget to put a slash or use a wrong sign your whole page will get screwed up. If you are in a hurry it is difficult to find the errors. Markdown is simple and flexible allowing you to make few errors and it is easy to find errors. It is not easy to write straight in the browser window. You can lose or save your data easily. Most content management systems use WYSIWYG tools that help to create HTML code that can help to display your page attractively.
On the other hand, markdown can be written anywhere because it is plain text. You do not have to follow WYSIWYG because the characters used in the markdown look like the formatted text. It gives multiple options to the writers for choosing the formatting characters that will make more sense for their text. Markdown can be used on Windows, Mac, iOS, and the web. Some can also preview and export markdown writing as HTML that you can paste and upload in your CMS after completion.
Where can you use markdown?
Markdown can be used in many cases. This is mainly useful at places that require formatting text. Some places where you can use markdown are given below:
Emails
If you have to send many emails every day, you may feel furious while using a sloppy email client editor. In such cases, markdown can be used for email clients that support it. It can save you time and effort for formatting the text. You can use markdown for writing an email and then you can export it to the email client.
To make lists
Making lists with markdown is easy and quick. You can remove distractions and if you want to use a special app for making a list, you can use markdown. There are different apps used for different software.
Notes
If you want to organize your notes, you can use markdown. It can also be used for journal entries. Do not allow a messy text editor to spoil your notes or journals, you can use markdown to make it easy and simple.
Forums
Markdown can also be used for writing forums. You have to write a lot of text in forums. Forums such as GitHub allow users to use markdown for writing a post and format comments. It helps to maintain consistency in text formatting and you do not have to worry about text editors.
Create a web page
You can create a web page without having any programming skills. This is possible by using markdown even if you do not know HTML. Thus, if want to create a web page and you do not know HTML, you can use markdown for creating a web page. There is no need to install markdown on your site to use it. It is a writing language. It is the best way to format plain text and you do not have to deal with Microsoft word or any other rich text editor.
Markdown is so easy to learn. You can start writing today using this efficient and quick writing tool for your emails, notes, and many more.
