Markdown
A simple way of adding formatting to plain text using a few easy symbols, so you can create headings, bold words, and lists without any special software. Type a hash for a heading or wrap a word in asterisks to make it bold. This lightweight formatting language is called markdown.
Markdown is a way of formatting text using a handful of plain symbols: a hash sign starts a heading, asterisks around a word make it bold, and a dash at the start of a line makes a bullet point. Because it stays readable even before it is turned into neat formatting, it has become popular for notes, documentation, and writing of all kinds, with nothing to install and very little to learn.
It matters to you because AI tools use markdown everywhere. When a chat assistant replies with tidy headings and lists, it is very often writing in markdown behind the scenes, and knowing the basics helps you read those replies and structure your own prompts, whether through a chat window or an API. For the full explanation, with examples you can try, read our guide What is Markdown?
Related terms
Used in
- The core markdown syntax · Guide
- Markdown and AI · Guide
- What is Markdown? A beginner's guide · Guide