What is HTML to Markdown Conversion?
HTML to Markdown conversion transforms HTML markup into Markdown syntax, a lightweight markup language created by John Gruber in 2004. While HTML is the standard for web pages, Markdown is preferred for documentation, README files, blog content, and note-taking because it is simpler to read and write. Converting HTML to Markdown is common when migrating content between platforms, extracting web page content for documentation, or converting rich text editor output into a portable, version-control-friendly format. Markdown is natively supported by platforms like GitHub, GitLab, Notion, Obsidian, Jekyll, Hugo, and many content management systems.
How to Use This Tool
Paste your HTML into the input field or click "Load sample" to see an example. Configure your preferred output style using the options at the top: choose ATX (# heading) or Setext (underline) heading style, pick your bullet list marker (-, *, or +), and select fenced or indented code block formatting. Click "Convert to Markdown" to generate the output. The result appears in a code block with a copy button for easy clipboard access. The converter handles headings, paragraphs, bold, italic, links, images, lists, code blocks, and blockquotes.
Common Use Cases
- Migrating blog posts from WordPress or CMS platforms to static site generators like Hugo, Jekyll, or Astro
- Converting web page content into Markdown for documentation repositories on GitHub or GitLab
- Transforming rich text editor output (like TinyMCE or CKEditor) into clean Markdown for storage
- Extracting content from email newsletters or web scrapes into readable Markdown notes in Obsidian or Notion
Why Use a Client-Side Tool?
This converter processes HTML entirely in your browser using the Turndown library. No content is sent to any external server, so it is safe to convert proprietary documentation, internal wikis, and confidential content. The conversion runs instantly without network delays or API rate limits. Once the page is loaded, it works offline as well. This is particularly important for teams converting internal documentation that may contain sensitive business information or access credentials embedded in HTML.
Frequently Asked Questions
What HTML elements are supported in the conversion?
The converter handles all common HTML elements including headings (h1 through h6), paragraphs, bold and italic text, links, images, ordered and unordered lists, code blocks, inline code, blockquotes, and horizontal rules. Complex elements like tables and iframes may require manual adjustment after conversion.
What is the difference between ATX and Setext heading styles?
ATX headings use hash symbols (# for h1, ## for h2, etc.) and are the most common Markdown heading style. Setext headings use underlines with equals signs for h1 and dashes for h2, but only support two heading levels. ATX is recommended for most use cases because it supports all six heading levels and is more widely recognized across Markdown parsers.
Can I convert HTML tables to Markdown?
Basic HTML tables can be converted, though complex tables with merged cells (colspan/rowspan) or nested tables may not produce perfect Markdown output. Markdown tables have limited formatting options compared to HTML. For best results, keep your HTML tables simple with standard rows and columns. You may need to manually adjust the output for complex table structures.