Markdown Formatter
This Markdown formatter normalises the things Markdown deliberately lets you write several ways: asterisk or dash list markers, underlined or hash headings, underscore or asterisk emphasis, and the spacing around blocks. That flexibility is fine while writing and a nuisance in a repository, where it becomes diff noise on lines nobody meaningfully changed. Tables are re-aligned so their pipes line up. Fenced and indented code blocks are passed through exactly as written, because their contents are not Markdown and reflowing them would change what the code says.
How it works
Normalises the things Markdown lets you write several ways: list markers, heading style, emphasis characters, and the spacing around blocks. Tables are re-aligned so their pipes line up.
Embedded code blocks are left exactly as written, since their contents are not Markdown.
Everything runs in your browser — nothing you paste is sent to a server.
How to format Markdown
- Paste your Markdown into the input on the left.
- Choose an indent size and wrap width.
- Copy or download the normalised document.
What gets normalised
Markdown deliberately lets you write the same thing several ways — * or - for list
items, underlined or hash headings, _italic_ or *italic*. That flexibility is fine while
writing and a nuisance in a repository, where it turns into diff noise. Formatting picks one form and applies it
throughout, and re-aligns table pipes so columns line up.
Code blocks are untouched
Fenced and indented code blocks are passed through exactly as written, because their contents are not Markdown and reflowing them would change what the code says.
Common use cases
- Tidying a README before committing it.
- Fixing a table whose pipes stopped lining up after an edit.
- Normalising documentation contributed by several people.
Frequently asked questions
Why format Markdown at all?
Because Markdown allows several spellings of the same thing, and mixing them turns into diff noise on lines nobody meaningfully changed. Picking one style throughout keeps reviews focused on real edits.
Are my code blocks reformatted?
No. Fenced and indented code blocks are passed through exactly as written, since their contents are not Markdown and reflowing them would change the code.
Does it fix broken tables?
It re-aligns the pipes of a well-formed table so the columns line up. A table with a mismatched number of cells per row is a content problem the formatter cannot guess its way out of.
Is front matter preserved?
Yes. YAML front matter at the top of the file is left in place.
Is my code uploaded anywhere?
No. Everything runs entirely in your browser, so nothing you paste is transmitted or stored on a server.
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