Markdown
A lightweight markup language that uses simple plaintext formatting syntax (like asterisks for bolding) to easily create beautifully formatted web documents.
What it is
Markdown allows writers to format text for the web without writing raw HTML tags. Using simple symbols (like # for headers or () for links), it is instantly converted into stylized web pages. It is the universal standard for writing README files, software documentation, and AI prompt instructions.
When you would use it
You use Markdown whenever you need to write formatted, highly readable text documents, particularly in software development and documentation environments.
Common operations
- Writing the central README.md documentation file for a GitHub repository.
- Providing structured system prompt instructions to an AI agent.