Markdown
Markdown is a lightweight markup language created by John Gruber and Aaron Swartz in 2004. It is designed to be easy to read and write, allowing users to format text for the web using a simple and intuitive syntax. Markdown files use the .md or .markdown extension and can be easily converted to HTML and other formats.
Key features of Markdown include:
Simple syntax for headings, lists, emphasis, links, and code blocks
Support for inline HTML
Easy to learn and use, even for non-technical users
Wide adoption in documentation, readme files, and content management systems
Extensibility through various flavors and implementations
Markdown is widely used in platforms like GitHub, Stack Overflow, and many static site generators. It strikes a balance between readability in its raw form and the ability to be transformed into visually appealing formatted content.
For more information and the official specification, visit the Markdown website.