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Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Markdown is a plain-text notation for writing structured content with simple punctuation. A compatible processor converts marks such as ##, **, and [text](URL) into headings, bold text, and links. In WordPress, the documented way to use it in the current Block Editor is Jetpack’s Markdown block: add the block, write or paste Markdown, preview the result, and then publish.
What is Markdown?
Markdown lets you describe document structure and formatting with ordinary keyboard characters instead of selecting every control with a toolbar. For example, ## Getting started indicates a level-two heading, while **important** indicates bold text.
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Your Markdown remains readable as plain text. A Markdown processor interprets the conventions and produces formatted output. The CommonMark specification describes Markdown as a plain-text format for writing structured documents, based on conventions used in email and Usenet posts. John Gruber developed Markdown in 2004 with help from Aaron Swartz. Many implementations later added different extensions, which is why the exact result can vary between tools.
Common Markdown syntax
| Purpose | Markdown to type | Rendered result |
|---|---|---|
| Heading | ## Getting started |
Level-two heading |
| Bold | **important** |
important |
| Italic | *optional* |
optional |
| Link | [WordPress](https://wordpress.org/) |
A linked word |
| Unordered list | - First item |
A bulleted list item |
| Blockquote | > A quoted passage |
A block quotation |
| Inline code | `code` |
code |
| Fenced code block | ``` around one or more lines |
A code block |
These forms are part of the syntax commonly supported by CommonMark-compatible processors. Extensions such as tables, task lists, or special attributes may not be available in every parser, so check the documentation for the tool you plan to use.
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Does WordPress support Markdown?
WordPress is block-based in its current Block Editor. WordPress does not automatically interpret every piece of raw Markdown pasted into every editor or installation. The source-backed WordPress workflow described here is Jetpack’s dedicated Markdown block.
Markdown is an authoring notation; it is not the same thing as WordPress’s saved block representation. WordPress stores block content as HTML-based markup separated by block-delimiter comments. The editor parses that representation and WordPress parses it again when rendering the front end. A Markdown block is therefore a tool that accepts Markdown and turns it into content within WordPress’s block system.
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How to add Markdown to a WordPress post
Jetpack documents the following workflow for Jetpack-connected sites using the Block Editor:
- Open the post or page in the Block Editor. The Markdown block requires this editor.
- Add a block. Select the inserter button, then search for
Markdown. - Select the Markdown block. Click the result to insert it into the content.
- Write or paste your Markdown. You can use headings, emphasis, links, lists, quotations, and code syntax.
- Choose Preview. Inspect the rendered version before publishing.
- Check the post in context. Verify the final spacing, links, headings, nested lists, images, and code blocks in the editor and, where possible, the published view.
- Publish or update the post. Do this only after the preview matches the structure you intended.
Jetpack says its Markdown block uses the markdown-it parser and supports CommonMark. Jetpack’s interface and feature availability can change, so confirm the current block documentation if a label or setting differs on your site.
What to check in the preview
Preview is important because Markdown dialects and parsers do not all behave identically. Test the parts of the document most likely to expose a compatibility problem:
- Headings: confirm that each heading has the intended level and that hashes are placed correctly.
- Nested lists: check indentation and whether numbered and bulleted levels remain nested.
- Links: open important links and confirm that the visible text and destination are correct.
- Images: verify the image syntax, alternative text, and displayed size if your workflow supports images.
- Code: check both inline backticks and fenced code blocks, including line breaks.
- Quotes and spacing: make sure blockquotes, paragraphs, and blank lines render as intended.
Why Markdown may look different in another WordPress setup
Markdown has multiple implementations. CommonMark defines a specified core syntax to reduce ambiguity, but plugins and editors may add, remove, or interpret extensions differently. A document that uses basic CommonMark syntax is generally more portable than one that depends on an unverified extension, but the target parser still controls the result.
The verified Jetpack workflow requires the Block Editor and a Jetpack-connected site. If you cannot find the Markdown block:
- Confirm that you are editing with the Block Editor rather than a different editor interface.
- Check that Jetpack is connected and that the Markdown feature is available on the site.
- Look for a theme or plugin that disables or replaces the Block Editor.
- Test a short sample containing a heading, link, list, and code span before moving a long document into the block.
Other Markdown plugins and external editors may use different parsers, storage methods, or conversion steps. Their current compatibility was not established here, so do not assume that a syntax feature supported by Jetpack will work in another setup.
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Markdown block, another plugin, or external editor?
Choose a workflow by comparing the facts that affect your publishing process:
| Comparison point | Questions to answer |
|---|---|
| Where you write | Is Markdown authored in Jetpack’s dedicated block, another WordPress plugin, or an external editor? |
| Dialect | Does the tool support CommonMark only, or does it document additional extensions? |
| Preview | Can you preview the rendered result before publishing, and does that preview match the front end? |
| Saving and conversion | Is Markdown retained as source text, converted to HTML, or stored inside a WordPress block representation? |
| Requirements | Does the workflow require the Block Editor, a connected service, or a particular plugin? |
For the documented Jetpack option, the answers are: a dedicated Markdown block in the Block Editor; CommonMark support through markdown-it; a Preview option; and use on a Jetpack-connected site. Verify any alternative against its own current documentation.
Markdown and the WordPress Code editor are different
The Block Editor includes a Code editor for viewing the post or page’s code representation. That view exposes WordPress’s HTML-based block markup and delimiter comments; it is not automatically a Markdown editor. Use the Markdown block when you want a processor to interpret Markdown syntax, and use the Code editor when you need to inspect or edit the saved block markup supported by WordPress.
Quick Recap
A practical Markdown workflow
- Draft in plain text. Use the basic syntax you know your target parser supports.
- Keep structure deliberate. Use heading levels in order, short paragraphs, and list markers consistently.
- Insert the text into the correct Markdown tool. For the documented WordPress route, that is Jetpack’s Markdown block in the Block Editor.
- Preview before publishing. Pay particular attention to links, nested lists, images, and code.
- Fix unsupported features. Replace an extension with simpler syntax or use a tool that explicitly supports it.
- Review the published page. Confirm that the front-end output matches the preview and that interactive links work.
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