Convert MD to Markdown
Max file size 100mb.
MD (.md) vs Markdown (.markdown) Format Comparison
| Aspect | MD (Source Format) | Markdown (Target Format) |
|---|---|---|
| Format Overview |
MD
.md Extension
Markdown files using the abbreviated .md file extension. This is the most widely used extension for Markdown documents, recognized by GitHub, GitLab, VS Code, and virtually all platforms. The .md extension is the de facto standard in the developer community. Standard Extension Most Common |
Markdown
.markdown Extension
Markdown files using the full .markdown file extension. Created by John Gruber in 2004, this is the original, unabbreviated extension for Markdown documents. While less common than .md, some projects and style guides prefer the explicit .markdown extension for clarity. Full Extension Original Name |
| Technical Specifications |
Structure: Plain text with markup syntax
Encoding: UTF-8 (recommended) MIME Type: text/markdown Standard: CommonMark / GFM Extension: .md |
Structure: Plain text with markup syntax
Encoding: UTF-8 (recommended) MIME Type: text/markdown Standard: CommonMark / GFM Extension: .markdown |
| Syntax Examples |
Standard Markdown syntax in .md files: # My Document
This is a **bold** statement.
Here is *italic* text.
- Item one
- Item two
```python
print("Hello World")
```
|
Identical Markdown syntax in .markdown files: # My Document
This is a **bold** statement.
Here is *italic* text.
- Item one
- Item two
```python
print("Hello World")
```
|
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| Version History |
Introduced: 2004 (abbreviated form)
Current Standard: CommonMark / GFM Status: Active, de facto standard extension Evolution: Universally adopted as primary extension |
Introduced: 2004 (John Gruber)
Current Standard: CommonMark / GFM Status: Active, less commonly used extension Evolution: .md has become the preferred extension |
| Software Support |
GitHub: Default (README.md auto-rendered)
VS Code: Full support with preview Editors: Typora, Obsidian, iA Writer Other: All Markdown tools and platforms |
GitHub: Supported (renders as Markdown)
VS Code: Supported with preview Editors: Typora, Obsidian, iA Writer Other: Most modern Markdown tools |
Why Convert MD to Markdown?
Converting .md files to .markdown format is the process of changing the file extension from the abbreviated form (.md) to the full, original form (.markdown). Both extensions represent the same Markdown language created by John Gruber in 2004, but .markdown is the unabbreviated, more descriptive extension that some projects and style guides prefer for clarity and explicitness.
The content and syntax remain identical between .md and .markdown files. Both support the same features: headings, bold/italic text, links, images, code blocks, tables, and all other Markdown elements defined by CommonMark and GitHub Flavored Markdown (GFM) specifications. The conversion simply changes the file extension to the more descriptive form.
Some projects and style guides specifically require the .markdown extension to avoid any ambiguity with other formats that might use the .md abbreviation. The full extension is self-documenting -- anyone seeing a .markdown file immediately knows the format without needing any additional context. This can be particularly valuable in projects with mixed file types.
This conversion is especially useful when contributing to Ruby on Rails projects or other codebases that have adopted the .markdown convention, when standardizing file extensions across a project that already uses .markdown, or when your documentation build system specifically expects the .markdown extension.
Key Benefits of Converting MD to Markdown:
- Self-Documenting: The .markdown extension immediately identifies the file format
- No Ambiguity: Cannot be confused with any other file format
- Style Guide Compliance: Some projects specifically require .markdown
- Explicit Naming: Follows the principle of descriptive file extensions
- Project Consistency: Standardize all Markdown files to the .markdown convention
- Legacy Compatibility: Works with older tools that expect .markdown
- Zero Content Loss: All formatting and content preserved perfectly
Practical Examples
Example 1: Project README Conversion
Input file (README.md):
# My Awesome Project A tool for automating **daily tasks**. ## Installation ```bash npm install my-awesome-project ``` ## Usage See [documentation](docs/guide.md).
Output file (README.markdown):
# My Awesome Project A tool for automating **daily tasks**. ## Installation ```bash npm install my-awesome-project ``` ## Usage See [documentation](docs/guide.md). ✓ Identical content preserved ✓ Now uses explicit .markdown extension ✓ Self-documenting file type ✓ Recognized by all Markdown tools
Example 2: Documentation Migration
Input file (api-reference.md):
# API Reference ## Endpoints ### GET /users Returns a list of users. | Parameter | Type | Description | |-----------|--------|----------------| | limit | number | Max results | | offset | number | Skip records |
Output file (api-reference.markdown):
# API Reference ## Endpoints ### GET /users Returns a list of users. | Parameter | Type | Description | |-----------|--------|----------------| | limit | number | Max results | | offset | number | Skip records | ✓ Tables preserved perfectly ✓ Explicit .markdown extension applied ✓ Compatible with all Markdown processors
Example 3: Blog Post Conversion
Input file (my-post.md):
--- title: "Getting Started with Python" date: 2026-03-09 tags: [python, tutorial] --- # Getting Started with Python Python is a versatile programming language... 
Output file (my-post.markdown):
--- title: "Getting Started with Python" date: 2026-03-09 tags: [python, tutorial] --- # Getting Started with Python Python is a versatile programming language...  ✓ Front matter preserved ✓ Image references intact ✓ Compatible with Jekyll, Hugo, Gatsby
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Is .md the same as .markdown?
A: Yes, both .md and .markdown are file extensions for the same Markdown language created by John Gruber. The content, syntax, and rendering are identical. The only difference is the file extension itself. The .md extension is the abbreviated form, while .markdown is the original, full-length extension.
Q: Will any content be changed during conversion?
A: No. The conversion preserves 100% of your content, formatting, front matter, links, images, code blocks, tables, and all other Markdown elements. The only change is the file extension from .md to .markdown.
Q: Why would I want to use .markdown instead of .md?
A: Some projects and style guides prefer the explicit .markdown extension because it is completely unambiguous -- there is no other file format that uses .markdown. The .md abbreviation could theoretically conflict with other formats. Additionally, .markdown is self-documenting and immediately communicates the file type to anyone who sees it.
Q: Does GitHub support .markdown files?
A: Yes, GitHub renders both .md and .markdown files as formatted Markdown with full syntax highlighting, table rendering, and preview support. However, GitHub's default documentation file is README.md, so the .md extension is more conventional for GitHub-hosted projects.
Q: Which projects use .markdown instead of .md?
A: Some Ruby on Rails projects, older open-source repositories, and projects following specific style guides use the .markdown extension. The Ruby community historically favored .markdown, and some documentation frameworks are configured to look for .markdown files by default.
Q: Will front matter (YAML) be preserved?
A: Yes, YAML front matter (the content between --- delimiters at the top of the file) is fully preserved during conversion. This includes metadata like title, date, tags, categories, and any custom fields used by static site generators like Jekyll, Hugo, or Gatsby.
Q: Are there any tools that only support .md and not .markdown?
A: Virtually all modern Markdown tools support both extensions. Most editors (VS Code, Typora, Obsidian) and platforms (GitHub, GitLab) recognize both .md and .markdown files. Some CI/CD glob patterns may default to *.md, which would need to be updated if you switch to .markdown.
Q: Can I batch convert multiple .md files?
A: Yes, you can upload multiple .md files to our converter and they will all be converted to .markdown format simultaneously. Each file's content will be preserved exactly as-is with only the extension changed. This is ideal for standardizing an entire project's documentation to the .markdown convention.