Share Markdown source
Markdown is a text format that most tools quietly convert into HTML. That conversion is where the surprises live: a table that does not render, an HTML block that disappears, a fence that swallows the rest of the document. Sharing the source keeps the text and the conversation about it in the same place.
What you get on pastesite.com
- Syntax colouring for headings, links, emphasis and fenced code blocks — so structure is visible without rendering.
- No rendering. Raw HTML inside a Markdown paste is displayed as text, not interpreted. Nothing runs, nothing loads.
- Preserved whitespace, which matters for fenced blocks and nested lists.
- A raw endpoint that returns the Markdown exactly as stored — useful for
curlinto a file or a docs build.
A paste is not a preview
If the question is "why does this README render wrong on GitHub?", the answer usually depends on what GitHub's renderer does with your source. Paste the source here, then compare it with the rendered page. The mismatch between source and output is the bug. For a real preview, use the host that will render it — a local Markdown viewer or the platform's own draft mode.
Pull a fenced block back out
# keep fenced code intact when copying to a terminal
curl -s https://pastesite.com/raw/ReadMe1234 | sed -n '/^```/,/^```/p'Markdown worth sharing
| Use case | Why a paste helps |
|---|---|
| README draft | A reviewer reads the source and the rendered result side by side |
| Issue reproduction | Fenced logs and code stay intact instead of collapsing in a comment box |
| Release notes | Reviewers can quote exact lines before it goes into git |
| Prompt or template text | Preserves spacing and fences that a chat client would eat |
| Changelog fragment | Small enough to paste, structured enough to read |
Before sharing
Strip anything that looks like a credential, including inside code fences — a Markdown paste is still a paste. If the document is internal, mark it unlisted and set an expiry. For a draft that will be edited, create it while signed in so you can update the same link and keep a revision history.
Frequently asked questions
Will Markdown render on the paste page?
No. You get coloured source, not HTML output. That keeps HTML embedded in a paste inert and makes the paste useful for reviewing the source itself.
Is there a Markdown editor with a live preview?
Not on pastesite.com. The editor is a plain text area with language highlighting. For a live preview, use your editor or the platform that will publish the document.
Can I share a README with images?
Only as links. Pastes are text; the single image feature is the screenshot capture attached to a paste, which is not available inside Markdown content.
Do fenced code blocks keep their language?
Yes, the text is stored exactly as written, including the fence info string. Only the outer paste language controls the highlighting.