Slack Message Formatter
Write a Slack message and format it without memorizing mrkdwn. Select text and click a button to add bold, italic, code, quotes, or links, watch it render in a live Slack-style preview, then copy the raw markup to paste straight into Slack.
- Free
- No sign-up
- No ads
Launch is on track for Friday.
Remaining work is in
deploy.sh, and snake_case_names stay plain. Steps:npm run build npm run deployPing me if anything breaks
The preview approximates how Slack renders mrkdwn. Slack's exact spacing and emoji art vary by client.
Common :emoji: codes
Type these shortcodes in Slack and they turn into emoji. Copy one to drop it into your message.
Slack mrkdwn syntax cheat sheet
Slack formats messages with mrkdwn, its own take on Markdown. These are the markers the formatter above inserts and previews. Paste any of them straight into a Slack message.
| Style | Syntax | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bold | *text* | Single asterisks, not **double** like standard Markdown. |
| Italic | _text_ | Underscores around the text. |
| Strikethrough | ~text~ | Tildes around the text. |
| Inline code | `code` | Single backticks; renders in a monospace pill. |
| Code block | ```\ncode\n``` | Triple backticks wrap a multi-line block on its own lines. |
| Blockquote | > text | A leading "> " on a line; consecutive lines group into one quote. |
| Link | <https://url|label> | For app, webhook and API messages. In the Slack app, use Ctrl+Shift+U instead. Plain URLs auto-link. |
| Bulleted list | • item | Messages sent through the API have no list markup, so start each line with a • bullet (or -) yourself. |
Slack formatting, explained
How do I format text in Slack?+
Slack uses a lightweight markup called mrkdwn. Wrap text in *asterisks* for bold, _underscores_ for italic, ~tildes~ for strikethrough, and `backticks` for inline code. Start a line with "> " for a quote. This tool lets you select text and click a button to add the markers for you, with a live preview of the result.
What is mrkdwn?+
mrkdwn is Slack’s own take on Markdown. It differs from standard Markdown in a few ways: bold uses single *asterisks* instead of **double**, italic uses _underscores_, and links use the <url|label> syntax. This formatter previews text using those Slack-specific rules so what you see matches what Slack renders.
How do I add a link in Slack?+
It depends on who sends the message. In the Slack app, paste a URL and it links itself; for a custom label, select the text and press Ctrl+Shift+U (Cmd+Shift+U on a Mac). The angle-bracket form <https://example.com|Click here> is for messages sent by apps, bots, webhooks and the API, where Slack reads mrkdwn directly. Typed into the message box, it shows up as plain text.
Does mrkdwn work when I type it into Slack?+
Mostly. Slack turns *bold*, _italic_, ~strike~, `code`, code blocks and > quotes into formatting as you type. Links with labels, mentions like <@U012ABC> and dynamic dates only work in messages sent through the API, a webhook or an app, so use this tool to check those payloads before you send them.
Is it free?+
Yes. This formatter is completely free, needs no login or account, and runs entirely in your browser, so nothing you type is ever uploaded anywhere.
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