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We have been using git repositories for projects. Also we download some code from there(Say sample code).

I found ReadMe.md file on each repository.

Why is it there? AND what is meaning of .md?

Also each folder contain that file some time. Why people add that file in git repository?

I don't have any idea, I want to know it as I started using git for code source management.

Maximillian Laumeister
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Pankaj Badukale
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  • possible duplicate of [Github: README and README.md](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/8655937/github-readme-and-readme-md) – Tim Biegeleisen Aug 06 '15 at 06:24
  • not really a duplicate – TheGeorgeous Aug 06 '15 at 06:25
  • No i have searched that question already got some clue but not complete what I expect. The stack question you refer is about diff. But I want to know why about "readme.md" file. – Pankaj Badukale Aug 06 '15 at 06:30
  • Hi Pankaj, if you feel your question has been answered, please don't forget to mark some answers as "helpful" using the arrows, and one of them as "accepted" by using the checkmark. If your question hasn't been fully answered, please elaborate so we can further help! Thanks! – Maximillian Laumeister Aug 07 '15 at 18:12

2 Answers2

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A Readme file is a file that describes the purpose of the repository and gives hints on what the code does, how to compile/use it, etc.

The .md extension stands for Markdown, which is a type of file that is both readable in plain text, but can also be easily converted to HTML to display special elements.

Stack Overflow happens to parse the same markdown syntax for questions and answers, so here are a few examples of what Markdown can do:

Headings

Links

  • Lists
  • of
  • items

The Markdown code I used on Stack Overflow to create those was:

# Headings

[Links](http://google.com)

* Lists
* of
* items
Maximillian Laumeister
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1

This is the readme file provided by GitHub. And the file extension .md is the file extension for files that are processed as Markdown files.

Markdown is the 'language' used by GitHub to render some particular styling.

nwinkler
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ckruczek
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