markdown-it vs remarkable vs marked vs showdown
Markdown Parsing Libraries
Search packages..
markdown-itremarkablemarkedshowdownSimilar Packages:

Markdown Parsing Libraries

Markdown parsing libraries are essential tools in web development that convert Markdown text into HTML. They enable developers to easily render formatted text on web pages, making it simpler to manage content creation and presentation. These libraries vary in features, performance, and extensibility, allowing developers to choose one that best fits their project's needs. Understanding the differences among these libraries can help in selecting the right one for specific use cases, such as performance requirements, customization, and ease of use.

Npm Package Weekly Downloads Trend

3 Years

Github Stars Ranking

Stat Detail

Package
Downloads
Stars
Size
Issues
Publish
License
markdown-it20,527,67021,131768 kB58a month agoMIT
remarkable1,340,0075,824-1326 years agoMIT
marked036,645444 kB127 days agoMIT
showdown014,837801 kB233-MIT

Feature Comparison: markdown-it vs remarkable vs marked vs showdown

Performance

  • markdown-it:

    markdown-it is designed for speed and efficiency, making it one of the fastest Markdown parsers available. It uses a streaming approach to parsing, which helps reduce memory usage and improve performance, especially with large documents.

  • remarkable:

    remarkable offers a good balance of performance and extensibility. While it may not be as fast as markdown-it or marked, it provides sufficient speed for most applications, especially when using its modular features.

  • marked:

    marked is optimized for performance and is known for its quick parsing capabilities. It is lightweight and can handle large Markdown files efficiently, making it a great choice for applications that prioritize speed.

  • showdown:

    showdown is generally slower compared to other libraries due to its bidirectional conversion capabilities. However, it is still performant enough for typical use cases, especially when converting Markdown to HTML.

Extensibility

  • markdown-it:

    markdown-it is highly extensible, allowing developers to create custom plugins to enhance its functionality. This makes it suitable for projects that require specific Markdown features or syntax highlighting capabilities.

  • remarkable:

    remarkable is designed with extensibility in mind, providing a modular architecture that allows developers to add custom rules and features. This makes it a flexible choice for projects that need tailored Markdown processing.

  • marked:

    marked has limited extensibility compared to markdown-it. While it is easy to use, it does not support plugins, which may restrict customization for advanced use cases.

  • showdown:

    showdown supports some level of extensibility through its options, but it is not as flexible as markdown-it or remarkable. It is best suited for straightforward use cases without extensive customization needs.

Learning Curve

  • markdown-it:

    markdown-it has a moderate learning curve due to its extensive features and plugin system. Developers may need some time to explore its capabilities and understand how to implement custom plugins effectively.

  • remarkable:

    remarkable has a moderate learning curve, similar to markdown-it, but its modular design makes it easier to understand for those familiar with JavaScript. Developers can quickly grasp how to customize it for their needs.

  • marked:

    marked is easy to learn and integrate, making it a great choice for beginners or those looking for a quick solution. Its straightforward API allows developers to get started with minimal effort.

  • showdown:

    showdown is user-friendly and has a low learning curve, making it accessible for developers of all skill levels. Its simple API allows for quick implementation and understanding.

Customization

  • markdown-it:

    markdown-it offers extensive customization options through its plugin architecture, allowing developers to modify the parsing process and add new features as needed. This makes it ideal for projects requiring specific Markdown syntax or behavior.

  • remarkable:

    remarkable allows for a good level of customization through its modular system, enabling developers to create custom rules and modify the parsing behavior. This flexibility makes it suitable for a variety of use cases.

  • marked:

    marked has limited customization options, focusing on simplicity and performance. While it provides basic configuration options, it does not support plugins, which may limit its adaptability for complex requirements.

  • showdown:

    showdown provides basic customization options through its settings, but it is not as flexible as markdown-it or remarkable. It is best for projects that do not require extensive Markdown modifications.

Community and Support

  • markdown-it:

    markdown-it has a strong community and is actively maintained, providing good support and a wealth of plugins created by the community. This makes it easier to find solutions and enhancements for specific needs.

  • remarkable:

    remarkable has a decent community and is maintained, but it may not have as many resources or plugins available as markdown-it. Nonetheless, it is still a reliable choice with sufficient support.

  • marked:

    marked has a solid user base and is well-documented, making it easy to find help and resources. However, its community is smaller compared to markdown-it, which may limit the availability of third-party plugins.

  • showdown:

    showdown has a smaller community compared to the others, but it is still maintained and has basic documentation available. It may not have as many plugins or resources, but it is suitable for straightforward use cases.

How to Choose: markdown-it vs remarkable vs marked vs showdown

  • markdown-it:

    Choose markdown-it if you need a highly customizable and extensible Markdown parser that supports plugins and offers a fast parsing speed. It is suitable for projects that require additional features like syntax highlighting or custom rules.

  • remarkable:

    Opt for remarkable if you require a balance between performance and extensibility. It provides a modular architecture that allows for easy customization while maintaining good parsing speed, making it suitable for projects that may need specific Markdown features.

  • marked:

    Select marked for its simplicity and performance. It is a straightforward Markdown parser that is easy to use and integrates well with existing projects, making it ideal for those who want a quick and efficient solution without extensive customization.

  • showdown:

    Choose showdown if you need a library that can convert Markdown to HTML and back, offering a bidirectional conversion. It is particularly useful for applications that require editing capabilities, allowing users to switch between Markdown and HTML seamlessly.

Similar Npm Packages to markdown-it

markdown-it is a powerful Markdown parser and compiler for JavaScript. It allows developers to convert Markdown text into HTML, making it a popular choice for applications that require rich text formatting. With its extensible architecture, markdown-it supports a variety of plugins that can enhance its functionality, such as adding support for tables, footnotes, and custom syntax. Its performance and flexibility make it suitable for both small projects and large applications that need to render Markdown content efficiently.

While markdown-it is a robust option, there are other libraries available that also provide Markdown parsing capabilities. Here are a few alternatives:

  • remark is a Markdown processor powered by plugins. It is part of the unified ecosystem, which allows for a wide range of transformations on Markdown content. remark focuses on the syntax tree, enabling developers to manipulate Markdown in a more programmatic way. This makes it an excellent choice for projects that require extensive customization and processing of Markdown content, such as static site generators or documentation tools. With its plugin architecture, remark can be tailored to fit specific needs, making it highly versatile.

  • showdown is another popular Markdown to HTML converter. It is lightweight and easy to use, making it a great choice for simple applications that need to convert Markdown to HTML without the overhead of additional features. showdown is particularly useful for projects where performance is a priority, as it has a minimal footprint and straightforward API. If you need a quick and efficient way to render Markdown in your application without the need for extensive customization, showdown is an excellent option.

To compare these packages, check out the following link: Comparing markdown-it vs remark vs showdown.

Similar Npm Packages to remarkable

remarkable is a fast and flexible Markdown parser and compiler for JavaScript. It allows developers to convert Markdown text into HTML with a focus on performance and extensibility. With its simple API and support for custom rules, remarkable is a great choice for projects that require Markdown processing. However, there are several alternatives in the Markdown parsing ecosystem that also offer unique features. Here are a few notable ones:

  • markdown-it is a powerful Markdown parser that emphasizes extensibility and performance. It supports a wide range of plugins and features, allowing developers to customize the parsing process to fit their needs. With its strong focus on compliance with the CommonMark specification, markdown-it is ideal for projects that require strict adherence to Markdown standards. Its flexibility and plugin ecosystem make it suitable for both simple and complex Markdown processing tasks.
  • showdown is another popular Markdown to HTML converter that is lightweight and easy to use. It provides a straightforward API for converting Markdown text into HTML and is particularly well-suited for browser-based applications. showdown is a great choice for developers looking for a simple and effective way to integrate Markdown parsing into their web applications without the need for extensive configuration or setup.

To explore how remarkable compares with markdown-it and showdown, check out the comparison: Comparing markdown-it vs remarkable vs showdown.

Similar Npm Packages to marked

marked is a fast and lightweight Markdown parser and compiler for JavaScript. It allows developers to convert Markdown text into HTML efficiently, making it a popular choice for applications that require Markdown support. With its simple API and high performance, marked is widely used in various projects, from static site generators to content management systems. However, there are several alternatives available that also provide Markdown parsing capabilities. Here are a few noteworthy options:

  • markdown-it is a powerful and flexible Markdown parser that supports a wide range of Markdown features and extensions. It is designed to be extensible, allowing developers to add custom rules and plugins to enhance its functionality. markdown-it is ideal for applications that require advanced Markdown features, such as tables, footnotes, and custom syntax. Its extensibility makes it a great choice for projects that need to customize the Markdown parsing experience.
  • remark is a Markdown processor powered by plugins, which allows developers to parse, transform, and stringify Markdown content. It is part of the unified ecosystem, which focuses on building a modular and extensible approach to processing content. remark is particularly useful for projects that require complex transformations or linting of Markdown content. Its plugin architecture enables developers to create custom workflows tailored to their specific needs.
  • showdown is a JavaScript Markdown to HTML converter that is simple to use and easy to integrate into web applications. It provides a straightforward API for converting Markdown text into HTML, making it suitable for projects that need basic Markdown functionality without the overhead of more complex libraries. showdown is a good choice for developers looking for a lightweight solution that gets the job done without additional features.

To explore how marked compares with markdown-it, remark, and showdown, check out the comparison: Comparing markdown-it vs marked vs remark vs showdown.

Similar Npm Packages to showdown

showdown is a popular JavaScript library that converts Markdown into HTML. It is lightweight and easy to use, making it a great choice for developers looking to integrate Markdown support into their web applications. Showdown provides a simple API for converting Markdown text to HTML, and it supports a variety of Markdown features, including tables, lists, and code blocks. Its flexibility and ease of integration make it a preferred option for many developers working with Markdown content.

However, there are several alternatives to Showdown that also provide Markdown parsing and rendering capabilities. Here are a few noteworthy options:

  • markdown-it is a powerful Markdown parser that is highly extensible and customizable. It supports a wide range of Markdown features and allows developers to create plugins to extend its functionality. Markdown-it is known for its performance and flexibility, making it suitable for applications that require advanced Markdown processing. If you need a robust solution with a rich plugin ecosystem, markdown-it is an excellent choice.

  • marked is another fast and lightweight Markdown parser that is designed for speed and efficiency. It is simple to use and provides a straightforward API for converting Markdown to HTML. Marked is particularly known for its performance, making it ideal for applications that need to render large amounts of Markdown content quickly. If you prioritize speed and simplicity, marked is a solid option.

  • remarkable is a Markdown parser that focuses on extensibility and customization. It offers a variety of features, including support for custom syntax and plugins. Remarkable is designed to be fast and efficient while providing a high level of customization for developers who need specific Markdown features. If you are looking for a parser that allows for deep customization, remarkable is worth considering.

To compare these packages and see how they stack up against each other, check out the following link: Comparing markdown-it vs marked vs remarkable vs showdown.

README for markdown-it

markdown-it

CI NPM version Coverage Status Gitter

Markdown parser done right. Fast and easy to extend.

Live demo

  • Follows the CommonMark spec + adds syntax extensions & sugar (URL autolinking, typographer).
  • Configurable syntax! You can add new rules and even replace existing ones.
  • High speed.
  • Safe by default.
  • Community-written plugins and other packages on npm.

Table of content

Install

node.js:

npm install markdown-it

browser (CDN):

Usage examples

See also:

Simple

// node.js
// can use `require('markdown-it')` for CJS
import markdownit from 'markdown-it'
const md = markdownit()
const result = md.render('# markdown-it rulezz!');

// browser with UMD build, added to "window" on script load
// Note, there is no dash in "markdownit".
const md = window.markdownit();
const result = md.render('# markdown-it rulezz!');

Single line rendering, without paragraph wrap:

import markdownit from 'markdown-it'
const md = markdownit()
const result = md.renderInline('__markdown-it__ rulezz!');

Init with presets and options

(*) presets define combinations of active rules and options. Can be "commonmark", "zero" or "default" (if skipped). See API docs for more details.

import markdownit from 'markdown-it'

// commonmark mode
const md = markdownit('commonmark')

// default mode
const md = markdownit()

// enable everything
const md = markdownit({
  html: true,
  linkify: true,
  typographer: true
})

// full options list (defaults)
const md = markdownit({
  // Enable HTML tags in source
  html:         false,

  // Use '/' to close single tags (<br />).
  // This is only for full CommonMark compatibility.
  xhtmlOut:     false,

  // Convert '\n' in paragraphs into <br>
  breaks:       false,

  // CSS language prefix for fenced blocks. Can be
  // useful for external highlighters.
  langPrefix:   'language-',

  // Autoconvert URL-like text to links
  linkify:      false,

  // Enable some language-neutral replacement + quotes beautification
  // For the full list of replacements, see https://github.com/markdown-it/markdown-it/blob/master/lib/rules_core/replacements.mjs
  typographer:  false,

  // Double + single quotes replacement pairs, when typographer enabled,
  // and smartquotes on. Could be either a String or an Array.
  //
  // For example, you can use '«»„“' for Russian, '„“‚‘' for German,
  // and ['«\xA0', '\xA0»', '‹\xA0', '\xA0›'] for French (including nbsp).
  quotes: '“”‘’',

  // Highlighter function. Should return escaped HTML,
  // or '' if the source string is not changed and should be escaped externally.
  // If result starts with <pre... internal wrapper is skipped.
  highlight: function (/*str, lang*/) { return ''; }
});

Plugins load

import markdownit from 'markdown-it'

const md = markdownit
  .use(plugin1)
  .use(plugin2, opts, ...)
  .use(plugin3);

Syntax highlighting

Apply syntax highlighting to fenced code blocks with the highlight option:

import markdownit from 'markdown-it'
import hljs from 'highlight.js' // https://highlightjs.org

// Actual default values
const md = markdownit({
  highlight: function (str, lang) {
    if (lang && hljs.getLanguage(lang)) {
      try {
        return hljs.highlight(str, { language: lang }).value;
      } catch (__) {}
    }

    return ''; // use external default escaping
  }
});

Or with full wrapper override (if you need assign class to <pre> or <code>):

import markdownit from 'markdown-it'
import hljs from 'highlight.js' // https://highlightjs.org

// Actual default values
const md = markdownit({
  highlight: function (str, lang) {
    if (lang && hljs.getLanguage(lang)) {
      try {
        return '<pre><code class="hljs">' +
               hljs.highlight(str, { language: lang, ignoreIllegals: true }).value +
               '</code></pre>';
      } catch (__) {}
    }

    return '<pre><code class="hljs">' + md.utils.escapeHtml(str) + '</code></pre>';
  }
});

Linkify

linkify: true uses linkify-it. To configure linkify-it, access the linkify instance through md.linkify:

md.linkify.set({ fuzzyEmail: false });  // disables converting email to link

API

API documentation

If you are going to write plugins, please take a look at Development info.

Syntax extensions

Embedded (enabled by default):

Via plugins:

Manage rules

By default all rules are enabled, but can be restricted by options. On plugin load all its rules are enabled automatically.

import markdownit from 'markdown-it'

// Activate/deactivate rules, with currying
const md = markdownit()
  .disable(['link', 'image'])
  .enable(['link'])
  .enable('image');

// Enable everything
const md = markdownit({
  html: true,
  linkify: true,
  typographer: true,
});

You can find all rules in sources:

Benchmark

Here is the result of readme parse at MB Pro Retina 2013 (2.4 GHz):

npm run benchmark-deps
benchmark/benchmark.mjs readme

Selected samples: (1 of 28)
 > README

Sample: README.md (7774 bytes)
 > commonmark-reference x 1,222 ops/sec ±0.96% (97 runs sampled)
 > current x 743 ops/sec ±0.84% (97 runs sampled)
 > current-commonmark x 1,568 ops/sec ±0.84% (98 runs sampled)
 > marked x 1,587 ops/sec ±4.31% (93 runs sampled)

Note. CommonMark version runs with simplified link normalizers for more "honest" compare. Difference is ≈1.5×.

As you can see, markdown-it doesn't pay with speed for its flexibility. Slowdown of "full" version caused by additional features not available in other implementations.

markdown-it for enterprise

Available as part of the Tidelift Subscription.

The maintainers of markdown-it and thousands of other packages are working with Tidelift to deliver commercial support and maintenance for the open source dependencies you use to build your applications. Save time, reduce risk, and improve code health, while paying the maintainers of the exact dependencies you use. Learn more.

Authors

markdown-it is the result of the decision of the authors who contributed to 99% of the Remarkable code to move to a project with the same authorship but new leadership (Vitaly and Alex). It's not a fork.

References / Thanks

Big thanks to John MacFarlane for his work on the CommonMark spec and reference implementations. His work saved us a lot of time during this project's development.

Related Links:

Ports

npm-compare.com is an independent website designed to help developers choose the most suitable npm packages. We are not affiliated with npm, Inc, the official website for the npm registry. Note that npm is a registered trademark of npm, Inc. Please share your feedback via our GitHub repository. For more details, please refer to our Terms & Privacy.