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 Downloads Trend
Github Stars Ranking
Stat Detail
Package
Downloads
Stars
Size
Issues
Publish
License
marked
9,175,901
32,930
951 kB
18
a month ago
MIT
markdown-it
5,907,665
18,074
767 kB
12
7 months ago
MIT
remarkable
684,523
5,741
-
130
4 years ago
MIT
showdown
674,413
14,247
801 kB
215
-
MIT
Feature Comparison: marked vs markdown-it vs remarkable vs showdown
Performance
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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: marked vs markdown-it vs remarkable vs showdown
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
Node.js: Only current and LTS Node.js versions are supported. End of life Node.js versions may become incompatible with Marked at any point in time.
Browser: Not IE11 :)
Installation
CLI:
npm install -g marked
In-browser:
npm install marked
Usage
Warning: 🚨 Marked does not sanitize the output HTML. Please use a sanitize library, like DOMPurify (recommended), sanitize-html or insane on the output HTML! 🚨
# Example with stdin input
$ marked -o hello.html
hello world
^D
$ cat hello.html
<p>hello world</p>
# Print all options
$ marked --help
Browser
<!doctype html>
<html>
<head>
<meta charset="utf-8"/>
<title>Marked in the browser</title>
</head>
<body>
<div id="content"></div>
<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/marked/marked.min.js"></script>
<script>
document.getElementById('content').innerHTML =
marked.parse('# Marked in the browser\n\nRendered by **marked**.');
</script>
</body>
</html>
or import esm module
<script type="module">
import { marked } from "https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/marked/lib/marked.esm.js";
document.getElementById('content').innerHTML =
marked.parse('# Marked in the browser\n\nRendered by **marked**.');
</script>
License
Copyright (c) 2011-2022, Christopher Jeffrey. (MIT License)
