html-to-markdown
A robust HTML to Markdown converter with plugin support, usable as a Go library, CLI tool, or via hosted API.
What is html-to-markdown?
html-to-markdown is a versatile converter that transforms HTML content into clean Markdown format. It solves the problem of converting web content, documents, or HTML snippets into a readable and editable Markdown representation, supporting everything from simple tags to entire websites. The tool is designed to be robust, handling complex formatting and offering extensive customization through plugins.
Developers and content creators who need to convert HTML to Markdown for documentation, web scraping, content migration, or Markdown-based workflows. It's especially useful for Go developers integrating conversion into applications and CLI users processing HTML files.
Developers choose html-to-markdown for its reliability, extensibility via plugins, and multiple interfaces (library, CLI, API). It stands out by supporting entire websites, offering fine-grained control over output, and adhering to CommonMark standards, making it a comprehensive solution for HTML-to-Markdown conversion.
Overview
⚙️ Convert HTML to Markdown. Even works with entire websites and can be extended through rules.
Use Cases
Best For
- Converting HTML documentation or blog posts to Markdown for static site generators
- Scraping website content and saving it as clean, readable Markdown files
- Integrating HTML-to-Markdown conversion into Go applications with custom rules
- Processing HTML email templates or newsletters into Markdown format
- Migrating content from HTML-based CMS to Markdown-based systems
- Batch converting multiple HTML files to Markdown via CLI for automation
Not Ideal For
- Real-time web applications requiring client-side HTML to Markdown conversion without server dependencies
- Users needing a drag-and-drop GUI tool with zero coding or command-line interaction
- Projects heavily reliant on GitHub Flavored Markdown features like task lists, which are still planned
- Teams requiring built-in HTML sanitization for security without additional libraries
Pros & Cons
Pros
Handles complex HTML elements like nested lists, blockquotes, and code blocks with smart escaping, ensuring clean, readable Markdown output as shown in the README's examples.
Offers a plugin system for extending functionality, such as adding strikethrough and table support, with the ability to create custom plugins via WRITING_PLUGINS.md.
Provides a Go library, CLI tool, online demo, and REST API, catering to diverse workflows from development integration to quick testing without installation.
Converts relative links to absolute URLs using domain configuration, useful for processing web content and maintaining link integrity in scraped Markdown.
Cons
Several plugins from v1, like GitHubFlavored and task lists, are still planned for v2, limiting out-of-the-box features and requiring manual workarounds.
Primarily a Go library, so non-Go projects must rely on the CLI or API, which the README admits don't yet support all customization options available in the library.
Does not sanitize untrusted HTML content by default, requiring additional steps with external libraries like bluemonday to prevent security vulnerabilities such as XSS attacks.
Frequently Asked Questions
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