Integrating Markdown conversion into applications requires decisions about when to convert, how to store content, and how to handle edge cases.
Convert on Save vs Render
You can convert Markdown to HTML when content is saved (storing both) or when it's displayed (converting on each request). Save-time conversion is faster for display but requires reconversion if the converter changes. Render-time ensures latest conversion but adds latency. Most systems convert on save and store both versions.
Storing Both Formats
Store the original Markdown for editing and the rendered HTML for display. This enables fast page loads while preserving the editable source. When content is updated, regenerate the HTML. This pattern is common in CMS systems and documentation platforms.
Extracting Metadata
Beyond rendering, you may need to extract metadata: headings for navigation, plain text for search indexing, or word counts for reading time estimates. The API provides plain text output alongside HTML. Parse headings from HTML to build table of contents.
Handling User-Generated Content
When users provide Markdown (comments, forums), security matters. Sanitize HTML output to prevent XSS attacks. The API handles sanitization, but verify your implementation. Limit allowed HTML tags if users can include raw HTML in Markdown.