PythonMarkdown

PythonMarkdown is a Python library designed to transform Markdown text into HTML and other output formats. It emphasizes simplicity, portability, and extensibility, providing a lean core parser with a modular system of extensions. The library is intended for use in web applications, content management systems, and tooling that requires lightweight, on-the-fly Markdown rendering.

Core capabilities include parsing Markdown syntax, optional CommonMark compatibility, and an extension framework that enables additional features such as tables, syntax-highlighted code blocks, footnotes, and task lists. Rendering can be customized through configuration options, and output can be restricted or sanitized to improve security when embedding in web pages.

Installation is typically performed through standard Python package management tools, and the library exposes a straightforward API for converting strings. Developers can instantiate a renderer and call a convert method, or use a convenience function for simple conversions. The API is designed to be approachable for both beginners and advanced users who require fine-grained control over rendering.

Development is driven by an open-source community. The project supports extensions from third parties, a test suite, and documentation to aid adoption. While state varies with releases, the project aims to maintain compatibility with prevalent Markdown features while allowing customization for specialized workflows.