formatwise

Formatwise is a standardized framework for formatting content across digital and printed media. It provides a cohesive set of conventions, a markup language, and tooling designed to ensure consistent typography, layout, and data presentation across platforms. The framework emphasizes separating content from presentation and supports transforming documents into multiple outputs, such as HTML, PDF, ePub, and machine-readable data in JSON or XML.

Core components include a schema language, a markup syntax, and a formatter engine. The schema defines document structure and semantic roles for sections, figures, references, and metadata. The markup syntax enables authors to annotate content with structure and style without embedding layout details. The formatter applies templates and style libraries to produce outputs at varying resolutions and device targets. Validators and linters help enforce Formatwise conformance.

Formatwise is used by publishers, technical writers, and e-learning platforms to standardize authoring workflows. It integrates with content management systems and version control, and exports can be generated as HTML, PDF, ePub, or API payloads. A growing library of templates and plugins extends accessibility, internationalization, and responsive design features.

Development and governance began with an industry consortium in the early 2020s and are now overseen by the Formatwise Foundation as an open-source project. It uses a permissive license and a community-driven workflow with public issue trackers and contributor guidelines. Some critics point to a learning curve when migrating legacy systems, while supporters praise cross-platform consistency and interoperability. Related standards include Markdown, LaTeX, XML, and DITA.