---
id: marko
version: "2.2.4"
license: MIT
license_treatment: permissive
maintenance: active
---

# marko — A markdown parser with high extensibility.

License: permissive · Maintenance: active · Downloads: 6.4M/mo

## What it is and what it does

Marko is a markdown-to-HTML parser written in pure Python that prioritizes strict compliance with the CommonMark specification v0.31.2 over raw speed. It solves the problem of parsing markdown reliably when spec compliance matters more than performance—useful when you need predictable, standards-compliant rendering across different markdown sources.

The package is designed for extensibility: you can load built-in extensions (footnote, toc, pangu, codehilite) or write your own to add custom markdown features. It works both as a library (via `marko.convert()` or the `Markdown` class) and as a command-line tool for rendering markdown files to HTML. The trade-off is explicit: it runs slower than some alternatives because it implements the full CommonMark spec rather than a subset.

Use it for:

- Build a static site generator or documentation tool that needs reliable, spec-compliant markdown rendering.
- Parse user-submitted markdown content in a web application where consistent output across different inputs is critical.
- Extend markdown syntax for domain-specific needs (e.g., adding custom footnotes or table-of-contents generation).
- Convert markdown files to HTML from the command line with optional extensions like syntax highlighting.
- Integrate markdown processing into a Python application where CommonMark compliance is a requirement.

## Worth the install?

AI-flagged interpretation of the facts above — verify before relying.

Marko is a pure Python markdown parser that converts markdown text to HTML while adhering to CommonMark specification v0.31.2, with built-in support for extensions like footnotes, table of contents, and syntax highlighting.

Yes, if CommonMark compliance and extensibility matter for your use case. Marko is actively maintained, has no external dependencies, and supports current Python versions. Install it if you need reliable spec-compliant markdown parsing; skip it if you prioritize raw parsing speed over standards compliance.

## Install

pip install marko
uv add marko
poetry add marko

## Installing marko

Before you install: Installation is straightforward with no runtime dependencies. The package is actively maintained, with a recent release and consistent commit activity. It supports Python 3.9 through 3.14.

License in practice: Released under the MIT License, a permissive open-source license that allows free use, modification, and distribution with minimal restrictions.

Quickstart:

pip install marko

import marko
print(marko.convert("# Hello\n\nThis is markdown."))

Requires Python 3.9 or higher.

Verify before relying:

- Whether the performance trade-off versus non-compliant parsers is acceptable for your use case (described as three times slower than Python-Markdown).
- Availability and maturity of community-contributed extensions beyond the four shipped extensions.

## Package facts

- License: MIT (permissive)
- Python support: supports_current
- Install friction: low
- Maintenance: active
- Downloads: 6.4M/month (top 5,000 on PyPI)
- Known vulnerabilities: none known

## Tags

markdown parser python, commonmark compliant parser, markdown to html converter, extensible markdown library, markdown with custom extensions, python markdown renderer, commonmark spec parser, markdown-parser, commonmark, extensible

[View on SkillFed](https://skillfed.io/packages/marko) · [View on PyPI](https://pypi.org/project/marko/)