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MDX

A format for writing Markdown documents that can embed live JSX components.

GitHub Download 3.1.1
Stars
19.8k
Forks
1.2k
Licence
MIT
Language
JavaScript
Last update
7 days ago
Type
Library

What it is

MDX is a file format that lets you write JSX components inside Markdown documents, such as importing an interactive chart or alert and placing it within your text. The repository contains several packages that compile MDX into JavaScript, integrate with bundlers like webpack and Rollup, and work with frameworks such as React, Preact, and Vue. It is used for long-form content that needs components.

  • Write a blog post that imports and embeds a chart component with props, as shown in the README example
  • Build a documentation site with alerts or interactive widgets inside pages
  • Use the online playground at mdxjs.com to try the format before integrating it

Great for

  • Developers building documentation or content sites in React, Preact, or Vue
  • Teams that want interactive components inside long-form written content
  • Projects that already use webpack, Rollup, or similar bundlers
  • People who are comfortable with JavaScript and JSX syntax

Not ideal for

  • Writers who only need plain Markdown, since MDX adds JSX syntax that plain Markdown renderers will not understand
  • Non-developers without JavaScript experience, because setup requires build tooling
  • Projects not using a JavaScript-based framework, as the README focuses on React, Preact, and Vue
Step-by-step guide: how to use MDXInstall, first run, examples, tips and FAQs
MDX alternativesMDX vs PreactMDX vs react-markdownMDX vs Vditor

How to get it

  1. 1

    Install with a package manager

    You'll need: Node.js

    Clone the repository

    git clone https://github.com/mdx-js/mdx.git
  2. 2

    Run it

    • Read the What is MDX page at mdxjs.com to understand the format
    • Open the playground at mdxjs.com/playground to try MDX in the browser
    • Follow the Getting started guide at mdxjs.com/getting-started to integrate MDX into your project
  3. 3

    Get the most out of it

    • Use the playground to test component embedding before adding it to a project
    • Follow the getting started guide for framework-specific integration (React, Preact, Vue)
    • Use the bundler integrations (webpack, Rollup) described in the documentation

Downloads

Source code (.zip)main branch · straight from GitHubRelease 3.1.1Release notes and sourceOfficial website & docsmdxjs.com

Strengths

  • Lets you combine Markdown writing with reusable components
  • Works with several bundlers and frameworks according to the README
  • Open source under the MIT license with an active project and public documentation

Trade-offs

  • Requires JavaScript build tooling to use in a project
  • Content mixing JSX and Markdown can be harder to read and maintain than plain Markdown
  • The README is brief on specifics, so details must be found in the linked documentation

How it compares

ProjectStarsTypeLevelUpdatedBest for
mdx (this)19.8kLibraryintermediate7 days agoDevelopers building documentation or content sites in React, Preact, or Vue
react-markdown15.9kLibrarybeginner1 months agoReact developers who need to display Markdown content such as comments, docs, or posts
vditor11.4kLibraryintermediate19 days agoDevelopers who want to embed a Markdown editor in a web app
prettier52.4kDev toolbeginner4 days agoTeams that want one shared code style without writing their own rules
docsify31.6kDev toolbeginner4 days agoOpen-source maintainers who want a documentation site from existing Markdown files
vitepress18.5kDev toolintermediate8 days agoDevelopers who want a documentation site for a software project

Stats synced from GitHub. The assessment above was drafted with AI from the project's README on 2026-10-29 and may miss recent changes — check the README before relying on a command. MIT licence: free to use, modify and distribute, including commercially, as long as you keep the copyright notice.