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Quarkdown is a Java-based library for parsing Markdown text and converting it into various formats, primarily HTML. It focuses on being lightweight and highly extensible, allowing developers to define custom syntax rules and rendering behaviors. Unlike monolithic parsers, it provides a flexible node-based abstract syntax tree (AST) that can be easily manipulated before final output. It is designed to be easily embedded into Java applications without pulling in heavy dependencies.

Java developers building content management systems, static site generators, or applications requiring embedded Markdown processing.

• Extensible parsing engine: Allows developers to register custom inline and block-level syntax rules beyond standard Markdown.
• AST manipulation: Generates a mutable abstract syntax tree that can be traversed and modified programmatically.
• Zero-dependency core: Designed to be a lightweight library that does not bloat the host application's classpath.
• Custom renderers: Supports plugging in custom rendering logic to target formats other than HTML.
• Thread-safe processing: Ensures parsing and rendering operations can be safely executed in concurrent server environments.

Getting started: Add the dependency to your build file and initialize the Quarkdown parser.

1. v2.4.1v2.4.1Jul 26, 2026342 downloads

   ### Added   #### [`em` size units](https://quarkdown.com/wiki/sizes) Size values now support the font-relative `em` unit, e.g. `2em`, `0.7em`. Thanks @arpitagarwal1301!   ### Fixed   #### Inline replacement lambdas accept nested function calls Node-returning function calls, such as `.text`, can now be used in `.match` and other body lambdas as expected. ```markdown .match {Quarkdown takes its name from quarks} pattern:{[Qq]uark(down|s)?} .1::text color:{purple} decoration:{underline} ```   #### Chained `.extend` composes in declaration order Multiple extensions on the same function now stack in the correct LIFO declaration order. The following snippet now correctly renders the heading in red, rather than blue: ```markdown .extend {heading} .super foreground:{blue} .extend {heading} .super foreground:{green} .extend {heading} .super foreground:{red} ## Heading ```   #### `.match` in chained extensions sees content correctly Fixed the ability to chain multiple `.match` calls onto the same content: ```markdown .extend {paragraph} content: .super .content:

2. Development buildlatestMay 13, 2025pre-release5 downloads

   **Full Changelog**: https://github.com/iamgio/quarkdown/commits/latest

3. v2.4.0v2.4.0Jul 13, 20261.5K downloads

   Quarkdown 2.4 is one of the most impactful releases in the history of the project, introducing a new system for extending Markdown elements behavior and styling. You can read in detail about this powerful feature in its [blog post](https://quarkdown.com/blog/quarkdown-2-4). &nbsp; ### Added   #### [Element styling](https://quarkdown.com/wiki/element-styling) (show-rules) > [!NOTE] > This feature is experimental. When `.extend` is applied to a function of the [_Primitives_ module](https://quarkdown.com/docs/quarkdown-stdlib/com.quarkdown.stdlib.module.Primitives/index.html), its new behavior is reflected on its Markdown counterpart. For example, extending the `.heading` function affects the `# Heading` Markdown element. This is one of the biggest milestones for Quarkdown, on par with Typst's `#show` rules. ```markdown .extend {heading} content: .super foreground:{blue} *.content* ## A heading <!-- Renders blue and italic --> ``` This release ships with a handful of primitives as an experimental feature: headings, paragraphs, links, figures, images, math, page breaks. The plan is to eventually have every Markdown element type backe

4. v2.3.1v2.3.1Jun 23, 20261.8K downloads

   ### Added   #### GHCR image An image for Quarkdown is now available on GitHub Container Registry. Thanks @dddanielliu!   ### Fixed   #### Safer `--clean` The `--clean` flag now refuses to clean the output directory in case it contains source files or git repos, or if it's the filesystem root or home directory. It also stops if the directory would (recursively) contain the source file passed to the command.   * * * ### Sponsors Thanks to our sponsors! 🎉 @vitto4 @aaditkamat <a href="https://falconer.com"><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/iamgio/quarkdown/project-files/images/sponsors/falconer.jpeg" alt="Falconer" width="350"></a>

5. v2.3.0v2.3.0Jun 18, 2026553 downloads

   ### Added   #### [Page background color](https://quarkdown.com/wiki/page-format) `.pageformat` now accepts a `background` parameter to set the background color of each page: ```markdown .pageformat background:{orange} ``` In `paged` documents, the background can be scoped to specific pages, as usual: ```markdown .pageformat pages:{1..3} background:{orange} ``` Thanks @gggeon96!   ### Changed   #### [Changed `.extend` behavior](https://quarkdown.com/wiki/extending-functions) (breaking change) `.extend`, introduced in v2.2.0 as experimental, has undergone a shift in behavior. This is going to play a major role in the next v2.4.0 release. `super` now exposes the original function, rather than its precomputed output, and no longer needs to be declared as a parameter. Because `.super` is the original function itself, it accepts the same arguments: anything you pass overrides the corresponding argument the wrapper was called with, while anything you leave out falls through unchanged. This lets the wrapper invoke the original with adjusted inputs. ```markdown .function {greet} greeting name: .greeting, .name! .extend {greet}

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