The Digital Press

Markdown simplifies writing by replacing complex HTML with easy-to-type text macros, and combining it with Custom Elements (part of Web Components) allows embedding complex interactive components seamlessly. This approach keeps content authoring simple while enabling rich, dynamic web features.

Why it matters: Mixing Markdown with Custom Elements lets writers use simple syntax to create complex, reusable interactive web components.

The big picture: Custom Elements have standardized since 2016 and offer a powerful way to abstract HTML complexity, enhancing Markdown’s simplicity for modern web content.

The other side: JavaScript dependency means Custom Elements require client-side execution, potentially complicating rendering and accessibility without proper fallback or server-side support.

Commenters say: Users appreciate the synergy of Markdown and Web Components, discuss alternatives like Astro and MDX, and debate pros and cons of client-side vs server-side rendering of custom tags.