Best for
Markdown
Portable docs, specs, READMEs, prompts, and design.md files.
MDX
Docs websites, component demos, interactive examples, and rich guides.
DocsMarkdown vs MDX
Markdown vs MDX: differences and when to use each
Markdown is best for portable text documentation. MDX is best when a Markdown-like page also needs JSX components, live examples, or interactive UI. Use Markdown for durable specs like design.md; use MDX for component-rich docs websites.
Quick answer
MD vs MDXMarkdown
Portable text files that work almost everywhere.
MDX
Markdown plus JSX components for rendered web pages.
Rule of thumb
Choose Markdown for interchange. Choose MDX for interactive docs.
Comparison
The practical difference
Markdown is a simple syntax for text documents. MDX is a superset-like authoring format that can include Markdown and JSX. The right choice depends on whether the raw file needs to stay portable or the rendered page needs to be interactive.
Syntax
Markdown
Plain text formatting: headings, lists, links, code, and tables.
MDX
Markdown plus JSX imports, exports, expressions, and components.
Tooling
Markdown
Works in most editors, repos, chat tools, and documentation systems.
MDX
Needs an MDX compiler and a compatible app or documentation framework.
Portability
Markdown
Very high. The file stays useful even without a web build.
MDX
Lower. JSX parts depend on the components and runtime around the file.
Choose Markdown when
The file needs to be read by humans and agents without a custom renderer.
The content belongs in Git, prompts, chat, docs, or code review.
The main goal is a durable text artifact, not a rendered web experience.
Choose MDX when
The page needs real UI components, live examples, tabs, charts, or demos.
The content is part of a website with an MDX-aware build pipeline.
The rendered page experience is more important than raw text portability.
Syntax
Same idea, different file
Both examples describe a primary button. The Markdown version is plain text. The MDX version depends on a component import and a renderer that knows what `ButtonPreview` means.
button.md
# Button
Use the primary button for the most important action.
- Background: #10b981
- Radius: 5px
- Padding: 12px 18pxbutton.mdx
import { ButtonPreview } from "./ButtonPreview";
# Button
Use the primary button for the most important action.
<ButtonPreview variant="primary" />FAQ
Markdown vs MDX questions
Short answers for searchers comparing `.md` and `.mdx` files for documentation, design systems, and AI workflows.
What is the difference between Markdown and MDX?
Markdown is a plain-text formatting syntax. MDX extends Markdown with JSX, so an `.mdx` file can render UI components inside the content.
Is MD the same as Markdown?
Usually yes. `.md` is the common file extension for Markdown files, so MD vs MDX normally means Markdown files compared with MDX files.
Is MDX better than Markdown?
MDX is better for interactive web docs. Markdown is better for portable text, simple editing, code review, prompts, and agent-readable documentation.
Should design.md be Markdown or MDX?
A design.md should usually stay plain Markdown because the goal is portability. Agents, engineers, and designers can read the same file without needing a component runtime.
Related docs
Keep reading
Definition
What is a design.md?
Learn what a design.md contains, why Markdown is useful for design systems, and how agents use it as implementation context.
Definition
What Is MDX? Markdown + JSX Explained
A concise answer-first guide to MDX, including syntax, build requirements, use cases, and common tradeoffs.
Developer guide
Free design.md API and CLI: Extract design.md from a URL
Use hosted keyless extraction with JSON, Markdown, or MDX outputs, plus purchased AI runs and Docker/self-hosted environment keys for private AI enrichment.
Free design.md creates portable Markdown design specs.
Paste a URL and get a design.md file that can move through Git, chat, docs, pull requests, and agent workflows without needing an MDX runtime.