unified is an interface for processing text using syntax trees. Itβs what powers remark (Markdown), retext (natural language), and rehype (HTML), and allows for processing between formats.
unified enables new exciting projects like Gatsby to pull in Markdown, MDX to embed JSX, and Prettier to format it. Itβs used in about 350k projects on GitHub and has about 15m downloads each month on npm: youβre probably using it. Some notable users are Node.js, ZEIT, Netlify, GitHub, Mozilla, WordPress, Adobe, Facebook, Google, and many more.
unifiedjs.com
and peruse its Learn sectionnpm:
npm install unified
This package comes with types. If youβre using TypeScript, make sure to also install @types/unist
.
var unified = require('unified') var markdown = require('remark-parse') var remark2rehype = require('remark-rehype') var doc = require('rehype-document') var format = require('rehype-format') var html = require('rehype-stringify') var report = require('vfile-reporter') unified() .use(markdown) .use(remark2rehype) .use(doc, {title: 'ππ'}) .use(format) .use(html) .process('# Hello world!', function (err, file) { console.error(report(err || file)) console.log(String(file)) })
Yields:
no issues found
<!doctype html> <html lang="en"> <head> <meta charset="utf-8"> <title>ππ</title> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"> </head> <body> <h1>Hello world!</h1> </body> </html>
unified is an interface for processing text using syntax trees. Syntax trees are a representation of text understandable to programs. Those programs, called plugins, take these trees and inspect and modify them. To get to the syntax tree from text, there is a parser. To get from that back to text, there is a compiler. This is the process of a processor.
| ........................ process ........................... | | .......... parse ... | ... run ... | ... stringify ..........| +--------+ +----------+ Input ->- | Parser | ->- Syntax Tree ->- | Compiler | ->- Output +--------+ | +----------+ X | +--------------+ | Transformers | +--------------+
Every processor implements another processor. To create a processor, call another processor. The new processor is configured to work the same as its ancestor. But when the descendant processor is configured in the future it does not affect the ancestral processor.
When processors are exposed from a module (for example, unified
itself) they should not be configured directly, as that would change their behavior for all module users. Those processors are frozen and they should be called to create a new processor before they are used.
The syntax trees used in unified are unist nodes. A node is a plain JavaScript objects with a type
field. The semantics of nodes and format of syntax trees is defined by other projects.
There are several utilities for working with nodes.
The following projects process different syntax tree formats. They parse text to a syntax tree and compile that back to text. These processors can be used as is, or their parser and compiler can be mixed and matched with unified and plugins to process between different syntaxes.
The below plugins work with unified, on all syntax tree formats:
unified-diff
β Ignore messages for unchanged lines in Travisunified-message-control
β Enable, disable, and ignore messagesSee remark, rehype, and retext for their lists of plugins.
When processing a document, metadata is often gathered about that document. vfile is a virtual file format that stores data, metadata, and messages about files for unified and its plugins.
There are several utilities for working with these files.
Processors are configured with plugins or with the data
method.
unified can integrate with the file system with unified-engine
. CLI apps can be created with unified-args
, Gulp plugins with unified-engine-gulp
, and Atom Linters with unified-engine-atom
.
unified-stream
provides a streaming interface.
The API provided by unified allows multiple files to be processed and gives access to metadata (such as lint messages):
var unified = require('unified') var markdown = require('remark-parse') var styleGuide = require('remark-preset-lint-markdown-style-guide') var remark2retext = require('remark-retext') var english = require('retext-english') var equality = require('retext-equality') var remark2rehype = require('remark-rehype') var html = require('rehype-stringify') var report = require('vfile-reporter') unified() .use(markdown) .use(styleGuide) .use(remark2retext, unified().use(english).use(equality)) .use(remark2rehype) .use(html) .process('*Emphasis* and _stress_, you guys!', function (err, file) { console.error(report(err || file)) console.log(String(file)) })
Yields:
1:16-1:24 warning Emphasis should use `*` as a marker emphasis-marker remark-lint
1:30-1:34 warning `guys` may be insensitive, use `people`, `persons`, `folks` instead gals-men retext-equality
β 2 warnings
<p><em>Emphasis</em> and <em>stress</em>, you guys!</p>
Processors can be combined in two modes.
Bridge mode transforms the syntax tree from one format (origin) to another (destination). Another processor runs on the destination tree. Finally, the original processor continues transforming the origin tree.
Mutate mode also transforms the syntax tree from one format to another. But the original processor continues transforming the destination tree.
In the previous example (βProgramming interfaceβ), remark-retext
is used in bridge mode: the origin syntax tree is kept after retext is done; whereas remark-rehype
is used in mutate mode: it sets a new syntax tree and discards the origin tree.
processor()
Processor describing how to process text.
Function
β New unfrozen processor that is configured to work the same as its ancestor. When the descendant processor is configured in the future it does not affect the ancestral processor.
The following example shows how a new processor can be created (from the remark processor) and linked to stdin(4) and stdout(4).
var remark = require('remark') var concat = require('concat-stream') process.stdin.pipe(concat(onconcat)) function onconcat(buf) { var doc = remark().processSync(buf).toString() process.stdout.write(doc) }
processor.use(plugin[, options])
Configure the processor to use a plugin and optionally configure that plugin with options.
If the processor is already using this plugin, the previous plugin configuration is changed based on the options that are passed in. The plugin is not added a second time.
processor.use(plugin[, options])
processor.use(preset)
processor.use(list)
plugin
(Attacher
)options
(*
, optional) β Configuration for plugin
preset
(Object
) β Object with an optional plugins
(set to list
), and/or an optional settings
objectlist
(Array
) β List of plugins, presets, and pairs (plugin
and options
in an array)processor
β The processor that use
was called on.
use
cannot be called on frozen processors. Call the processor first to create a new unfrozen processor.
There are many ways to pass plugins to .use()
. The below example gives an overview.
var unified = require('unified') unified() // Plugin with options: .use(pluginA, {x: true, y: true}) // Passing the same plugin again merges configuration (to `{x: true, y: false, z: true}`): .use(pluginA, {y: false, z: true}) // Plugins: .use([pluginB, pluginC]) // Two plugins, the second with options: .use([pluginD, [pluginE, {}]]) // Preset with plugins and settings: .use({plugins: [pluginF, [pluginG, {}]], settings: {position: false}}) // Settings only: .use({settings: {position: false}})
processor.parse(file)
Parse text to a syntax tree.
Node
β Parsed syntax tree representing file
.
parse
freezes the processor if not already frozen.
parse
performs the parse phase, not the run phase or other phases.
The below example shows how parse
can be used to create a syntax tree from a file.
var unified = require('unified') var markdown = require('remark-parse') var tree = unified().use(markdown).parse('# Hello world!') console.log(tree)
Yields:
{ type: 'root', children: [ {type: 'heading', depth: 1, children: [Array], position: [Position]} ], position: { start: {line: 1, column: 1, offset: 0}, end: {line: 1, column: 15, offset: 14} } }
processor.Parser
A parser handles the parsing of text to a syntax tree. Used in the parse phase and called with a string
and VFile
representation of the text to parse.
Parser
can be a function, in which case it must return a Node
: the syntax tree representation of the given file.
Parser
can also be a constructor function (a function with a parse
field, or other fields, in its prototype
), in which case itβs constructed with new
. Instances must have a parse
method that is called without arguments and must return a Node
.
processor.stringify(node[, file])
Compile a syntax tree.
node
(Node
) β Syntax tree to compilefile
(VFile
, optional) β File, any value accepted by vfile()
string
or Buffer
(see notes) β Textual representation of the syntax tree
stringify
freezes the processor if not already frozen.
stringify
performs the stringify phase, not the run phase or other phases.
unified typically compiles by serializing: most compilers return string
(or Buffer
). Some compilers, such as the one configured with rehype-react
, return other values (in this case, a React tree). If youβre using a compiler doesnβt serialize, expect different result values. When using TypeScript, cast the type on your side.
The below example shows how stringify
can be used to serialize a syntax tree.
var unified = require('unified') var html = require('rehype-stringify') var h = require('hastscript') var tree = h('h1', 'Hello world!') var doc = unified().use(html).stringify(tree) console.log(doc)
Yields:
<h1>Hello world!</h1>
processor.Compiler
A compiler handles the compiling of a syntax tree to text. Used in the stringify phase and called with a Node
and VFile
representation of syntax tree to compile.
Compiler
can be a function, in which case it should return a string
: the textual representation of the syntax tree.
Compiler
can also be a constructor function (a function with a compile
field, or other fields, in its prototype
), in which case itβs constructed with new
. Instances must have a compile
method that is called without arguments and should return a string
.
processor.run(node[, file][, done])
Run transformers on a syntax tree.
node
(Node
) β Syntax tree to run onfile
(VFile
, optional) β File, any value accepted by vfile()
done
(Function
, optional) β CallbackPromise
if done
is not given. The returned promise is rejected with a fatal error, or resolved with the transformed syntax tree.
run
freezes the processor if not already frozen.
run
performs the run phase, not other phases.
function done(err[, node, file])
Callback called when transformers are done. Called with either an error or results.
err
(Error
, optional) β Fatal errornode
(Node
, optional) β Transformed syntax treefile
(VFile
, optional) β FileThe below example shows how run
can be used to transform a syntax tree.
var unified = require('unified') var references = require('remark-reference-links') var u = require('unist-builder') var tree = u('root', [ u('paragraph', [ u('link', {href: 'https://example.com'}, [u('text', 'Example Domain')]) ]) ]) unified() .use(references) .run(tree, function (err, tree) { if (err) throw err console.log(tree) })
Yields:
{ type: 'root', children: [ {type: 'paragraph', children: [Array]}, {type: 'definition', identifier: '1', title: undefined, url: undefined} ] }
processor.runSync(node[, file])
Run transformers on a syntax tree.
An error is thrown if asynchronous plugins are configured.
node
(Node
) β Syntax tree to run onfile
(VFile
, optional) β File, any value accepted by vfile()
Node
β Transformed syntax tree.
runSync
freezes the processor if not already frozen.
runSync
performs the run phase, not other phases.
processor.process(file[, done])
Process the given file as configured on the processor.
Promise
if done
is not given. The returned promise is rejected with a fatal error, or resolved with the processed file.
The parsed, transformed, and compiled value is exposed on file.contents
or file.result
(see notes).
process
freezes the processor if not already frozen.
process
performs the parse, run, and stringify phases.
Be aware that compilers typically, but not always, return string
. Some compilers, such as the one configured with rehype-react
, return other values (in this case, a React tree). When using TypeScript, cast the type of file.contents
on your side.
unified typically compiles by serializing: most compilers return string
(or Buffer
). Some compilers, such as the one configured with rehype-react
, return other values (in this case, a React tree). If youβre using a compiler that serializes, the result is available at file.contents
. Otherwise, the result is available at file.result
.
The below example shows how process
can be used to process a file, whether transformers are asynchronous or not, with promises.
var unified = require('unified') var markdown = require('remark-parse') var remark2rehype = require('remark-rehype') var doc = require('rehype-document') var format = require('rehype-format') var html = require('rehype-stringify') unified() .use(markdown) .use(remark2rehype) .use(doc, {title: 'ππ'}) .use(format) .use(html) .process('# Hello world!') .then( function (file) { console.log(String(file)) }, function (err) { console.error(String(err)) } )
Yields:
<!doctype html> <html lang="en"> <head> <meta charset="utf-8"> <title>ππ</title> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"> </head> <body> <h1>Hello world!</h1> </body> </html>
function done(err, file)
Callback called when the process is done. Called with a fatal error, if any, and a file.
The below example shows how process
can be used to process a file, whether transformers are asynchronous or not, with a callback.
var unified = require('unified') var parse = require('remark-parse') var stringify = require('remark-stringify') var github = require('remark-github') var report = require('vfile-reporter') unified() .use(parse) .use(github) .use(stringify) .process('@wooorm', function (err, file) { console.error(report(err || file)) console.log(String(file)) })
Yields:
no issues found
[**@wooorm**](https://github.com/wooorm)
processor.processSync(file|value)
Process the given file as configured on the processor.
An error is thrown if asynchronous plugins are configured.
The parsed, transformed, and compiled value is exposed on file.contents
or file.result
(see notes).
processSync
freezes the processor if not already frozen.
processSync
performs the parse, run, and stringify phases.
unified typically compiles by serializing: most compilers return string
(or Buffer
). Some compilers, such as the one configured with rehype-react
, return other values (in this case, a React tree). If youβre using a compiler that serializes, the result is available at file.contents
. Otherwise, the result is available at file.result
.
The below example shows how processSync
can be used to process a file, if all transformers are synchronous.
var unified = require('unified') var markdown = require('remark-parse') var remark2rehype = require('remark-rehype') var doc = require('rehype-document') var format = require('rehype-format') var html = require('rehype-stringify') var processor = unified() .use(markdown) .use(remark2rehype) .use(doc, {title: 'ππ'}) .use(format) .use(html) console.log(processor.processSync('# Hello world!').toString())
Yields:
<!doctype html> <html lang="en"> <head> <meta charset="utf-8"> <title>ππ</title> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"> </head> <body> <h1>Hello world!</h1> </body> </html>
processor.data([key[, value]])
Configure the processor with information available to all plugins. Information is stored in an in-memory key-value store.
Typically, options can be given to a specific plugin, but sometimes it makes sense to have information shared with several plugins. For example, a list of HTML elements that are self-closing, which is needed during all phases of the process.
processor = processor.data(key, value)
processor = processor.data(values)
value = processor.data(key)
info = processor.data()
key
(string
, optional) β Identifiervalue
(*
, optional) β Value to setvalues
(Object
, optional) β Values to setprocessor
β If setting, the processor that data
is called onvalue
(*
) β If getting, the value at key
info
(Object
) β Without arguments, the key-value storeSetting information cannot occur on frozen processors. Call the processor first to create a new unfrozen processor.
The following example show how to get and set information:
var unified = require('unified') var processor = unified().data('alpha', 'bravo') processor.data('alpha') // => 'bravo' processor.data() // {alpha: 'bravo'} processor.data({charlie: 'delta'}) processor.data() // {charlie: 'delta'}
processor.freeze()
Freeze a processor. Frozen processors are meant to be extended and not to be configured directly.
Once a processor is frozen it cannot be unfrozen. New processors working the same way can be created by calling the processor.
Itβs possible to freeze processors explicitly by calling .freeze()
. Processors freeze implicitly when .parse()
, .run()
, .runSync()
, .stringify()
, .process()
, or .processSync()
are called.
processor
β The processor that freeze
was called on.
The following example, index.js
, shows how rehype prevents extensions to itself:
var unified = require('unified') var parse = require('rehype-parse') var stringify = require('rehype-stringify') module.exports = unified().use(parse).use(stringify).freeze()
The below example, a.js
, shows how that processor can be used and configured.
var rehype = require('rehype') var format = require('rehype-format') // β¦ rehype() .use(format) // β¦
The below example, b.js
, shows a similar looking example that operates on the frozen rehype interface because it does not call rehype
. If this behavior was allowed it would result in unexpected behavior so an error is thrown. This is invalid:
var rehype = require('rehype') var format = require('rehype-format') // β¦ rehype .use(format) // β¦
Yields:
~/node_modules/unified/index.js:440
throw new Error(
^
Error: Cannot invoke `use` on a frozen processor.
Create a new processor first, by invoking it: use `processor()` instead of `processor`.
at assertUnfrozen (~/node_modules/unified/index.js:440:11)
at Function.use (~/node_modules/unified/index.js:172:5)
at Object.<anonymous> (~/b.js:6:4)
Plugin
Plugins configure the processors they are applied on in the following ways:
Plugins are a concept. They materialize as attacher
s.
move.js
:
module.exports = move function move(options) { var expected = (options || {}).extname if (!expected) { throw new Error('Missing `extname` in options') } return transformer function transformer(tree, file) { if (file.extname && file.extname !== expected) { file.extname = expected } } }
index.md
:
# Hello, world!
index.js
:
var unified = require('unified') var parse = require('remark-parse') var remark2rehype = require('remark-rehype') var stringify = require('rehype-stringify') var vfile = require('to-vfile') var report = require('vfile-reporter') var move = require('./move') unified() .use(parse) .use(remark2rehype) .use(move, {extname: '.html'}) .use(stringify) .process(vfile.readSync('index.md'), function (err, file) { console.error(report(err || file)) if (file) { vfile.writeSync(file) // Written to `index.html`. } })
Yields:
index.md: no issues found
index.html
:
<h1>Hello, world!</h1>
function attacher([options])
Attachers are materialized plugins. An attacher is a function that can receive options and configures the processor.
Attachers change the processor, such as the parser, the compiler, configuring data, or by specifying how the syntax tree or file are handled.
The context object (this
) is set to the processor the attacher is applied on.
options
(*
, optional) β Configurationtransformer
β Optional.
Attachers are called when the processor is frozen, not when they are applied.
function transformer(node, file[, next])
Transformers handle syntax trees and files. A transformer is a function that is called each time a syntax tree and file are passed through the run phase. If an error occurs (either because itβs thrown, returned, rejected, or passed to next
), the process stops.
The run phase is handled by trough
, see its documentation for the exact semantics of these functions.
node
(Node
) β Syntax tree to handlefile
(VFile
) β File to handlenext
(Function
, optional)void
β If nothing is returned, the next transformer keeps using same tree.Error
β Fatal error to stop the processnode
(Node
) β New syntax tree. If returned, the next transformer is given this new treePromise
β Returned to perform an asynchronous operation. The promise must be resolved (optionally with a Node
) or rejected (optionally with an Error
)function next(err[, tree[, file]])
If the signature of a transformer includes next
(the third argument), the transformer may perform asynchronous operations, and must call next()
.
err
(Error
, optional) β Fatal error to stop the processnode
(Node
, optional) β New syntax tree. If given, the next transformer is given this new treefile
(VFile
, optional) β New file. If given, the next transformer is given this new filePreset
Presets are sharable configuration. They can contain plugins and settings.
preset.js
:
exports.settings = {bullet: '*', emphasis: '*', fences: true} exports.plugins = [ require('remark-preset-lint-recommended'), require('remark-preset-lint-consistent'), require('remark-comment-config'), [require('remark-toc'), {maxDepth: 3, tight: true}], require('remark-license') ]
readme.md
:
# Hello, world! _Emphasis_ and **importance**. ## Table of contents ## API ## License
index.js
:
var remark = require('remark') var vfile = require('to-vfile') var report = require('vfile-reporter') var preset = require('./preset') remark() .use(preset) .process(vfile.readSync('readme.md'), function (err, file) { console.error(report(err || file)) if (file) { vfile.writeSync(file) } })
Yields:
readme.md: no issues found
readme.md
now contains:
# Hello, world! *Emphasis* and **importance**. ## Table of contents * [API](#api) * [License](#license) ## API ## License [MIT](license) Β© [Titus Wormer](https://wooorm.com)
See contributing.md
in unifiedjs/.github
for ways to get started. See support.md
for ways to get help. Ideas for new plugins and tools can be posted in unifiedjs/ideas
.
A curated list of awesome unified resources can be found in awesome unified.
This project has a code of conduct. By interacting with this repository, organization, or community you agree to abide by its terms.
Preliminary work for unified was done in 2014 for retext and inspired by ware
. Further incubation happened in remark. The project was finally externalised in 2015 and published as unified
. The project was authored by @wooorm.
Although unified
since moved its plugin architecture to trough
, thanks to @calvinfo, @ianstormtaylor, and others for their work on ware
, as it was a huge initial inspiration.
MIT Β© Titus Wormer