How to extract Markdown links
Paste a document into Markdown input or choose Upload for a .md, .markdown, or .txt file. Each result shows Label, Destination, Title, Type, and Line. The parser also marks full and collapsed reference links without a matching definition as unresolved.
- Paste Markdown containing links into Markdown input.
- Choose Upload when the source is a
.md,.markdown, or.txtfile. - Leave Include image links selected to keep image results, or select Unresolved only to show references without a destination.
- Select Copy for tab-separated fields, or CSV to download the filtered rows.
Which Markdown link forms are recognized?
The parser reads inline links, full reference links, collapsed reference links, and shortcut reference links. It matches reference names to definitions elsewhere in the same input, then puts the link's label beside its destination and title.
[Docs](https://example.com/docs "Guide")
[release][docs]
[docs]: https://example.com/changelog "Release notes"The first row gets its destination from the parentheses. The second row uses the [docs] definition. Results retain the visible label, destination, title, link type, and source line.
What the result filters change
Include image links starts selected, so image syntax appears with an Image type. Clear it to remove those rows. Unresolved only keeps reference rows whose definition was not found. Reset filters selects Include image links and clears Unresolved only.
Copy puts the filtered Label, Destination, Title, and Type columns on the clipboard as tab-separated text. CSV downloads those fields with Line added.
When a reference stays unresolved
A full reference such as [Docs][guide] needs a matching definition such as [guide]: https://example.com/docs. A shortcut reference uses its label as the reference name. Matching ignores letter case and surrounding spaces in that name.
The definition must fit one line and can have up to three leading spaces. If a full or collapsed reference has no definition, the result has an empty Destination value and an unresolved Type.
Bare URLs outside Markdown link syntax do not become rows. The page does not render the document, validate Markdown, or check whether a destination responds. Parsing pasted text and reading selected files happen in the browser, and this page's tool script makes no network request with that input.
Choose another extractor for a different input
The parent Text Parsing & Data Extraction category lists tools for other text structures. Use Extract URLs from Text for web addresses that appear as raw text or inside other content.
Use Extract Text Between Delimiters for content between brackets, quotes, or custom markers. Choose Custom Regex Extractor when you need your own JavaScript pattern.
What to inspect in extracted rows
A documentation maintainer can scan Label, Destination, and Line before publishing a link change.
After moving reference definitions between files, select Unresolved only and review rows whose Destination cell shows -.
Keep Include image links selected to review image destinations alongside ordinary links, then copy the filtered rows.
CSV output keeps labels, titles, and source lines together for a link review.
Frequently asked questions
How do I pull link destinations from Markdown?
Paste Markdown into Markdown input or use Upload, then read each row's Destination beside its Label. Reference links use matching definitions in the same input.
What Markdown link syntax does the extractor recognize?
It recognizes inline, full reference, collapsed reference, and shortcut reference links, including their image forms when Include image links is selected.
Why is my Markdown link marked unresolved?
A full or collapsed reference link is marked unresolved when its reference name has no matching definition in the input, so the tool has no destination to display.
Can I extract Markdown links from a .md file?
Yes. Select Upload and choose a .md, .markdown, or .txt file, then review the extracted rows.
What is the difference between this and extracting URLs from text?
This tool reads Markdown link syntax and pairs labels with destinations. Use Extract URLs from Text for web addresses that appear as raw text or inside other content.