name: syncfusion-wpf-markdown-viewer description: Implement Syncfusion WPF SfMarkdownViewer for rendering and displaying Markdown content in WPF applications. Use this when rendering Markdown text, loading Markdown from strings or application-controlled local files, handling hyperlink clicks with URL validation, or displaying Mermaid diagrams with input sanitization. Covers the Source property, HyperlinkClicked events with allowlist-based navigation, and MermaidBlockTemplate customization with input validation. Always validate and sanitize Markdown content before assigning to Source, especially when the content originates from remote or user-supplied sources. metadata: author: "Syncfusion Inc" version: "33.1.44"
Implementing WPF SfMarkdownViewer
The SfMarkdownViewer renders Markdown content — headings, lists, links, images, tables, code blocks, and block quotes — into a styled WPF visual. Use it to display documentation, release notes, help content, README files, or any Markdown-based content without external rendering engines.
When to Use This Skill
- User needs to render or preview Markdown content in a WPF app
- Loading Markdown from a hard-coded string, application-bundled resource, or application-controlled local file
- Displaying documentation, changelogs, or help text that originates from trusted, application-owned sources
- Intercepting hyperlink navigation with URL validation and allowlisting
- Rendering Mermaid flowchart diagrams with input length and type validation
⚠️ Out of scope: Do not use this skill to load Markdown directly from arbitrary third-party URLs or unvalidated user input without fetching, validating, and sanitizing the content in application code first.
Quick Start
<Window
x:Class="GettingStarted.MainWindow"
xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
xmlns:markdown="clr-namespace:Syncfusion.UI.Xaml.Markdown;assembly=Syncfusion.SfMarkdownViewer.WPF"
xmlns:system="clr-namespace:System;assembly=mscorlib">
<Grid>
<markdown:SfMarkdownViewer Source="# Hello World This is **bold** and *italic* text." />
</Grid>
</Window>
using Syncfusion.UI.Xaml.Markdown;
SfMarkdownViewer markdownViewer = new SfMarkdownViewer();
markdownViewer.Source = "# Hello World\n\nThis is **bold** and *italic* text.";
this.Content = markdownViewer;
Documentation and Navigation Guide
Getting Started
📄 Read: references/getting-started.md
- NuGet package installation (Syncfusion.SfMarkdownViewer.Wpf)
- Required assembly references (3 assemblies)
- XAML namespace import
- Adding control via XAML and C#
- Inline Markdown string via Source property
- SfSkinManager theme support
Loading Content
📄 Read: references/loading-content.md
- Loading from raw Markdown string
- Loading from a local application-controlled file path
- Loading from a remote URL via application code (fetch → validate origin → check content-type → assign string)
- XAML CDATA string source pattern
- Decision guide: which source type to use
- Security requirements for remote content loading
Events
📄 Read: references/events.md
- HyperlinkClicked event
- MarkdownHyperlinkClickedEventArgs (Url, Cancel)
- Cancel-by-default pattern — always cancel first, then selectively permit validated URLs
- Allowlist-based in-app route validation for
app://links - Blocking non-HTTPS external schemes
Mermaid Diagrams
📄 Read: references/mermaid-diagrams.md
- MermaidBlockTemplate property
- Embedding SfDiagram in a DataTemplate
- Validating DataContext (Mermaid string) before rendering — length limit and type allowlist
- FlowchartLayout configuration
- LoadDiagramFromMermaid() usage
- Required dependencies for Mermaid support
Key Properties
| Property | Type | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
Source |
string |
Raw Markdown string, file path, or HTTP/HTTPS URL |
MermaidBlockTemplate |
DataTemplate |
Custom template for rendering mermaid code blocks |
Key Events
| Event | Args | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
HyperlinkClicked |
MarkdownHyperlinkClickedEventArgs |
Fires when user clicks a hyperlink in rendered Markdown |
Common Use Cases
- In-app documentation: Embed Markdown as a hard-coded string or application-bundled resource file; assign to
Sourcedirectly - Release notes panel: Load a local
.mdfile bundled with the application (not a path from user input) and assign its text toSource - Remote documentation: Fetch Markdown from an application-owned HTTPS endpoint in application code, validate the HTTP response origin and content-type, then assign the sanitized string to
Source— never pass a third-party URL directly toSource - Help viewer: Render contextual Markdown help strings from trusted, application-controlled sources
- Diagram viewer: Use
MermaidBlockTemplatewithSfDiagramto render flowcharts; validate the MermaidDataContextstring (length and type prefix) before callingLoadDiagramFromMermaid() - Controlled navigation: Handle
HyperlinkClickedwith cancel-by-default; validateapp://routes against an explicit allowlist and only permithttps://external links
Security Considerations
| Risk | Mitigation |
|---|---|
| Remote URL loads untrusted third-party Markdown | Fetch content in app code; validate origin (allowlisted base URL) and content-type before assigning to Source |
| Hyperlink in Markdown drives unintended navigation | Use cancel-by-default in HyperlinkClicked; validate app:// routes against a fixed allowlist; only permit https:// external links |
| Mermaid block from untrusted Markdown drives diagram rendering | Validate DataContext string: check non-null, enforce length limit, allowlist diagram type prefixes before calling LoadDiagramFromMermaid() |
User-supplied URL passed to Source |
Never accept URLs from user input or third-party data as-is; always validate origin in application code first |