feat(markdown): add formatting & improve inline support (#1804)

feat(markdown): support formatting & hyperlinks Signed-off-by: Panos Vagenas <pva@zurich.ibm.com>
2025-06-27 05:20:05 +00:00 · 2025-06-18 15:57:57 +02:00 · 2025-06-18 15:57:57 +02:00 · 861abcdcb0
commit 861abcdcb0
parent 215b540f6c
5 changed files with 722 additions and 88 deletions
--- a/docling/backend/md_backend.py
+++ b/docling/backend/md_backend.py
@ -1,17 +1,15 @@
 import logging
 import re
 import warnings
+from copy import deepcopy
 from io import BytesIO
 from pathlib import Path
 from typing import List, Optional, Set, Union

 import marko
 import marko.element
-import marko.ext
-import marko.ext.gfm
 import marko.inline
 from docling_core.types.doc import (
-    DocItem,
    DocItemLabel,
    DoclingDocument,
    DocumentOrigin,
@ -21,7 +19,9 @@ from docling_core.types.doc import (
    TableData,
    TextItem,
 )
+from docling_core.types.doc.document import Formatting, OrderedList, UnorderedList
 from marko import Markdown
+from pydantic import AnyUrl, TypeAdapter

 from docling.backend.abstract_backend import DeclarativeDocumentBackend
 from docling.backend.html_backend import HTMLDocumentBackend
@ -71,7 +71,6 @@ class MarkdownDocumentBackend(DeclarativeDocumentBackend):

        self.in_table = False
        self.md_table_buffer: list[str] = []
-        self.inline_texts: list[str] = []
        self._html_blocks: int = 0

        try:
@ -156,25 +155,16 @@ class MarkdownDocumentBackend(DeclarativeDocumentBackend):
                doc.add_table(data=table_data)
        return

-    def _process_inline_text(
-        self, parent_item: Optional[NodeItem], doc: DoclingDocument
-    ):
-        txt = " ".join(self.inline_texts)
-        if len(txt) > 0:
-            doc.add_text(
-                label=DocItemLabel.PARAGRAPH,
-                parent=parent_item,
-                text=txt,
-            )
-        self.inline_texts = []
-
    def _iterate_elements(  # noqa: C901
        self,
+        *,
        element: marko.element.Element,
        depth: int,
        doc: DoclingDocument,
        visited: Set[marko.element.Element],
        parent_item: Optional[NodeItem] = None,
+        formatting: Optional[Formatting] = None,
+        hyperlink: Optional[Union[AnyUrl, Path]] = None,
    ):
        if element in visited:
            return
@ -183,44 +173,32 @@ class MarkdownDocumentBackend(DeclarativeDocumentBackend):
        # Check for different element types and process relevant details
        if isinstance(element, marko.block.Heading) and len(element.children) > 0:
            self._close_table(doc)
-            self._process_inline_text(parent_item, doc)
            _log.debug(
                f" - Heading level {element.level}, content: {element.children[0].children}"  # type: ignore
            )
-            if element.level == 1:
-                doc_label = DocItemLabel.TITLE
+
+            if len(element.children) == 1:
+                child = element.children[0]
+                snippet_text = str(child.children)  # type: ignore
+                visited.add(child)
            else:
-                doc_label = DocItemLabel.SECTION_HEADER
+                snippet_text = ""  # inline group will be created

-            # Header could have arbitrary inclusion of bold, italic or emphasis,
-            # hence we need to traverse the tree to get full text of a header
-            strings: List[str] = []
-
-            # Define a recursive function to traverse the tree
-            def traverse(node: marko.block.BlockElement):
-                # Check if the node has a "children" attribute
-                if hasattr(node, "children"):
-                    # If "children" is a list, continue traversal
-                    if isinstance(node.children, list):
-                        for child in node.children:
-                            traverse(child)
-                    # If "children" is text, add it to header text
-                    elif isinstance(node.children, str):
-                        strings.append(node.children)
-
-            traverse(element)
-            snippet_text = "".join(strings)
-            if len(snippet_text) > 0:
-                if doc_label == DocItemLabel.SECTION_HEADER:
-                    parent_item = doc.add_heading(
-                        text=snippet_text,
-                        level=element.level - 1,
-                        parent=parent_item,
-                    )
-                else:
-                    parent_item = doc.add_text(
-                        label=doc_label, parent=parent_item, text=snippet_text
-                    )
+            if element.level == 1:
+                parent_item = doc.add_title(
+                    text=snippet_text,
+                    parent=parent_item,
+                    formatting=formatting,
+                    hyperlink=hyperlink,
+                )
+            else:
+                parent_item = doc.add_heading(
+                    text=snippet_text,
+                    level=element.level - 1,
+                    parent=parent_item,
+                    formatting=formatting,
+                    hyperlink=hyperlink,
+                )

        elif isinstance(element, marko.block.List):
            has_non_empty_list_items = False
@ -230,7 +208,6 @@ class MarkdownDocumentBackend(DeclarativeDocumentBackend):
                    break

            self._close_table(doc)
-            self._process_inline_text(parent_item, doc)
            _log.debug(f" - List {'ordered' if element.ordered else 'unordered'}")
            if has_non_empty_list_items:
                label = GroupLabel.ORDERED_LIST if element.ordered else GroupLabel.LIST
@ -240,41 +217,60 @@ class MarkdownDocumentBackend(DeclarativeDocumentBackend):

        elif (
            isinstance(element, marko.block.ListItem)
-            and len(element.children) > 0
-            and isinstance((first_child := element.children[0]), marko.block.Paragraph)
+            and len(element.children) == 1
+            and isinstance((child := element.children[0]), marko.block.Paragraph)
+            and len(child.children) > 0
        ):
            self._close_table(doc)
-            self._process_inline_text(parent_item, doc)
            _log.debug(" - List item")

-            snippet_text = str(first_child.children[0].children)  # type: ignore
-            is_numbered = False
-            if (
-                parent_item is not None
-                and isinstance(parent_item, DocItem)
-                and parent_item.label == GroupLabel.ORDERED_LIST
-            ):
-                is_numbered = True
-            doc.add_list_item(
-                enumerated=is_numbered, parent=parent_item, text=snippet_text
+            if len(child.children) == 1:
+                snippet_text = str(child.children[0].children)  # type: ignore
+                visited.add(child)
+            else:
+                snippet_text = ""  # inline group will be created
+            is_numbered = isinstance(parent_item, OrderedList)
+            if not isinstance(parent_item, (OrderedList, UnorderedList)):
+                _log.warning("ListItem would have not had a list parent, adding one.")
+                parent_item = doc.add_unordered_list(parent=parent_item)
+            parent_item = doc.add_list_item(
+                enumerated=is_numbered,
+                parent=parent_item,
+                text=snippet_text,
+                formatting=formatting,
+                hyperlink=hyperlink,
            )
-            visited.add(first_child)

        elif isinstance(element, marko.inline.Image):
            self._close_table(doc)
-            self._process_inline_text(parent_item, doc)
            _log.debug(f" - Image with alt: {element.title}, url: {element.dest}")

            fig_caption: Optional[TextItem] = None
            if element.title is not None and element.title != "":
                fig_caption = doc.add_text(
-                    label=DocItemLabel.CAPTION, text=element.title
+                    label=DocItemLabel.CAPTION,
+                    text=element.title,
+                    formatting=formatting,
+                    hyperlink=hyperlink,
                )

            doc.add_picture(parent=parent_item, caption=fig_caption)

-        elif isinstance(element, marko.block.Paragraph) and len(element.children) > 0:
-            self._process_inline_text(parent_item, doc)
+        elif isinstance(element, marko.inline.Emphasis):
+            _log.debug(f" - Emphasis: {element.children}")
+            formatting = deepcopy(formatting) if formatting else Formatting()
+            formatting.italic = True
+
+        elif isinstance(element, marko.inline.StrongEmphasis):
+            _log.debug(f" - StrongEmphasis: {element.children}")
+            formatting = deepcopy(formatting) if formatting else Formatting()
+            formatting.bold = True
+
+        elif isinstance(element, marko.inline.Link):
+            _log.debug(f" - Link: {element.children}")
+            hyperlink = TypeAdapter(Optional[Union[AnyUrl, Path]]).validate_python(
+                element.dest
+            )

        elif isinstance(element, marko.inline.RawText):
            _log.debug(f" - Paragraph (raw text): {element.children}")
@ -287,28 +283,41 @@ class MarkdownDocumentBackend(DeclarativeDocumentBackend):
                    self.md_table_buffer[len(self.md_table_buffer) - 1] += snippet_text
                else:
                    self.md_table_buffer.append(snippet_text)
-            else:
+            elif snippet_text:
                self._close_table(doc)
-                # most likely just inline text
-                self.inline_texts.append(str(element.children))
+                doc.add_text(
+                    label=DocItemLabel.TEXT,
+                    parent=parent_item,
+                    text=snippet_text,
+                    formatting=formatting,
+                    hyperlink=hyperlink,
+                )

        elif isinstance(element, marko.inline.CodeSpan):
            self._close_table(doc)
-            self._process_inline_text(parent_item, doc)
            _log.debug(f" - Code Span: {element.children}")
            snippet_text = str(element.children).strip()
-            doc.add_code(parent=parent_item, text=snippet_text)
+            doc.add_code(
+                parent=parent_item,
+                text=snippet_text,
+                formatting=formatting,
+                hyperlink=hyperlink,
+            )

        elif (
            isinstance(element, (marko.block.CodeBlock, marko.block.FencedCode))
            and len(element.children) > 0
-            and isinstance((first_child := element.children[0]), marko.inline.RawText)
-            and len(snippet_text := (first_child.children.strip())) > 0
+            and isinstance((child := element.children[0]), marko.inline.RawText)
+            and len(snippet_text := (child.children.strip())) > 0
        ):
            self._close_table(doc)
-            self._process_inline_text(parent_item, doc)
            _log.debug(f" - Code Block: {element.children}")
-            doc.add_code(parent=parent_item, text=snippet_text)
+            doc.add_code(
+                parent=parent_item,
+                text=snippet_text,
+                formatting=formatting,
+                hyperlink=hyperlink,
+            )

        elif isinstance(element, marko.inline.LineBreak):
            if self.in_table:
@ -317,7 +326,6 @@ class MarkdownDocumentBackend(DeclarativeDocumentBackend):

        elif isinstance(element, marko.block.HTMLBlock):
            self._html_blocks += 1
-            self._process_inline_text(parent_item, doc)
            self._close_table(doc)
            _log.debug(f"HTML Block: {element}")
            if (
@ -327,14 +335,25 @@ class MarkdownDocumentBackend(DeclarativeDocumentBackend):

                # wrap in markers to enable post-processing in convert()
                text_to_add = f"{_START_MARKER}{html_block}{_STOP_MARKER}"
-                doc.add_code(parent=parent_item, text=text_to_add)
+                doc.add_code(
+                    parent=parent_item,
+                    text=text_to_add,
+                    formatting=formatting,
+                    hyperlink=hyperlink,
+                )
        else:
            if not isinstance(element, str):
                self._close_table(doc)
                _log.debug(f"Some other element: {element}")

+        if (
+            isinstance(element, (marko.block.Paragraph, marko.block.Heading))
+            and len(element.children) > 1
+        ):
+            parent_item = doc.add_inline_group(parent=parent_item)
+
        processed_block_types = (
-            marko.block.Heading,
+            # marko.block.Heading,
            marko.block.CodeBlock,
            marko.block.FencedCode,
            marko.inline.RawText,
@ -351,6 +370,8 @@ class MarkdownDocumentBackend(DeclarativeDocumentBackend):
                    doc=doc,
                    visited=visited,
                    parent_item=parent_item,
+                    formatting=formatting,
+                    hyperlink=hyperlink,
                )

    def is_valid(self) -> bool:
@ -392,7 +413,6 @@ class MarkdownDocumentBackend(DeclarativeDocumentBackend):
                parent_item=None,
                visited=set(),
            )
-            self._process_inline_text(None, doc)  # handle last hanging inline text
            self._close_table(doc=doc)  # handle any last hanging table

            # if HTML blocks were detected, export to HTML and delegate to HTML backend
--- a/tests/data/groundtruth/docling_v2/inline_and_formatting.md.md
+++ b/tests/data/groundtruth/docling_v2/inline_and_formatting.md.md
@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+# Contribution guideline example
+
+This is simple.
+
+Foo *emphasis* **strong emphasis** ***both*** .
+
+Create your feature branch: `git checkout -b feature/AmazingFeature` .
+
+1. Pull the [**repository**](https://github.com/docling-project/docling) .
+2. Create your feature branch ( `git checkout -b feature/AmazingFeature` )
+3. Commit your changes ( `git commit -m 'Add some AmazingFeature'` )
+4. Push to the branch ( `git push origin feature/AmazingFeature` )
+5. Open a Pull Request
+
+## 
+
+*Second* section
+
+- **First** : Lorem ipsum.
+- **Second** : Dolor `sit` amet.
--- a/tests/data/groundtruth/docling_v2/inline_and_formatting.md.yaml
+++ b/tests/data/groundtruth/docling_v2/inline_and_formatting.md.yaml
@ -0,0 +1,565 @@
+body:
+  children:
+  - $ref: '#/texts/0'
+  - $ref: '#/texts/1'
+  - $ref: '#/groups/0'
+  - $ref: '#/groups/1'
+  - $ref: '#/groups/2'
+  - $ref: '#/texts/27'
+  - $ref: '#/groups/8'
+  content_layer: body
+  label: unspecified
+  name: _root_
+  self_ref: '#/body'
+form_items: []
+furniture:
+  children: []
+  content_layer: furniture
+  label: unspecified
+  name: _root_
+  self_ref: '#/furniture'
+groups:
+- children:
+  - $ref: '#/texts/2'
+  - $ref: '#/texts/3'
+  - $ref: '#/texts/4'
+  - $ref: '#/texts/5'
+  - $ref: '#/texts/6'
+  content_layer: body
+  label: inline
+  name: group
+  parent:
+    $ref: '#/body'
+  self_ref: '#/groups/0'
+- children:
+  - $ref: '#/texts/7'
+  - $ref: '#/texts/8'
+  - $ref: '#/texts/9'
+  content_layer: body
+  label: inline
+  name: group
+  parent:
+    $ref: '#/body'
+  self_ref: '#/groups/1'
+- children:
+  - $ref: '#/texts/10'
+  - $ref: '#/texts/14'
+  - $ref: '#/texts/18'
+  - $ref: '#/texts/22'
+  - $ref: '#/texts/26'
+  content_layer: body
+  label: ordered_list
+  name: list
+  parent:
+    $ref: '#/body'
+  self_ref: '#/groups/2'
+- children:
+  - $ref: '#/texts/11'
+  - $ref: '#/texts/12'
+  - $ref: '#/texts/13'
+  content_layer: body
+  label: inline
+  name: group
+  parent:
+    $ref: '#/texts/10'
+  self_ref: '#/groups/3'
+- children:
+  - $ref: '#/texts/15'
+  - $ref: '#/texts/16'
+  - $ref: '#/texts/17'
+  content_layer: body
+  label: inline
+  name: group
+  parent:
+    $ref: '#/texts/14'
+  self_ref: '#/groups/4'
+- children:
+  - $ref: '#/texts/19'
+  - $ref: '#/texts/20'
+  - $ref: '#/texts/21'
+  content_layer: body
+  label: inline
+  name: group
+  parent:
+    $ref: '#/texts/18'
+  self_ref: '#/groups/5'
+- children:
+  - $ref: '#/texts/23'
+  - $ref: '#/texts/24'
+  - $ref: '#/texts/25'
+  content_layer: body
+  label: inline
+  name: group
+  parent:
+    $ref: '#/texts/22'
+  self_ref: '#/groups/6'
+- children:
+  - $ref: '#/texts/28'
+  - $ref: '#/texts/29'
+  content_layer: body
+  label: inline
+  name: group
+  parent:
+    $ref: '#/texts/27'
+  self_ref: '#/groups/7'
+- children:
+  - $ref: '#/texts/30'
+  - $ref: '#/texts/33'
+  content_layer: body
+  label: list
+  name: list
+  parent:
+    $ref: '#/body'
+  self_ref: '#/groups/8'
+- children:
+  - $ref: '#/texts/31'
+  - $ref: '#/texts/32'
+  content_layer: body
+  label: inline
+  name: group
+  parent:
+    $ref: '#/texts/30'
+  self_ref: '#/groups/9'
+- children:
+  - $ref: '#/texts/34'
+  - $ref: '#/texts/35'
+  - $ref: '#/texts/36'
+  - $ref: '#/texts/37'
+  content_layer: body
+  label: inline
+  name: group
+  parent:
+    $ref: '#/texts/33'
+  self_ref: '#/groups/10'
+key_value_items: []
+name: inline_and_formatting
+origin:
+  binary_hash: 9342273634728023910
+  filename: inline_and_formatting.md
+  mimetype: text/markdown
+pages: {}
+pictures: []
+schema_name: DoclingDocument
+tables: []
+texts:
+- children: []
+  content_layer: body
+  label: title
+  orig: Contribution guideline example
+  parent:
+    $ref: '#/body'
+  prov: []
+  self_ref: '#/texts/0'
+  text: Contribution guideline example
+- children: []
+  content_layer: body
+  label: text
+  orig: This is simple.
+  parent:
+    $ref: '#/body'
+  prov: []
+  self_ref: '#/texts/1'
+  text: This is simple.
+- children: []
+  content_layer: body
+  label: text
+  orig: Foo
+  parent:
+    $ref: '#/groups/0'
+  prov: []
+  self_ref: '#/texts/2'
+  text: Foo
+- children: []
+  content_layer: body
+  formatting:
+    bold: false
+    italic: true
+    strikethrough: false
+    underline: false
+  label: text
+  orig: emphasis
+  parent:
+    $ref: '#/groups/0'
+  prov: []
+  self_ref: '#/texts/3'
+  text: emphasis
+- children: []
+  content_layer: body
+  formatting:
+    bold: true
+    italic: false
+    strikethrough: false
+    underline: false
+  label: text
+  orig: strong emphasis
+  parent:
+    $ref: '#/groups/0'
+  prov: []
+  self_ref: '#/texts/4'
+  text: strong emphasis
+- children: []
+  content_layer: body
+  formatting:
+    bold: true
+    italic: true
+    strikethrough: false
+    underline: false
+  label: text
+  orig: both
+  parent:
+    $ref: '#/groups/0'
+  prov: []
+  self_ref: '#/texts/5'
+  text: both
+- children: []
+  content_layer: body
+  label: text
+  orig: .
+  parent:
+    $ref: '#/groups/0'
+  prov: []
+  self_ref: '#/texts/6'
+  text: .
+- children: []
+  content_layer: body
+  label: text
+  orig: 'Create your feature branch:'
+  parent:
+    $ref: '#/groups/1'
+  prov: []
+  self_ref: '#/texts/7'
+  text: 'Create your feature branch:'
+- captions: []
+  children: []
+  code_language: unknown
+  content_layer: body
+  footnotes: []
+  label: code
+  orig: git checkout -b feature/AmazingFeature
+  parent:
+    $ref: '#/groups/1'
+  prov: []
+  references: []
+  self_ref: '#/texts/8'
+  text: git checkout -b feature/AmazingFeature
+- children: []
+  content_layer: body
+  label: text
+  orig: .
+  parent:
+    $ref: '#/groups/1'
+  prov: []
+  self_ref: '#/texts/9'
+  text: .
+- children:
+  - $ref: '#/groups/3'
+  content_layer: body
+  enumerated: true
+  label: list_item
+  marker: '-'
+  orig: ''
+  parent:
+    $ref: '#/groups/2'
+  prov: []
+  self_ref: '#/texts/10'
+  text: ''
+- children: []
+  content_layer: body
+  label: text
+  orig: Pull the
+  parent:
+    $ref: '#/groups/3'
+  prov: []
+  self_ref: '#/texts/11'
+  text: Pull the
+- children: []
+  content_layer: body
+  formatting:
+    bold: true
+    italic: false
+    strikethrough: false
+    underline: false
+  hyperlink: https://github.com/docling-project/docling
+  label: text
+  orig: repository
+  parent:
+    $ref: '#/groups/3'
+  prov: []
+  self_ref: '#/texts/12'
+  text: repository
+- children: []
+  content_layer: body
+  label: text
+  orig: .
+  parent:
+    $ref: '#/groups/3'
+  prov: []
+  self_ref: '#/texts/13'
+  text: .
+- children:
+  - $ref: '#/groups/4'
+  content_layer: body
+  enumerated: true
+  label: list_item
+  marker: '-'
+  orig: ''
+  parent:
+    $ref: '#/groups/2'
+  prov: []
+  self_ref: '#/texts/14'
+  text: ''
+- children: []
+  content_layer: body
+  label: text
+  orig: Create your feature branch (
+  parent:
+    $ref: '#/groups/4'
+  prov: []
+  self_ref: '#/texts/15'
+  text: Create your feature branch (
+- captions: []
+  children: []
+  code_language: unknown
+  content_layer: body
+  footnotes: []
+  label: code
+  orig: git checkout -b feature/AmazingFeature
+  parent:
+    $ref: '#/groups/4'
+  prov: []
+  references: []
+  self_ref: '#/texts/16'
+  text: git checkout -b feature/AmazingFeature
+- children: []
+  content_layer: body
+  label: text
+  orig: )
+  parent:
+    $ref: '#/groups/4'
+  prov: []
+  self_ref: '#/texts/17'
+  text: )
+- children:
+  - $ref: '#/groups/5'
+  content_layer: body
+  enumerated: true
+  label: list_item
+  marker: '-'
+  orig: ''
+  parent:
+    $ref: '#/groups/2'
+  prov: []
+  self_ref: '#/texts/18'
+  text: ''
+- children: []
+  content_layer: body
+  label: text
+  orig: Commit your changes (
+  parent:
+    $ref: '#/groups/5'
+  prov: []
+  self_ref: '#/texts/19'
+  text: Commit your changes (
+- captions: []
+  children: []
+  code_language: unknown
+  content_layer: body
+  footnotes: []
+  label: code
+  orig: git commit -m 'Add some AmazingFeature'
+  parent:
+    $ref: '#/groups/5'
+  prov: []
+  references: []
+  self_ref: '#/texts/20'
+  text: git commit -m 'Add some AmazingFeature'
+- children: []
+  content_layer: body
+  label: text
+  orig: )
+  parent:
+    $ref: '#/groups/5'
+  prov: []
+  self_ref: '#/texts/21'
+  text: )
+- children:
+  - $ref: '#/groups/6'
+  content_layer: body
+  enumerated: true
+  label: list_item
+  marker: '-'
+  orig: ''
+  parent:
+    $ref: '#/groups/2'
+  prov: []
+  self_ref: '#/texts/22'
+  text: ''
+- children: []
+  content_layer: body
+  label: text
+  orig: Push to the branch (
+  parent:
+    $ref: '#/groups/6'
+  prov: []
+  self_ref: '#/texts/23'
+  text: Push to the branch (
+- captions: []
+  children: []
+  code_language: unknown
+  content_layer: body
+  footnotes: []
+  label: code
+  orig: git push origin feature/AmazingFeature
+  parent:
+    $ref: '#/groups/6'
+  prov: []
+  references: []
+  self_ref: '#/texts/24'
+  text: git push origin feature/AmazingFeature
+- children: []
+  content_layer: body
+  label: text
+  orig: )
+  parent:
+    $ref: '#/groups/6'
+  prov: []
+  self_ref: '#/texts/25'
+  text: )
+- children: []
+  content_layer: body
+  enumerated: true
+  label: list_item
+  marker: '-'
+  orig: Open a Pull Request
+  parent:
+    $ref: '#/groups/2'
+  prov: []
+  self_ref: '#/texts/26'
+  text: Open a Pull Request
+- children:
+  - $ref: '#/groups/7'
+  content_layer: body
+  label: section_header
+  level: 1
+  orig: ''
+  parent:
+    $ref: '#/body'
+  prov: []
+  self_ref: '#/texts/27'
+  text: ''
+- children: []
+  content_layer: body
+  formatting:
+    bold: false
+    italic: true
+    strikethrough: false
+    underline: false
+  label: text
+  orig: Second
+  parent:
+    $ref: '#/groups/7'
+  prov: []
+  self_ref: '#/texts/28'
+  text: Second
+- children: []
+  content_layer: body
+  label: text
+  orig: section
+  parent:
+    $ref: '#/groups/7'
+  prov: []
+  self_ref: '#/texts/29'
+  text: section
+- children:
+  - $ref: '#/groups/9'
+  content_layer: body
+  enumerated: false
+  label: list_item
+  marker: '-'
+  orig: ''
+  parent:
+    $ref: '#/groups/8'
+  prov: []
+  self_ref: '#/texts/30'
+  text: ''
+- children: []
+  content_layer: body
+  formatting:
+    bold: true
+    italic: false
+    strikethrough: false
+    underline: false
+  label: text
+  orig: First
+  parent:
+    $ref: '#/groups/9'
+  prov: []
+  self_ref: '#/texts/31'
+  text: First
+- children: []
+  content_layer: body
+  label: text
+  orig: ': Lorem ipsum.'
+  parent:
+    $ref: '#/groups/9'
+  prov: []
+  self_ref: '#/texts/32'
+  text: ': Lorem ipsum.'
+- children:
+  - $ref: '#/groups/10'
+  content_layer: body
+  enumerated: false
+  label: list_item
+  marker: '-'
+  orig: ''
+  parent:
+    $ref: '#/groups/8'
+  prov: []
+  self_ref: '#/texts/33'
+  text: ''
+- children: []
+  content_layer: body
+  formatting:
+    bold: true
+    italic: false
+    strikethrough: false
+    underline: false
+  label: text
+  orig: Second
+  parent:
+    $ref: '#/groups/10'
+  prov: []
+  self_ref: '#/texts/34'
+  text: Second
+- children: []
+  content_layer: body
+  label: text
+  orig: ': Dolor'
+  parent:
+    $ref: '#/groups/10'
+  prov: []
+  self_ref: '#/texts/35'
+  text: ': Dolor'
+- captions: []
+  children: []
+  code_language: unknown
+  content_layer: body
+  footnotes: []
+  label: code
+  orig: sit
+  parent:
+    $ref: '#/groups/10'
+  prov: []
+  references: []
+  self_ref: '#/texts/36'
+  text: sit
+- children: []
+  content_layer: body
+  label: text
+  orig: amet.
+  parent:
+    $ref: '#/groups/10'
+  prov: []
+  self_ref: '#/texts/37'
+  text: amet.
+version: 1.3.0
--- a/tests/data/md/inline_and_formatting.md
+++ b/tests/data/md/inline_and_formatting.md
@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+# Contribution guideline example
+
+This is simple.
+
+Foo *emphasis* **strong emphasis** ***both***.
+
+Create your feature branch: `git checkout -b feature/AmazingFeature`.
+
+1. Pull the [**repository**](https://github.com/docling-project/docling).
+2. Create your feature branch (`git checkout -b feature/AmazingFeature`)
+3. Commit your changes (`git commit -m 'Add some AmazingFeature'`)
+4. Push to the branch (`git push origin feature/AmazingFeature`)
+5. Open a Pull Request
+
+## *Second* section  <!-- inline groups in headings not yet supported by serializers -->
+
+- **First**: Lorem ipsum.
+- **Second**: Dolor `sit` amet.
--- a/tests/test_backend_markdown.py
+++ b/tests/test_backend_markdown.py
@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ from pathlib import Path

 from docling.backend.md_backend import MarkdownDocumentBackend
 from docling.datamodel.base_models import InputFormat
-from docling.datamodel.document import InputDocument
+from docling.datamodel.document import DoclingDocument, InputDocument

 from .test_data_gen_flag import GEN_TEST_DATA

@ -11,12 +11,15 @@ def test_convert_valid():
    fmt = InputFormat.MD
    cls = MarkdownDocumentBackend

-    test_data_path = Path("tests") / "data"
-    relevant_paths = sorted((test_data_path / "md").rglob("*.md"))
+    root_path = Path("tests") / "data"
+    relevant_paths = sorted((root_path / "md").rglob("*.md"))
    assert len(relevant_paths) > 0

+    yaml_filter = ["inline_and_formatting"]
+
    for in_path in relevant_paths:
-        gt_path = test_data_path / "groundtruth" / "docling_v2" / f"{in_path.name}.md"
+        md_gt_path = root_path / "groundtruth" / "docling_v2" / f"{in_path.name}.md"
+        yaml_gt_path = root_path / "groundtruth" / "docling_v2" / f"{in_path.name}.yaml"

        in_doc = InputDocument(
            path_or_stream=in_path,
@ -33,9 +36,17 @@ def test_convert_valid():
        act_data = act_doc.export_to_markdown()

        if GEN_TEST_DATA:
-            with open(gt_path, mode="w", encoding="utf-8") as f:
+            with open(md_gt_path, mode="w", encoding="utf-8") as f:
                f.write(f"{act_data}\n")
+
+            if in_path.stem in yaml_filter:
+                with open(yaml_gt_path, mode="w", encoding="utf-8") as f:
+                    act_doc.save_as_yaml(yaml_gt_path)
        else:
-            with open(gt_path, encoding="utf-8") as f:
+            with open(md_gt_path, encoding="utf-8") as f:
                exp_data = f.read().rstrip()
-            assert exp_data == act_data
+            assert act_data == exp_data
+
+            if in_path.stem in yaml_filter:
+                exp_doc = DoclingDocument.load_from_yaml(yaml_gt_path)
+                assert act_doc == exp_doc