Using MDX in Astro

MDX is a powerful extension of Markdown that allows you to use JSX components directly in your content. This creates endless possibilities for interactive and dynamic blog posts.

What is MDX?

MDX combines the simplicity of Markdown with the power of JSX, allowing you to:

• Import and use React/Astro components
• Create interactive elements
• Build dynamic content
• Maintain readable markdown syntax

Basic MDX Syntax

Standard Markdown

All standard Markdown syntax works in MDX:

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# Headings work
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**Bold text** and *italic text*
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- Lists
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- Work
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- Too
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> Blockquotes are supported
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`Inline code` and code blocks

JSX Components

You can import and use components:

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import MyComponent from '../components/MyComponent.astro';
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import { Button } from '../components/ui/Button';
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<MyComponent prop="value" />
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<Button variant="primary">Click me!</Button>

Real Examples in This Post

Using Astro Icon Component

Interactive Alert Box

Icon Grid

Advanced MDX Features

Custom Components

You can create reusable components for common patterns:

Example Interactive Component

MDX Configuration in Astro

Installation

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npm install @astrojs/mdx

Astro Config

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import { defineConfig } from 'astro/config';
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import mdx from '@astrojs/mdx';
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export default defineConfig({
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  integrations: [mdx()],
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});

File Extensions

• Use .mdx extension for MDX files
• Place in src/content/blog/ or src/pages/

Best Practices

1. Component Organization

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src/
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├── components/
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│   ├── mdx/
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│   │   ├── InfoBox.astro
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│   │   ├── CodeExample.astro
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│   │   └── Gallery.astro
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│   └── ui/
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└── content/
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    └── blog/
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        └── my-post.mdx

2. Import Strategy

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---
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title: "My MDX Post"
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---
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import InfoBox from '../../components/mdx/InfoBox.astro';
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import { Gallery } from '../../components/mdx/Gallery.astro';
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<InfoBox type="warning">
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  Always import components at the top of your MDX file
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</InfoBox>

3. Performance Considerations

• Keep components lightweight
• Avoid heavy JavaScript in MDX
• Use static generation when possible

When to Use MDX

Choose MDX when you need:

• Interactive demonstrations
• Complex layouts
• Reusable content blocks
• Dynamic data visualization
• Custom styling beyond CSS

Stick with Markdown for:

• Simple blog posts
• Documentation
• Static content
• Performance-critical pages

Interactive Features Example

Conclusion

MDX bridges the gap between static content and interactive experiences. In Astro, it’s particularly powerful because:

1. Zero JavaScript by default - Components render to static HTML
2. Selective hydration - Add interactivity only where needed
3. Great DX - Full TypeScript support and IDE integration
4. Performance - Static generation with dynamic capabilities

More Resources

• MDX Syntax Documentation
• Astro Usage Documentation
• Note: Client Directives are still required to create interactive components. Otherwise, all components in your MDX will render as static HTML (no JavaScript) by default.