Why MDX?#
When building the Ephizen blog, we had a choice: use a traditional CMS, go headless, or embrace something that felt native to how developers think. We chose MDX.
MDX lets you write content in Markdown while embedding React components. The best of both worlds - the simplicity of Markdown with the power of React.
// You can use React components directly in your content
<Callout type="info">
This is a custom callout component rendered inside MDX!
</Callout>
Custom Components#
One of MDX's superpowers is the ability to create custom components that make content richer and more interactive.
Callouts#
Use callouts to highlight important information:
Information
Use the info callout for helpful tips and additional context.
Warning
Use warnings when readers need to be careful about something.
Error
Use error callouts for critical information or common mistakes.
Success
Celebrate wins and successful outcomes with success callouts.
Pro Tip
Share expert knowledge and insider tips with the tip callout.
Code Blocks#
Code blocks come with syntax highlighting and a copy button:
// TypeScript example with syntax highlighting
interface BlogPost {
title: string;
description: string;
date: string;
author: string;
tags: string[];
content: string;
}
function formatDate(dateString: string): string {
return new Date(dateString).toLocaleDateString('en-US', {
year: 'numeric',
month: 'long',
day: 'numeric'
});
}
Step-by-Step Guides#
For tutorials and how-tos, use the Steps component:
Install Dependencies
Start by installing the required packages: next-mdx-remote, gray-matter, and reading-time.
Create Content Directory
Set up your /content/blog/ directory structure for MDX files.
Build MDX Utilities
Create utility functions to read, parse, and serve your MDX content.
Create Components
Build custom MDX components for rich content like callouts, code blocks, and more.
Tables#
Standard markdown tables work great:
| Feature | MDX | Traditional CMS |
|---|---|---|
| Version Control | Git-native | Requires plugins |
| Component Support | Full React | Limited |
| Developer Experience | Excellent | Variable |
| Flexibility | Very High | Medium |
Interactive Elements#
MDX shines when you need interactivity. You can embed:
- Accordions for expandable content
- Tabs for organizing related information
- Charts for data visualization
- Videos from YouTube, Vimeo, or self-hosted
Example Video Embed
Best Practices#
Here are our recommendations for working with MDX:
- Keep components simple - Each component should do one thing well
- Use frontmatter wisely - Store metadata, not content
- Embrace Markdown - Use standard syntax where possible
- Test your components - Ensure they work in both light and dark modes
- Document everything - Future you will thank present you
Create a component library documentation page so content authors know what's available.
Conclusion#
MDX offers the perfect balance between simplicity and power for developer-focused content. By combining Markdown's ease of use with React's component model, you get a content authoring experience that feels natural and produces rich, interactive results.
Want to see more of what's possible with MDX? Browse our other articles or check out the source code for this blog.
