# MD034 - URLs should be formatted as links
Aliases: `no-bare-urls`
## What this rule does
Ensures URLs are properly formatted with angle brackets or as clickable links, not pasted as plain text.
## Why this matters
- **Clickability**: Not all Markdown renderers make plain URLs clickable
- **Consistency**: Mixed URL formats look unprofessional
- **Control**: Proper link formatting lets you customize the display text
## Examples
### ✅ Correct
```markdown
For more information, see <https://example.com>.
Visit [our website](https://example.com) for details.
Email us at <contact@example.com>
Chat with me at <xmpp:user@example.com>
```
### ❌ Incorrect
```markdown
For more information, see https://example.com.
Email us at contact@example.com
Chat with me at xmpp:user@example.com
```
### 🔧 Fixed
```markdown
For more information, see <https://example.com>.
Email us at <contact@example.com>
Chat with me at <xmpp:user@example.com>
```
## Configuration
This rule has no configuration options.
## Automatic fixes
Outside the `mdg` flavor, this rule automatically wraps plain URLs, email
addresses, and XMPP URIs in angle brackets (`<` and `>`). Under `mdg`, it
reports without fixing; see below.
## GFM extended autolinks
This rule supports GFM (GitHub Flavored Markdown) extended autolinks, including:
- HTTP/HTTPS URLs: `https://example.com`
- FTP URLs: `ftp://files.example.com`
- Email addresses: `user@example.com`
- XMPP URIs: `xmpp:user@example.com` or `xmpp:user@example.com/resource`
- WWW URLs without protocol: `www.example.com`
## Markdown with Gherkin
Under the `mdg` flavor, MD034 reports bare URLs and email addresses but does not
offer a fix. `<https://example.com>` is Gherkin placeholder syntax rather than
an autolink: inside a Scenario Outline it is substituted from the `Examples`
column of that name, so the standard angle-bracket fix could change the parsed
scenario.
The safe response depends on context. An explicit Markdown link may be suitable
for prose, but changing a step to Markdown link syntax also changes its step
text. Format the link manually when that change is intended, or disable MD034
for content where a bare URL or email address is the required spelling.
See [Markdown with Gherkin Flavor](flavors/mdg.md) for the full flavor
specification.
## Learn more
- [CommonMark autolinks](https://spec.commonmark.org/0.31.2/#autolinks) - Technical specification for URL formatting
- [GFM autolinks extension](https://github.github.com/gfm/#autolinks-extension-) - GFM extended autolinks specification
- [Markdown Guide - Links](https://www.markdownguide.org/basic-syntax/#links) - Best practices for links
## Related rules
- [MD039](md039.md) - No spaces inside link text
- [MD042](md042.md) - No empty links
- [MD051](md051.md) - Link anchors should exist