Jenkins shows user-provided descriptions on objects like jobs, views, or builds. The markup formatter controls how those descriptions are rendered.

“Plain text” is the default formatter and renders the provided description largely as entered.

Plugins may contribute additional markup formatters that support HTML or other markup languages.

Note: Some descriptions can be provided from possibly unexpected sources. Some examples:

- any user with an account in Jenkins can set their own description
- Pipelines, as well as build steps for other job types, may be configured to set the current build's description

Using a markup formatter that renders user input verbatim as HTML may allow cross-site scripting attacks.