# MarkItDown Convert Methods Explained: convert() vs convert_local(), convert_stream(), convert_uri(), and convert_response()

> Understand the distinct MarkItDown convert methods. Learn how convert() autodetects input, while convert_local(), convert_stream(), convert_uri(), and convert_response() handle specific data types for efficient markdown process...

- Repository: [Microsoft/markitdown](https://github.com/microsoft/markitdown)
- Tags: api-reference
- Published: 2026-04-11

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**The five public methods differ primarily by input type—`convert()` serves as a universal dispatcher that auto-detects source types, while `convert_local()`, `convert_stream()`, `convert_uri()`, and `convert_response()` handle specific inputs (filesystem paths, binary streams, URI strings, and HTTP response objects), all ultimately delegating to the internal `_convert()` method.**

The Microsoft MarkItDown library provides a robust Python API for converting documents to Markdown through multiple entry points. Understanding the differences between these **MarkIt