# How It Works

`furl` resolves markdown with a fixed fallback chain implemented in `packages/core`.

## Fallback chain

1. Extension passthrough

If the URL pathname ends with a file extension, `furl` fetches the body as-is and reports `raw`.

2. Direct markdown request

For non-file URLs, `furl` sends a `GET` with `Accept: text/markdown`. If the response `content-type` contains `markdown`, it returns the body and reports `direct`.

3. `.md` suffix retry

If the direct fetch does not return markdown, `furl` retries the same URL with `.md` appended before any query string. A successful markdown response reports `md-suffix`.

4. Provider fallback

If both direct attempts fail, `furl` resolves a provider and converts the page through:

* `provider:jina`
* `provider:exa`
* `provider:firecrawl`

## Source labels

The CLI writes the markdown body to stdout and a one-line diagnostic to stderr:

```text
↳ via raw
↳ via direct
↳ via md-suffix
↳ via provider:jina
↳ via provider:exa
↳ via provider:firecrawl
```

## Default behavior

The default provider is `jina`, and it works without an API key by routing requests through `https://r.jina.ai/<url>`.