diff --git a/src/model.js b/src/model.js
index 4145507b..88c724a7 100644
--- a/src/model.js
+++ b/src/model.js
@@ -217,7 +217,8 @@ my.DocumentList = Backbone.Collection.extend({
 // * format: (optional) used to indicate how the data should be formatted. For example:
 //   * type=date, format=yyyy-mm-dd
 //   * type=float, format=percentage
-//   * type=float, format='###,###.##'
+//   * type=string, format=link (render as hyperlink)
+//   * type=string, format=markdown (render as markdown if Showdown available)
 // * is_derived: (default: false) attribute indicating this field has no backend data but is just derived from other fields (see below).
 // 
 // Following additional instance properties:
@@ -273,6 +274,22 @@ my.Field = Backbone.Model.extend({
       if (format === 'percentage') {
         return val + '%';
       }
+      return val;
+    },
+    'string': function(val, field, doc) {
+      var format = field.get('format');
+      if (format === 'link') {
+        return '<a href="VAL">VAL</a>'.replace(/VAL/g, val);
+      } else if (format === 'markdown') {
+        if (typeof Showdown !== 'undefined') {
+          var showdown = new Showdown.converter();
+          out = showdown.makeHtml(val);
+          return out;
+        } else {
+          return val;
+        }
+      }
+      return val;
     }
   }
 });
diff --git a/test/model.test.js b/test/model.test.js
index 2f0c4e6a..f4a4c623 100644
--- a/test/model.test.js
+++ b/test/model.test.js
@@ -39,7 +39,12 @@ test('Field: basics', function () {
 });
 
 test('Field: default renderers', function () {
-  var doc = new recline.Model.Document({x: 12.3, myobject: {a: 1, b: 2}});
+  var doc = new recline.Model.Document({
+    x: 12.3,
+    myobject: {a: 1, b: 2},
+    link: 'http://abc.com/',
+    markdown: '### ABC'
+  });
   var field = new recline.Model.Field({id: 'myobject', type: 'object'});
   var out = doc.getFieldValue(field);
   var exp = '{"a":1,"b":2}';
@@ -49,6 +54,17 @@ test('Field: default renderers', function () {
   var out = doc.getFieldValue(field);
   var exp = '12.3%';
   equal(out, exp);
+
+  var field = new recline.Model.Field({id: 'link', type: 'string', format: 'link'});
+  var out = doc.getFieldValue(field);
+  var exp = '<a href="http://abc.com/">http://abc.com/</a>';
+  equal(out, exp);
+
+  var field = new recline.Model.Field({id: 'markdown', type: 'string', format: 'markdown'});
+  var out = doc.getFieldValue(field);
+  // Showdown is not installed so nothing should happen
+  var exp = doc.get('markdown');
+  equal(out, exp);
 });
 
 test('Field: custom deriver and renderer', function () {