## Basic Parser

The **Basic Parser** is a content parser that Knowledge AI uses to extract content from files more effectively. The Basic Parser splits the extracted content from a file into [Knowledge Chunks](https://docs.cognigy.com/ai/agents/develop/knowledge-ai/knowledge-chunk/knowledge-chunk) based on a fixed token length during the creation of a [Knowledge Source](https://docs.cognigy.com/ai/agents/develop/knowledge-ai/knowledge-source/overview). Based on our research, this parsing method works best with the **Top K** value set to 5 in the [Search Extract Output](https://docs.cognigy.com/ai/agents/develop/node-reference/other-nodes/search-extract-output) Node.

## Limitations

- The parser may not always preserve hyperlinks correctly when processing PDF files.

## Supported Formats

| Cognigy.AI versions | Formats |
| --- | --- |
| 4.79 or later | PDF, DOCX, PPTX, and TXT |
| 4.78 and earlier | PDF, DOCX, and TXT |

## Availability

- Available in all installations.

## Set Up the Basic Parser

By default, Knowledge AI uses the [Advanced Parser](https://docs.cognigy.com/ai/agents/develop/knowledge-ai/knowledge-source/text-extraction/advanced-parser) for text extraction. To activate the Basic Parser, select **Basic** from the **Content Parser** list in the **Document Processing** section in **Manage > Settings > Knowledge AI Settings**.

## More Information

- [Text Extraction with Content Parsers](https://docs.cognigy.com/ai/agents/develop/knowledge-ai/knowledge-source/text-extraction/overview)
- [Text Extraction with the Advanced Parser](https://docs.cognigy.com/ai/agents/develop/knowledge-ai/knowledge-source/text-extraction/advanced-parser)
- [Text Extraction with Azure AI Document Intelligence](https://docs.cognigy.com/ai/agents/develop/knowledge-ai/knowledge-source/text-extraction/azure-ai)

Last modified on July 2, 2026