diff --git a/core/modules/parsers/parseutils.js b/core/modules/parsers/parseutils.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..baf1f93bf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/modules/parsers/parseutils.js
@@ -0,0 +1,268 @@
+/*\
+title: $:/core/modules/utils/parseutils.js
+type: application/javascript
+module-type: utils
+
+Utility functions concerned with parsing text into tokens.
+
+Most functions have the following pattern:
+
+* The parameters are:
+** `source`: the source string being parsed
+** `pos`: the current parse position within the string
+** Any further parameters are used to identify the token that is being parsed
+* The return value is:
+** null if the token was not found at the specified position
+** an object representing the token with the following standard fields:
+*** `type`: string indicating the type of the token
+*** `start`: start position of the token in the source string
+*** `end`: end position of the token in the source string
+*** Any further fields required to describe the token
+
+The exception is `skipWhiteSpace`, which just returns the position after the whitespace.
+
+\*/
+(function(){
+
+/*jslint node: true, browser: true */
+/*global $tw: false */
+"use strict";
+
+/*
+Look for a whitespace token. Returns null if not found, otherwise returns {type: "whitespace", start:, end:,}
+*/
+exports.parseWhiteSpace = function(source,pos) {
+	var node = {
+		type: "whitespace",
+		start: pos
+	};
+	var re = /(\s)+/g;
+	re.lastIndex = pos;
+	var match = re.exec(source);
+	if(match && match.index === pos) {
+		node.end = pos + match[0].length;
+		return node;
+	}
+	return null;
+};
+
+/*
+Convenience wrapper for parseWhiteSpace. Returns the position after the whitespace
+*/
+exports.skipWhiteSpace = function(source,pos) {
+	var whitespace = $tw.utils.parseWhiteSpace(source,pos);
+	if(whitespace) {
+		return whitespace.end;
+	}
+	return pos;
+};
+
+/*
+Look for a given string token. Returns null if not found, otherwise returns {type: "token", value:, start:, end:,}
+*/
+exports.parseTokenString = function(source,pos,token) {
+	var match = source.indexOf(token,pos) === pos;
+	if(match) {
+		return {
+			type: "token",
+			value: token,
+			start: pos,
+			end: pos + token.length
+		};
+	}
+	return null;
+};
+
+/*
+Look for a token matching a regex. Returns null if not found, otherwise returns {type: "regexp", match:, start:, end:,}
+*/
+exports.parseTokenRegExp = function(source,pos,reToken) {
+	var node = {
+		type: "regexp",
+		start: pos
+	};
+	reToken.lastIndex = pos;
+	node.match = reToken.exec(source);
+	if(node.match && node.match.index === pos) {
+		node.end = pos + node.match[0].length;
+		return node;
+	} else {
+		return null;
+	}
+};
+
+/*
+Look for a string literal. Returns null if not found, otherwise returns {type: "string", value:, start:, end:,}
+*/
+exports.parseStringLiteral = function(source,pos) {
+	var node = {
+		type: "string",
+		start: pos
+	};
+	var reString = /(?:"([^"]*)")|(?:'([^']*)')/g;
+	reString.lastIndex = pos;
+	var match = reString.exec(source);
+	if(match && match.index === pos) {
+		node.value = match[1] === undefined ? match[2] : match[1];
+		node.end = pos + match[0].length;
+		return node;
+	} else {
+		return null;
+	}
+};
+
+/*
+Look for a macro invocation parameter. Returns null if not found, or {type: "macro-parameter", name:, value:, start:, end:}
+*/
+exports.parseMacroParameter = function(source,pos) {
+	var node = {
+		type: "macro-parameter",
+		start: pos
+	};
+	// Define our regexp
+	var reMacroParameter = /(?:([A-Za-z0-9\-_]+)\s*:)?(?:\s*(?:"([^"]*)"|'([^']*)'|\[\[([^\]]*)\]\]|([^\s>"'=]+)))/g;
+	// Skip whitespace
+	pos = $tw.utils.skipWhiteSpace(source,pos);
+	// Look for the parameter
+	var token = $tw.utils.parseTokenRegExp(source,pos,reMacroParameter);
+	if(!token) {
+		return null;
+	}
+	pos = token.end;
+	// Get the parameter details
+	node.value = token.match[2] !== undefined ? token.match[2] : (
+					token.match[3] !== undefined ? token.match[3] : (
+						token.match[4] !== undefined ? token.match[4] : (
+							token.match[5] !== undefined ? token.match[5] : (
+								""
+							)
+						)
+					)
+				);
+	if(token.match[1]) {
+		node.name = token.match[1];
+	}
+	// Update the end position
+	node.end = pos;
+	return node;
+};
+
+/*
+Look for a macro invocation. Returns null if not found, or {type: "macrocall", name:, parameters:, start:, end:}
+*/
+exports.parseMacroInvocation = function(source,pos) {
+	var node = {
+		type: "macrocall",
+		start: pos,
+		params: []
+	};
+	// Define our regexps
+	var reMacroName = /([^\s>"'=]+)/g;
+	// Skip whitespace
+	pos = $tw.utils.skipWhiteSpace(source,pos);
+	// Look for a double less than sign
+	var token = $tw.utils.parseTokenString(source,pos,"<<");
+	if(!token) {
+		return null;
+	}
+	pos = token.end;
+	// Get the macro name
+	var name = $tw.utils.parseTokenRegExp(source,pos,reMacroName);
+	if(!name) {
+		return null;
+	}
+	node.name = name.match[1];
+	pos = name.end;
+	// Process parameters
+	var parameter = $tw.utils.parseMacroParameter(source,pos);
+	while(parameter) {
+		node.params.push(parameter);
+		pos = parameter.end;
+		// Get the next parameter
+		parameter = $tw.utils.parseMacroParameter(source,pos);
+	}
+	// Skip whitespace
+	pos = $tw.utils.skipWhiteSpace(source,pos);
+	// Look for a double greater than sign
+	token = $tw.utils.parseTokenString(source,pos,">>");
+	if(!token) {
+		return null;
+	}
+	pos = token.end;
+	// Update the end position
+	node.end = pos;
+	return node;
+};
+
+/*
+Look for an HTML attribute definition. Returns null if not found, otherwise returns {type: "attribute", name:, valueType: "string|indirect|macro", value:, start:, end:,}
+*/
+exports.parseAttribute = function(source,pos) {
+	var node = {
+		start: pos
+	};
+	// Define our regexps
+	var reAttributeName = /([^\/\s>"'=]+)/g,
+		reUnquotedAttribute = /([^\/\s<>"'=]+)/g,
+		reIndirectValue = /\{\{([^\}]+)\}\}/g;
+	// Skip whitespace
+	pos = $tw.utils.skipWhiteSpace(source,pos);
+	// Get the attribute name
+	var name = $tw.utils.parseTokenRegExp(source,pos,reAttributeName);
+	if(!name) {
+		return null;
+	}
+	node.name = name.match[1];
+	pos = name.end;
+	// Skip whitespace
+	pos = $tw.utils.skipWhiteSpace(source,pos);
+	// Look for an equals sign
+	var token = $tw.utils.parseTokenString(source,pos,"=");
+	if(token) {
+		pos = token.end;
+		// Skip whitespace
+		pos = $tw.utils.skipWhiteSpace(source,pos);
+		// Look for a string literal
+		var stringLiteral = $tw.utils.parseStringLiteral(source,pos);
+		if(stringLiteral) {
+			pos = stringLiteral.end;
+			node.type = "string";
+			node.value = stringLiteral.value;
+		} else {
+			// Look for an indirect value
+			var indirectValue = $tw.utils.parseTokenRegExp(source,pos,reIndirectValue);
+			if(indirectValue) {
+				pos = indirectValue.end;
+				node.type = "indirect";
+				node.textReference = indirectValue.match[1];
+			} else {
+				// Look for a unquoted value
+				var unquotedValue = $tw.utils.parseTokenRegExp(source,pos,reUnquotedAttribute);
+				if(unquotedValue) {
+					pos = unquotedValue.end;
+					node.type = "string";
+					node.value = unquotedValue.match[1];
+				} else {
+					// Look for a macro invocation value
+					var macroInvocation = $tw.utils.parseMacroInvocation(source,pos);
+					if(macroInvocation) {
+						pos = macroInvocation.end;
+						node.type = "macro";
+						node.value = macroInvocation;
+					} else {
+						node.type = "string";
+						node.value = "true";
+					}
+				}
+			}
+		}
+	} else {
+		node.type = "string";
+		node.value = "true";
+	}
+	// Update the end position
+	node.end = pos;
+	return node;
+};
+
+})();
diff --git a/core/modules/parsers/wikiparser/rules/html.js b/core/modules/parsers/wikiparser/rules/html.js
index 559dcfddf..9d35569ac 100644
--- a/core/modules/parsers/wikiparser/rules/html.js
+++ b/core/modules/parsers/wikiparser/rules/html.js
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ exports.parse = function() {
 	// Advance the parser position to past the tag
 	this.parser.pos = tag.end;
 	// Check for an immediately following double linebreak
-	var hasLineBreak = !tag.isSelfClosing && !!this.parseTokenRegExp(this.parser.source,this.parser.pos,/([^\S\n]*\r?\n(?:[^\S\n]*\r?\n|$))/g);
+	var hasLineBreak = !tag.isSelfClosing && !!$tw.utils.parseTokenRegExp(this.parser.source,this.parser.pos,/([^\S\n]*\r?\n(?:[^\S\n]*\r?\n|$))/g);
 	// Set whether we're in block mode
 	tag.isBlock = this.is.block || hasLineBreak;
 	// Parse the body if we need to
@@ -71,244 +71,7 @@ exports.parse = function() {
 };
 
 /*
-Look for a whitespace token. Returns null if not found, otherwise returns {type: "whitespace", start:, end:,}
-*/
-exports.parseWhiteSpace = function(source,pos) {
-	var node = {
-		type: "whitespace",
-		start: pos
-	};
-	var re = /(\s)+/g;
-	re.lastIndex = pos;
-	var match = re.exec(source);
-	if(match && match.index === pos) {
-		node.end = pos + match[0].length;
-		return node;
-	}
-	return null;
-};
-
-/*
-Convenience wrapper for parseWhiteSpace
-*/
-exports.skipWhiteSpace = function(source,pos) {
-	var whitespace = this.parseWhiteSpace(source,pos);
-	if(whitespace) {
-		return whitespace.end;
-	}
-	return pos;
-};
-
-/*
-Look for a given string token. Returns null if not found, otherwise returns {type: "token", value:, start:, end:,}
-*/
-exports.parseTokenString = function(source,pos,token) {
-	var match = source.indexOf(token,pos) === pos;
-	if(match) {
-		return {
-			type: "token",
-			value: token,
-			start: pos,
-			end: pos + token.length
-		};
-	}
-	return null;
-};
-
-/*
-Look for a token matching a regex. Returns null if not found, otherwise returns {type: "regexp", match:, start:, end:,}
-*/
-exports.parseTokenRegExp = function(source,pos,reToken) {
-	var node = {
-		type: "regexp",
-		start: pos
-	};
-	reToken.lastIndex = pos;
-	node.match = reToken.exec(source);
-	if(node.match && node.match.index === pos) {
-		node.end = pos + node.match[0].length;
-		return node;
-	} else {
-		return null;
-	}
-};
-
-/*
-Look for a string literal. Returns null if not found, otherwise returns {type: "string", value:, start:, end:,}
-*/
-exports.parseStringLiteral = function(source,pos) {
-	var node = {
-		type: "string",
-		start: pos
-	};
-	var reString = /(?:"([^"]*)")|(?:'([^']*)')/g;
-	reString.lastIndex = pos;
-	var match = reString.exec(source);
-	if(match && match.index === pos) {
-		node.value = match[1] === undefined ? match[2] : match[1];
-		node.end = pos + match[0].length;
-		return node;
-	} else {
-		return null;
-	}
-};
-
-/*
-Look for a macro invocation parameter. Returns null if not found, or {type: "macro-parameter", name:, value:, start:, end:}
-*/
-exports.parseMacroParameter = function(source,pos) {
-	var node = {
-		type: "macro-parameter",
-		start: pos
-	};
-	// Define our regexp
-	var reMacroParameter = /(?:([A-Za-z0-9\-_]+)\s*:)?(?:\s*(?:"([^"]*)"|'([^']*)'|\[\[([^\]]*)\]\]|([^\s>"'=]+)))/g;
-	// Skip whitespace
-	pos = this.skipWhiteSpace(source,pos);
-	// Look for the parameter
-	var token = this.parseTokenRegExp(source,pos,reMacroParameter);
-	if(!token) {
-		return null;
-	}
-	pos = token.end;
-	// Get the parameter details
-	node.value = token.match[2] !== undefined ? token.match[2] : (
-					token.match[3] !== undefined ? token.match[3] : (
-						token.match[4] !== undefined ? token.match[4] : (
-							token.match[5] !== undefined ? token.match[5] : (
-								""
-							)
-						)
-					)
-				);
-	if(token.match[1]) {
-		node.name = token.match[1];
-	}
-	// Update the end position
-	node.end = pos;
-	return node;
-};
-
-/*
-Look for a macro invocation. Returns null if not found, or {type: "macrocall", name:, parameters:, start:, end:}
-*/
-exports.parseMacroInvocation = function(source,pos) {
-	var node = {
-		type: "macrocall",
-		start: pos,
-		params: []
-	};
-	// Define our regexps
-	var reMacroName = /([^\s>"'=]+)/g;
-	// Skip whitespace
-	pos = this.skipWhiteSpace(source,pos);
-	// Look for a double less than sign
-	var token = this.parseTokenString(source,pos,"<<");
-	if(!token) {
-		return null;
-	}
-	pos = token.end;
-	// Get the macro name
-	var name = this.parseTokenRegExp(source,pos,reMacroName);
-	if(!name) {
-		return null;
-	}
-	node.name = name.match[1];
-	pos = name.end;
-	// Process parameters
-	var parameter = this.parseMacroParameter(source,pos);
-	while(parameter) {
-		node.params.push(parameter);
-		pos = parameter.end;
-		// Get the next parameter
-		parameter = this.parseMacroParameter(source,pos);
-	}
-	// Skip whitespace
-	pos = this.skipWhiteSpace(source,pos);
-	// Look for a double greater than sign
-	token = this.parseTokenString(source,pos,">>");
-	if(!token) {
-		return null;
-	}
-	pos = token.end;
-	// Update the end position
-	node.end = pos;
-	return node;
-};
-
-/*
-Look for an HTML attribute definition. Returns null if not found, otherwise returns {type: "attribute", name:, valueType: "string|indirect|macro", value:, start:, end:,}
-*/
-exports.parseAttribute = function(source,pos) {
-	var node = {
-		start: pos
-	};
-	// Define our regexps
-	var reAttributeName = /([^\/\s>"'=]+)/g,
-		reUnquotedAttribute = /([^\/\s<>"'=]+)/g,
-		reIndirectValue = /\{\{([^\}]+)\}\}/g;
-	// Skip whitespace
-	pos = this.skipWhiteSpace(source,pos);
-	// Get the attribute name
-	var name = this.parseTokenRegExp(source,pos,reAttributeName);
-	if(!name) {
-		return null;
-	}
-	node.name = name.match[1];
-	pos = name.end;
-	// Skip whitespace
-	pos = this.skipWhiteSpace(source,pos);
-	// Look for an equals sign
-	var token = this.parseTokenString(source,pos,"=");
-	if(token) {
-		pos = token.end;
-		// Skip whitespace
-		pos = this.skipWhiteSpace(source,pos);
-		// Look for a string literal
-		var stringLiteral = this.parseStringLiteral(source,pos);
-		if(stringLiteral) {
-			pos = stringLiteral.end;
-			node.type = "string";
-			node.value = stringLiteral.value;
-		} else {
-			// Look for an indirect value
-			var indirectValue = this.parseTokenRegExp(source,pos,reIndirectValue);
-			if(indirectValue) {
-				pos = indirectValue.end;
-				node.type = "indirect";
-				node.textReference = indirectValue.match[1];
-			} else {
-				// Look for a unquoted value
-				var unquotedValue = this.parseTokenRegExp(source,pos,reUnquotedAttribute);
-				if(unquotedValue) {
-					pos = unquotedValue.end;
-					node.type = "string";
-					node.value = unquotedValue.match[1];
-				} else {
-					// Look for a macro invocation value
-					var macroInvocation = this.parseMacroInvocation(source,pos);
-					if(macroInvocation) {
-						pos = macroInvocation.end;
-						node.type = "macro";
-						node.value = macroInvocation;
-					} else {
-						node.type = "string";
-						node.value = "true";
-					}
-				}
-			}
-		}
-	} else {
-		node.type = "string";
-		node.value = "true";
-	}
-	// Update the end position
-	node.end = pos;
-	return node;
-};
-
-/*
-Look for an HTML tag. Returns null if not found, otherwise returns {type: "tag", name:, attributes: [], isSelfClosing:, start:, end:,}
+Look for an HTML tag. Returns null if not found, otherwise returns {type: "element", name:, attributes: [], isSelfClosing:, start:, end:,}
 */
 exports.parseTag = function(source,pos,options) {
 	options = options || {};
@@ -321,45 +84,45 @@ exports.parseTag = function(source,pos,options) {
 	// Define our regexps
 	var reTagName = /([a-zA-Z0-9\-\$]+)/g;
 	// Skip whitespace
-	pos = this.skipWhiteSpace(source,pos);
+	pos = $tw.utils.skipWhiteSpace(source,pos);
 	// Look for a less than sign
-	token = this.parseTokenString(source,pos,"<");
+	token = $tw.utils.parseTokenString(source,pos,"<");
 	if(!token) {
 		return null;
 	}
 	pos = token.end;
 	// Get the tag name
-	token = this.parseTokenRegExp(source,pos,reTagName);
+	token = $tw.utils.parseTokenRegExp(source,pos,reTagName);
 	if(!token) {
 		return null;
 	}
 	node.tag = token.match[1];
 	pos = token.end;
 	// Process attributes
-	var attribute = this.parseAttribute(source,pos);
+	var attribute = $tw.utils.parseAttribute(source,pos);
 	while(attribute) {
 		node.attributes[attribute.name] = attribute;
 		pos = attribute.end;
 		// Get the next attribute
-		attribute = this.parseAttribute(source,pos);
+		attribute = $tw.utils.parseAttribute(source,pos);
 	}
 	// Skip whitespace
-	pos = this.skipWhiteSpace(source,pos);
+	pos = $tw.utils.skipWhiteSpace(source,pos);
 	// Look for a closing slash
-	token = this.parseTokenString(source,pos,"/");
+	token = $tw.utils.parseTokenString(source,pos,"/");
 	if(token) {
 		pos = token.end;
 		node.isSelfClosing = true;
 	}
 	// Look for a greater than sign
-	token = this.parseTokenString(source,pos,">");
+	token = $tw.utils.parseTokenString(source,pos,">");
 	if(!token) {
 		return null;
 	}
 	pos = token.end;
 	// Check for a required line break
 	if(options.requireLineBreak) {
-		token = this.parseTokenRegExp(source,pos,/([^\S\n]*\r?\n(?:[^\S\n]*\r?\n|$))/g);
+		token = $tw.utils.parseTokenRegExp(source,pos,/([^\S\n]*\r?\n(?:[^\S\n]*\r?\n|$))/g);
 		if(!token) {
 			return null;
 		}