diff --git a/docs/configuration.md b/docs/configuration.md
index 9762b21438..6f0c4e475b 100644
--- a/docs/configuration.md
+++ b/docs/configuration.md
@@ -365,7 +365,7 @@ window.$docsify = {
 
 ## autoHeader
 
-- type: `Boolean`
+- Type: `Boolean`
 
 If `loadSidebar` and `autoHeader` are both enabled, for each link in `_sidebar.md`, prepend a header to the page before converting it to HTML. See [#78](https://github.com/docsifyjs/docsify/issues/78).
 
@@ -378,7 +378,7 @@ window.$docsify = {
 
 ## executeScript
 
-- type: `Boolean`
+- Type: `Boolean`
 
 Execute the script on the page. Only parse the first script tag ([demo](themes)). If Vue is present, it is turned on by default.
 
@@ -400,8 +400,8 @@ Note that if you are running an external script, e.g. an embedded jsfiddle demo,
 
 ## nativeEmoji
 
-- type: `Boolean`
-- default: `false`
+- Type: `Boolean`
+- Default: `false`
 
 Render emoji shorthand codes using GitHub-style emoji images or platform-native emoji characters.
 
@@ -453,8 +453,8 @@ To render shorthand codes as text, replace `:` characters with the `:` HTM
 
 ## noEmoji
 
-- type: `Boolean`
-- default: `false`
+- Type: `Boolean`
+- Default: `false`
 
 Disabled emoji parsing and render all emoji shorthand as text.
 
@@ -492,7 +492,7 @@ To disable emoji parsing of individual shorthand codes, replace `:` characters w
 
 ## mergeNavbar
 
-- type: `Boolean`
+- Type: `Boolean`
 
 Navbar will be merged with the sidebar on smaller screens.
 
@@ -504,7 +504,7 @@ window.$docsify = {
 
 ## formatUpdated
 
-- type: `String|Function`
+- Type: `String|Function`
 
 We can display the file update date through **{docsify-updated<span>}</span>** variable. And format it by `formatUpdated`.
 See https://github.com/lukeed/tinydate#patterns
@@ -523,8 +523,8 @@ window.$docsify = {
 
 ## externalLinkTarget
 
-- type: `String`
-- default: `_blank`
+- Type: `String`
+- Default: `_blank`
 
 Target to open external links inside the markdown. Default `'_blank'` (new window/tab)
 
@@ -536,8 +536,8 @@ window.$docsify = {
 
 ## cornerExternalLinkTarget
 
-- type:`String`
-- default:`_blank`
+- Type:`String`
+- Default:`_blank`
 
 Target to open external link at the top right corner. Default `'_blank'` (new window/tab)
 
@@ -549,8 +549,8 @@ window.$docsify = {
 
 ## externalLinkRel
 
-- type: `String`
-- default: `noopener`
+- Type: `String`
+- Default: `noopener`
 
 Default `'noopener'` (no opener) prevents the newly opened external page (when [externalLinkTarget](#externallinktarget) is `'_blank'`) from having the ability to control our page. No `rel` is set when it's not `'_blank'`. See [this post](https://mathiasbynens.github.io/rel-noopener/) for more information about why you may want to use this option.
 
@@ -562,8 +562,8 @@ window.$docsify = {
 
 ## routerMode
 
-- type: `String`
-- default: `hash`
+- Type: `String`
+- Default: `hash`
 
 ```js
 window.$docsify = {
@@ -573,7 +573,7 @@ window.$docsify = {
 
 ## crossOriginLinks
 
-- type: `Array`
+- Type: `Array`
 
 When `routerMode: 'history'`, you may face cross-origin issues. See [#1379](https://github.com/docsifyjs/docsify/issues/1379).
 In Markdown content, there is a simple way to solve it: see extends Markdown syntax `Cross-Origin link` in [helpers](helpers.md).
@@ -586,7 +586,7 @@ window.$docsify = {
 
 ## noCompileLinks
 
-- type: `Array<string>`
+- Type: `Array<string>`
 
 Sometimes we do not want docsify to handle our links. See [#203](https://github.com/docsifyjs/docsify/issues/203). We can skip compiling of certain links by specifying an array of strings. Each string is converted into to a regular expression (`RegExp`) and the _whole_ href of a link is matched against it.
 
@@ -598,7 +598,7 @@ window.$docsify = {
 
 ## onlyCover
 
-- type: `Boolean`
+- Type: `Boolean`
 
 Only coverpage is loaded when visiting the home page.
 
@@ -610,7 +610,7 @@ window.$docsify = {
 
 ## requestHeaders
 
-- type: `Object`
+- Type: `Object`
 
 Set the request resource headers.
 
@@ -634,7 +634,7 @@ window.$docsify = {
 
 ## ext
 
-- type: `String`
+- Type: `String`
 
 Request file extension.
 
@@ -646,7 +646,7 @@ window.$docsify = {
 
 ## fallbackLanguages
 
-- type: `Array<string>`
+- Type: `Array<string>`
 
 List of languages that will fallback to the default language when a page is requested and it doesn't exist for the given locale.
 
@@ -664,7 +664,7 @@ window.$docsify = {
 
 ## notFoundPage
 
-- type: `Boolean` | `String` | `Object`
+- Type: `Boolean` | `String` | `Object`
 
 Load the `_404.md` file:
 
@@ -697,8 +697,8 @@ window.$docsify = {
 
 ## topMargin
 
-- type: `Number`
-- default: `0`
+- Type: `Number`
+- Default: `0`
 
 Adds a space on top when scrolling the content page to reach the selected section. This is useful in case you have a _sticky-header_ layout and you want to align anchors to the end of your header.
 
@@ -710,7 +710,7 @@ window.$docsify = {
 
 ## vueComponents
 
-- type: `Object`
+- Type: `Object`
 
 Creates and registers global [Vue components](https://vuejs.org/v2/guide/components.html). Components are specified using the component name as the key with an object containing Vue options as the value. Component `data` is unique for each instance and will not persist as users navigate the site.
 
@@ -743,7 +743,7 @@ window.$docsify = {
 
 ## vueGlobalOptions
 
-- type: `Object`
+- Type: `Object`
 
 Specifies [Vue options](https://vuejs.org/v2/api/#Options-Data) for use with Vue content not explicitly mounted with [vueMounts](#mounting-dom-elements), [vueComponents](#components), or a [markdown script](#markdown-script). Changes to global `data` will persist and be reflected anywhere global references are used.
 
@@ -777,7 +777,7 @@ window.$docsify = {
 
 ## vueMounts
 
-- type: `Object`
+- Type: `Object`
 
 Specifies DOM elements to mount as [Vue instances](https://vuejs.org/v2/guide/instance.html) and their associated options. Mount elements are specified using a [CSS selector](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/CSS_Selectors) as the key with an object containing Vue options as their value. Docsify will mount the first matching element in the main content area each time a new page is loaded. Mount element `data` is unique for each instance and will not persist as users navigate the site.
 
@@ -808,3 +808,10 @@ window.$docsify = {
   {{ count }}
   <button @click="count += 1">+</button>
 </output>
+
+## catchPluginErrors
+
+- Type: `Boolean`
+- Default: `true`
+
+Determines if Docsify should handle uncaught _synchronous_ plugin errors automatically. This can prevent plugin errors from affecting docsify's ability to properly render live site content.
diff --git a/docs/write-a-plugin.md b/docs/write-a-plugin.md
index 5495a87712..ad9b4bf70e 100644
--- a/docs/write-a-plugin.md
+++ b/docs/write-a-plugin.md
@@ -1,85 +1,232 @@
 # Write a plugin
 
-A plugin is simply a function that takes `hook` as an argument. The hook supports handling of asynchronous tasks.
+A docsify plugin is a function with the ability to execute custom JavaScript code at various stages of Docsify's lifecycle.
 
-## Full configuration
+## Setup
+
+Docsify plugins can be added directly to the `plugins` array.
 
 ```js
 window.$docsify = {
   plugins: [
-    function(hook, vm) {
-      hook.init(function() {
-        // Called when the script starts running, only trigger once, no arguments,
-      });
+    function myPlugin1(hook, vm) {
+      // ...
+    },
+    function myPlugin2(hook, vm) {
+      // ...
+    },
+  ],
+};
+```
 
-      hook.beforeEach(function(content) {
-        // Invoked each time before parsing the Markdown file.
-        // ...
-        return content;
-      });
+Alternatively, a plugin can be stored in a separate file and "installed" using a standard `<script>` tag.
 
-      hook.afterEach(function(html, next) {
-        // Invoked each time after the Markdown file is parsed.
-        // beforeEach and afterEach support asynchronous。
-        // ...
-        // call `next(html)` when task is done.
-        next(html);
-      });
+```js
+(function () {
+  var myPlugin = function (hook, vm) {
+    // ...
+  };
+
+  // Add plugin to docsify's plugin array
+  $docsify = $docsify || {};
+  $docsify.plugins = [].concat(myPlugin, $docsify.plugins || []);
+})();
+```
 
-      hook.doneEach(function() {
-        // Invoked each time after the data is fully loaded, no arguments,
-        // ...
-      });
+```html
+<script src="docsify-plugin-myplugin.js"></script>
+```
 
-      hook.mounted(function() {
-        // Called after initial completion. Only trigger once, no arguments.
-      });
+## Template
 
-      hook.ready(function() {
-        // Called after initial completion, no arguments.
-      });
-    }
-  ]
-};
+Below is a plugin template with placeholders for all available lifecycle hooks.
+
+1. Copy the template
+1. Modify the `myPlugin` name as appropriate
+1. Add your plugin logic
+1. Remove unused lifecycle hooks
+1. Save the file as `docsify-plugin-[name].js`
+1. Load your plugin using a standard `<script>` tag
+
+```js
+(function () {
+  var myPlugin = function (hook, vm) {
+    // Invoked one time when docsify script is initialized
+    hook.init(function () {
+      // ...
+    });
+
+    // Invoked one time when the docsify instance has mounted on the DOM
+    hook.mounted(function () {
+      // ...
+    });
+
+    // Invoked on each page load before new markdown is transformed to HTML.
+    // Supports asynchronous tasks (see beforeEach documentation for details).
+    hook.beforeEach(function (markdown) {
+      // ...
+      return markdown;
+    });
+
+    // Invoked on each page load after new markdown has been transformed to HTML.
+    // Supports asynchronous tasks (see afterEach documentation for details).
+    hook.afterEach(function (html) {
+      // ...
+      return html;
+    });
+
+    // Invoked on each page load after new HTML has been appended to the DOM
+    hook.doneEach(function () {
+      // ...
+    });
+
+    // Invoked one time after rendering the initial page
+    hook.ready(function () {
+      // ...
+    });
+  };
+
+  // Add plugin to docsify's plugin array
+  $docsify = $docsify || {};
+  $docsify.plugins = [].concat(myPlugin, $docsify.plugins || []);
+})();
+```
+
+## Lifecycle Hooks
+
+Lifecycle hooks are provided via the `hook` argument passed to the plugin function.
+
+### init()
+
+Invoked one time when docsify script is initialized
+
+```js
+hook.init(function () {
+  // ...
+});
+```
+
+### mounted()
+
+Invoked one time when the docsify instance has mounted on the DOM
+
+```js
+hook.mounted(function () {
+  // ...
+});
+```
+
+### beforeEach()
+
+Invoked on each page load before new markdown is transformed to HTML
+
+```js
+hook.beforeEach(function (markdown) {
+  // ...
+  return markdown;
+});
 ```
 
-!> You can get internal methods through `window.Docsify`. Get the current instance through the second argument.
+For asynchronous tasks, the hook function accepts a `next` callback as a second argument. Call this function with the final `markdown` value when ready. To prevent errors from affecting docsify and other plugins, wrap async code in a `try/catch/finally` block.
 
-## Example
+```js
+hook.beforeEach(function (markdown, next) {
+  try {
+    // Async task(s)...
+  } catch (err) {
+    // ...
+  } finally {
+    next(markdown);
+  }
+});
+```
 
-#### footer
+### afterEach()
 
-Add a footer component to each page.
+Invoked on each page load after new markdown has been transformed to HTML
+
+```js
+hook.afterEach(function (html) {
+  // ...
+  return html;
+});
+```
+
+For asynchronous tasks, the hook function accepts a `next` callback as a second argument. Call this function with the final `html` value when ready. To prevent errors from affecting docsify and other plugins, wrap async code in a `try/catch/finally` block.
+
+```js
+hook.afterEach(function (html, next) {
+  try {
+    // Async task(s)...
+  } catch (err) {
+    // ...
+  } finally {
+    next(markdown);
+  }
+});
+```
+
+### doneEach()
+
+Invoked on each page load after new HTML has been appended to the DOM
+
+```js
+hook.doneEach(function () {
+  // ...
+});
+```
+
+### ready()
+
+Invoked one time after rendering the initial page
+
+```js
+hook.ready(function () {
+  // ...
+});
+```
+
+## Tips
+
+- Access Docsify methods and properties using `window.Docsify`
+- Access the current Docsify instance using the `vm` argument
+- Developers who prefer using a debugger can set the [`catchPluginErrors`](configuration#catchpluginerrors) configuration option to `false` to allow their debugger to pause JavaScript execution on error
+- Be sure to test your plugin on all supported platforms and with related configuration options (if applicable) before publishing
+
+## Examples
+
+#### Page Footer
 
 ```js
 window.$docsify = {
   plugins: [
-    function(hook) {
+    function pageFooter(hook, vm) {
       var footer = [
         '<hr/>',
         '<footer>',
         '<span><a href="https://github.com/QingWei-Li">cinwell</a> &copy;2017.</span>',
         '<span>Proudly published with <a href="https://github.com/docsifyjs/docsify" target="_blank">docsify</a>.</span>',
-        '</footer>'
+        '</footer>',
       ].join('');
 
-      hook.afterEach(function(html) {
+      hook.afterEach(function (html) {
         return html + footer;
       });
-    }
-  ]
+    },
+  ],
 };
 ```
 
-### Edit Button
+### Edit Button (GitHub)
 
 ```js
 window.$docsify = {
-  // The date template pattern
-  formatUpdated: '{YYYY}/{MM}/{DD} {HH}:{mm}',
   plugins: [
-    function(hook, vm) {
-      hook.beforeEach(function(html) {
+    function editButton(hook, vm) {
+      // The date template pattern
+      $docsify.formatUpdated = '{YYYY}/{MM}/{DD} {HH}:{mm}';
+
+      hook.beforeEach(function (html) {
         var url =
           'https://github.com/docsifyjs/docsify/blob/master/docs/' +
           vm.route.file;
@@ -93,22 +240,7 @@ window.$docsify = {
           editHtml
         );
       });
-    }
-  ]
+    },
+  ],
 };
 ```
-
-## Tips
-
-### Get docsify version
-
-```
-console.log(window.Docsify.version)
-```
-
-Current version: <span id='tip-version'>loading</span>
-
-<script>
-document.getElementById('tip-version').innerText = Docsify.version
-document.getElementsByClassName("lang-js")[2].innerHTML = document.getElementsByClassName("lang-js")[2].innerHTML.replace(/Last modified .*'/,"Last modified {docsify-updated<span>}'</span>")
-</script>
diff --git a/src/core/Docsify.js b/src/core/Docsify.js
index ba6c54b88f..ad339311c4 100644
--- a/src/core/Docsify.js
+++ b/src/core/Docsify.js
@@ -28,9 +28,18 @@ export class Docsify extends Fetch(Events(Render(Router(Lifecycle(Object))))) {
   }
 
   initPlugin() {
-    []
-      .concat(this.config.plugins)
-      .forEach(fn => isFn(fn) && fn(this._lifecycle, this));
+    [].concat(this.config.plugins).forEach(fn => {
+      try {
+        isFn(fn) && fn(this._lifecycle, this);
+      } catch (err) {
+        if (this.config.catchPluginErrors) {
+          const errTitle = 'Docsify plugin error';
+          console.error(errTitle, err);
+        } else {
+          throw err;
+        }
+      }
+    });
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/core/config.js b/src/core/config.js
index d766291593..5830656a93 100644
--- a/src/core/config.js
+++ b/src/core/config.js
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ export default function (vm) {
       crossOriginLinks: [],
       relativePath: false,
       topMargin: 0,
+      catchPluginErrors: true,
     },
     typeof window.$docsify === 'function'
       ? window.$docsify(vm)
diff --git a/src/core/init/lifecycle.js b/src/core/init/lifecycle.js
index c04fc1a72c..94a3981fe7 100644
--- a/src/core/init/lifecycle.js
+++ b/src/core/init/lifecycle.js
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ export function Lifecycle(Base) {
 
     callHook(hookName, data, next = noop) {
       const queue = this._hooks[hookName];
+      const catchPluginErrors = this.config.catchPluginErrors;
 
       const step = function (index) {
         const hookFn = queue[index];
@@ -36,15 +37,38 @@ export function Lifecycle(Base) {
         if (index >= queue.length) {
           next(data);
         } else if (typeof hookFn === 'function') {
+          const errTitle = 'Docsify plugin error';
+
           if (hookFn.length === 2) {
-            hookFn(data, result => {
-              data = result;
+            try {
+              hookFn(data, result => {
+                data = result;
+                step(index + 1);
+              });
+            } catch (err) {
+              if (catchPluginErrors) {
+                console.error(errTitle, err);
+              } else {
+                throw err;
+              }
+
               step(index + 1);
-            });
+            }
           } else {
-            const result = hookFn(data);
-            data = result === undefined ? data : result;
-            step(index + 1);
+            try {
+              const result = hookFn(data);
+
+              data = result === undefined ? data : result;
+              step(index + 1);
+            } catch (err) {
+              if (catchPluginErrors) {
+                console.error(errTitle, err);
+              } else {
+                throw err;
+              }
+
+              step(index + 1);
+            }
           }
         } else {
           step(index + 1);
diff --git a/test/e2e/configuration.test.js b/test/e2e/configuration.test.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..8aa3c5f083
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/e2e/configuration.test.js
@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+const docsifyInit = require('../helpers/docsify-init');
+const { test, expect } = require('./fixtures/docsify-init-fixture');
+
+test.describe('Configuration options', () => {
+  test('catchPluginErrors:true (handles uncaught errors)', async ({ page }) => {
+    let consoleMsg, errorMsg;
+
+    page.on('console', msg => (consoleMsg = msg.text()));
+    page.on('pageerror', err => (errorMsg = err.message));
+
+    await docsifyInit({
+      config: {
+        catchPluginErrors: true,
+        plugins: [
+          function (hook, vm) {
+            hook.init(function () {
+              // eslint-disable-next-line no-undef
+              fail();
+            });
+            hook.beforeEach(function (markdown) {
+              return `${markdown}\n\nbeforeEach`;
+            });
+          },
+        ],
+      },
+      markdown: {
+        homepage: '# Hello World',
+      },
+      // _logHTML: true,
+    });
+
+    const mainElm = page.locator('#main');
+
+    expect(errorMsg).toBeUndefined();
+    expect(consoleMsg).toContain('Docsify plugin error');
+    await expect(mainElm).toContainText('Hello World');
+    await expect(mainElm).toContainText('beforeEach');
+  });
+
+  test('catchPluginErrors:false (throws uncaught errors)', async ({ page }) => {
+    let consoleMsg, errorMsg;
+
+    page.on('console', msg => (consoleMsg = msg.text()));
+    page.on('pageerror', err => (errorMsg = err.message));
+
+    await docsifyInit({
+      config: {
+        catchPluginErrors: false,
+        plugins: [
+          function (hook, vm) {
+            hook.ready(function () {
+              // eslint-disable-next-line no-undef
+              fail();
+            });
+          },
+        ],
+      },
+      markdown: {
+        homepage: '# Hello World',
+      },
+      // _logHTML: true,
+    });
+
+    expect(consoleMsg).toBeUndefined();
+    expect(errorMsg).toContain('fail');
+  });
+});
diff --git a/test/e2e/plugins.test.js b/test/e2e/plugins.test.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..92f00ca568
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/e2e/plugins.test.js
@@ -0,0 +1,156 @@
+const docsifyInit = require('../helpers/docsify-init');
+const { test, expect } = require('./fixtures/docsify-init-fixture');
+
+test.describe('Plugins', () => {
+  test('Hook order', async ({ page }) => {
+    const consoleMsgs = [];
+    const expectedMsgs = [
+      'init',
+      'mounted',
+      'beforeEach-async',
+      'beforeEach',
+      // 'afterEach-async',
+      'afterEach',
+      'doneEach',
+      'ready',
+    ];
+
+    page.on('console', msg => consoleMsgs.push(msg.text()));
+
+    await docsifyInit({
+      config: {
+        plugins: [
+          function (hook, vm) {
+            hook.init(function () {
+              console.log('init');
+            });
+
+            hook.mounted(function () {
+              console.log('mounted');
+            });
+
+            hook.beforeEach(function (markdown, next) {
+              setTimeout(function () {
+                console.log('beforeEach-async');
+                next(markdown);
+              }, 100);
+            });
+
+            hook.beforeEach(function (markdown) {
+              console.log('beforeEach');
+              return markdown;
+            });
+
+            // FIXME: https://github.com/docsifyjs/docsify/issues/449
+            // hook.afterEach(function (html, next) {
+            //   setTimeout(function () {
+            //     console.log('afterEach-async');
+            //     next(html);
+            //   }, 100);
+            // });
+
+            hook.afterEach(function (html) {
+              console.log('afterEach');
+              return html;
+            });
+
+            hook.doneEach(function () {
+              console.log('doneEach');
+            });
+
+            hook.ready(function () {
+              console.log('ready');
+            });
+          },
+        ],
+      },
+      markdown: {
+        homepage: '# Hello World',
+      },
+      // _logHTML: true,
+    });
+
+    expect(consoleMsgs).toEqual(expectedMsgs);
+  });
+
+  test('beforeEach() return value', async ({ page }) => {
+    await docsifyInit({
+      config: {
+        plugins: [
+          function (hook, vm) {
+            hook.beforeEach(function (markdown) {
+              return 'beforeEach';
+            });
+          },
+        ],
+      },
+      // _logHTML: true,
+    });
+
+    await expect(page.locator('#main')).toContainText('beforeEach');
+  });
+
+  test('beforeEach() async return value', async ({ page }) => {
+    await docsifyInit({
+      config: {
+        plugins: [
+          function (hook, vm) {
+            hook.beforeEach(function (markdown, next) {
+              setTimeout(function () {
+                next('beforeEach');
+              }, 100);
+            });
+          },
+        ],
+      },
+      markdown: {
+        homepage: '# Hello World',
+      },
+      // _logHTML: true,
+    });
+
+    await expect(page.locator('#main')).toContainText('beforeEach');
+  });
+
+  test('afterEach() return value', async ({ page }) => {
+    await docsifyInit({
+      config: {
+        plugins: [
+          function (hook, vm) {
+            hook.afterEach(function (html) {
+              return '<p>afterEach</p>';
+            });
+          },
+        ],
+      },
+      markdown: {
+        homepage: '# Hello World',
+      },
+      // _logHTML: true,
+    });
+
+    await expect(page.locator('#main')).toContainText('afterEach');
+  });
+
+  test('afterEach() async return value', async ({ page }) => {
+    await docsifyInit({
+      config: {
+        plugins: [
+          function (hook, vm) {
+            hook.afterEach(function (html, next) {
+              setTimeout(function () {
+                next('<p>afterEach</p>');
+              }, 100);
+            });
+          },
+        ],
+      },
+      markdown: {
+        homepage: '# Hello World',
+      },
+      // _logHTML: true,
+    });
+
+    await expect(page.locator('#main')).toContainText('afterEach');
+  });
+});