diff --git a/lib/gitlab/markdown/commit_range_reference_filter.rb b/lib/gitlab/markdown/commit_range_reference_filter.rb
index 0d93bf4f28092c521528709f0e08ba5ed5d31396..ff85be8cb8475443294d5f15dd2e32622f0c7804 100644
--- a/lib/gitlab/markdown/commit_range_reference_filter.rb
+++ b/lib/gitlab/markdown/commit_range_reference_filter.rb
@@ -1,19 +1,9 @@
-require 'html/pipeline'
-
 module Gitlab
   module Markdown
-    # HTML filter that replaces commit range references with links. References
-    # within <pre>, <code>, <a>, and <style> elements are ignored.
+    # HTML filter that replaces commit range references with links.
     #
     # This filter supports cross-project references.
-    #
-    # Context options:
-    #   :project (required) - Current project, ignored when reference is
-    #                         cross-project.
-    #   :reference_class    - Custom CSS class added to reference links.
-    #   :only_path          - Generate path-only links.
-    #
-    class CommitRangeReferenceFilter < HTML::Pipeline::Filter
+    class CommitRangeReferenceFilter < ReferenceFilter
       include CrossProjectReference
 
       # Public: Find commit range references in text
@@ -42,26 +32,10 @@ module Gitlab
       # This pattern supports cross-project references.
       COMMIT_RANGE_PATTERN = /(#{PROJECT_PATTERN}@)?(?<commit_range>\h{6,40}\.{2,3}\h{6,40})/
 
-      # Don't look for references in text nodes that are children of these
-      # elements.
-      IGNORE_PARENTS = %w(pre code a style).to_set
-
       def call
-        doc.search('text()').each do |node|
-          content = node.to_html
-
-          next if project.nil?
-          next unless content.match(COMMIT_RANGE_PATTERN)
-          next if has_ancestor?(node, IGNORE_PARENTS)
-
-          html = commit_range_link_filter(content)
-
-          next if html == content
-
-          node.replace(html)
+        replace_text_nodes_matching(COMMIT_RANGE_PATTERN) do |content|
+          commit_range_link_filter(content)
         end
-
-        doc
       end
 
       # Replace commit range references in text with links to compare the commit
@@ -82,7 +56,7 @@ module Gitlab
             url = url_for_commit_range(project, from_id, to_id)
 
             title = "Commits #{from_id} through #{to_id}"
-            klass = "gfm gfm-commit_range #{context[:reference_class]}".strip
+            klass = reference_class(:commit_range)
 
             project_ref += '@' if project_ref
 
@@ -95,10 +69,6 @@ module Gitlab
         end
       end
 
-      def validate
-        needs :project
-      end
-
       def split_commit_range(range)
         from_id, to_id = range.split(/\.{2,3}/, 2)
         from_id << "^" if range !~ /\.{3}/
@@ -118,10 +88,6 @@ module Gitlab
                                         from: from_id, to: to_id,
                                         only_path: context[:only_path])
       end
-
-      def project
-        context[:project]
-      end
     end
   end
 end
diff --git a/lib/gitlab/markdown/commit_reference_filter.rb b/lib/gitlab/markdown/commit_reference_filter.rb
index 5697d7d97e79a1874e2b500ee57a4c89b89991ce..914eb29dc0c3dd2266990132a29d6f7ece5be84f 100644
--- a/lib/gitlab/markdown/commit_reference_filter.rb
+++ b/lib/gitlab/markdown/commit_reference_filter.rb
@@ -1,19 +1,9 @@
-require 'html/pipeline'
-
 module Gitlab
   module Markdown
-    # HTML filter that replaces commit references with links. References within
-    # <pre>, <code>, <a>, and <style> elements are ignored.
+    # HTML filter that replaces commit references with links.
     #
     # This filter supports cross-project references.
-    #
-    # Context options:
-    #   :project (required) - Current project, ignored when reference is
-    #                         cross-project.
-    #   :reference_class    - Custom CSS class added to reference links.
-    #   :only_path          - Generate path-only links.
-    #
-    class CommitReferenceFilter < HTML::Pipeline::Filter
+    class CommitReferenceFilter < ReferenceFilter
       include CrossProjectReference
 
       # Public: Find commit references in text
@@ -41,30 +31,10 @@ module Gitlab
       # This pattern supports cross-project references.
       COMMIT_PATTERN = /(#{PROJECT_PATTERN}@)?(?<commit>\h{6,40})/
 
-      # Don't look for references in text nodes that are children of these
-      # elements.
-      IGNORE_PARENTS = %w(pre code a style).to_set
-
       def call
-        doc.search('text()').each do |node|
-          content = node.to_html
-
-          next if project.nil?
-          next unless content.match(COMMIT_PATTERN)
-          next if has_ancestor?(node, IGNORE_PARENTS)
-
-          html = commit_link_filter(content)
-
-          next if html == content
-
-          node.replace(html)
+        replace_text_nodes_matching(COMMIT_PATTERN) do |content|
+          commit_link_filter(content)
         end
-
-        doc
-      end
-
-      def validate
-        needs :project
       end
 
       # Replace commit references in text with links to the commit specified.
@@ -81,7 +51,7 @@ module Gitlab
             url = url_for_commit(project, commit)
 
             title = commit.link_title
-            klass = "gfm gfm-commit #{context[:reference_class]}".strip
+            klass = reference_class(:commit)
 
             project_ref += '@' if project_ref
 
@@ -99,10 +69,6 @@ module Gitlab
         h.namespace_project_commit_url(project.namespace, project, commit,
                                         only_path: context[:only_path])
       end
-
-      def project
-        context[:project]
-      end
     end
   end
 end
diff --git a/lib/gitlab/markdown/cross_project_reference.rb b/lib/gitlab/markdown/cross_project_reference.rb
index b2197432caa2a730fc728fa8a2e4d2801500098d..c8ba9d1fa4610c5ef486ad909cbd8a792267c5ab 100644
--- a/lib/gitlab/markdown/cross_project_reference.rb
+++ b/lib/gitlab/markdown/cross_project_reference.rb
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 module Gitlab
   module Markdown
-    # Includes shared code for reference filters that support an optional
-    # cross-project reference.
+    # Common methods for ReferenceFilters that support an optional cross-project
+    # reference.
     module CrossProjectReference
       NAMING_PATTERN  = Gitlab::Regex::NAMESPACE_REGEX_STR
       PROJECT_PATTERN = "(?<project>#{NAMING_PATTERN}/#{NAMING_PATTERN})"
@@ -9,9 +9,9 @@ module Gitlab
       # Given a cross-project reference string, get the Project record
       #
       # Defaults to value of `context[:project]` if:
-      # - No reference is given
-      # - Reference given doesn't exist
-      # - Reference given can't be read by the current user
+      # * No reference is given OR
+      # * Reference given doesn't exist OR
+      # * Reference given can't be read by the current user
       #
       # ref - String reference.
       #
diff --git a/lib/gitlab/markdown/external_issue_reference_filter.rb b/lib/gitlab/markdown/external_issue_reference_filter.rb
index 87f58b1ae7971197c5a56506c05dacaffa8e2be7..3ca8eb7e4a7f16d3f6a44de5bf23fec8d5e89afd 100644
--- a/lib/gitlab/markdown/external_issue_reference_filter.rb
+++ b/lib/gitlab/markdown/external_issue_reference_filter.rb
@@ -1,16 +1,7 @@
-require 'html/pipeline'
-
 module Gitlab
   module Markdown
     # HTML filter that replaces external issue tracker references with links.
-    # References within <pre>, <code>, <a>, and <style> elements are ignored.
-    #
-    # Context options:
-    #   :project (required) - Current project.
-    #   :reference_class    - Custom CSS class added to reference links.
-    #   :only_path          - Generate path-only links.
-    #
-    class ExternalIssueReferenceFilter < HTML::Pipeline::Filter
+    class ExternalIssueReferenceFilter < ReferenceFilter
       # Public: Find `JIRA-123` issue references in text
       #
       #   ExternalIssueReferenceFilter.references_in(text) do |match, issue|
@@ -31,31 +22,10 @@ module Gitlab
       # Pattern used to extract `JIRA-123` issue references from text
       ISSUE_PATTERN = /(?<issue>([A-Z\-]+-)\d+)/
 
-      # Don't look for references in text nodes that are children of these
-      # elements.
-      IGNORE_PARENTS = %w(pre code a style).to_set
-
       def call
-        doc.search('text()').each do |node|
-          content = node.to_html
-
-          next if project.nil?
-          next if project.default_issues_tracker?
-          next unless content.match(ISSUE_PATTERN)
-          next if has_ancestor?(node, IGNORE_PARENTS)
-
-          html = issue_link_filter(content)
-
-          next if html == content
-
-          node.replace(html)
+        replace_text_nodes_matching(ISSUE_PATTERN) do |content|
+          issue_link_filter(content)
         end
-
-        doc
-      end
-
-      def validate
-        needs :project
       end
 
       # Replace `JIRA-123` issue references in text with links to the referenced
@@ -72,7 +42,7 @@ module Gitlab
           url = url_for_issue(issue, project, only_path: context[:only_path])
 
           title = "Issue in #{project.external_issue_tracker.title}"
-          klass = "gfm gfm-issue #{context[:reference_class]}".strip
+          klass = reference_class(:issue)
 
           %(<a href="#{url}"
                title="#{title}"
@@ -80,12 +50,6 @@ module Gitlab
         end
       end
 
-      # TODO (rspeicher): Duplicates IssueReferenceFilter
-      def project
-        context[:project]
-      end
-
-      # TODO (rspeicher): Duplicates IssueReferenceFilter
       def url_for_issue(*args)
         IssuesHelper.url_for_issue(*args)
       end
diff --git a/lib/gitlab/markdown/issue_reference_filter.rb b/lib/gitlab/markdown/issue_reference_filter.rb
index ab0420da1995fe84c97f6f9b1579d00bcf5dc42c..680daaf6a1d14420288006d05565be7566a233ef 100644
--- a/lib/gitlab/markdown/issue_reference_filter.rb
+++ b/lib/gitlab/markdown/issue_reference_filter.rb
@@ -1,20 +1,10 @@
-require 'html/pipeline'
-
 module Gitlab
   module Markdown
-    # HTML filter that replaces issue references with links. References within
-    # <pre>, <code>, <a>, and <style> elements are ignored. References to issues
-    # that do not exist are ignored.
+    # HTML filter that replaces issue references with links. References to
+    # issues that do not exist are ignored.
     #
     # This filter supports cross-project references.
-    #
-    # Context options:
-    #   :project (required) - Current project, ignored when reference is
-    #                         cross-project.
-    #   :reference_class    - Custom CSS class added to reference links.
-    #   :only_path          - Generate path-only links.
-    #
-    class IssueReferenceFilter < HTML::Pipeline::Filter
+    class IssueReferenceFilter < ReferenceFilter
       include CrossProjectReference
 
       # Public: Find `#123` issue references in text
@@ -40,31 +30,10 @@ module Gitlab
       # This pattern supports cross-project references.
       ISSUE_PATTERN = /#{PROJECT_PATTERN}?\#(?<issue>([a-zA-Z\-]+-)?\d+)/
 
-      # Don't look for references in text nodes that are children of these
-      # elements.
-      IGNORE_PARENTS = %w(pre code a style).to_set
-
       def call
-        doc.search('text()').each do |node|
-          content = node.to_html
-
-          next if project.nil?
-          next unless project.default_issues_tracker?
-          next unless content.match(ISSUE_PATTERN)
-          next if has_ancestor?(node, IGNORE_PARENTS)
-
-          html = issue_link_filter(content)
-
-          next if html == content
-
-          node.replace(html)
+        replace_text_nodes_matching(ISSUE_PATTERN) do |content|
+          issue_link_filter(content)
         end
-
-        doc
-      end
-
-      def validate
-        needs :project
       end
 
       # Replace `#123` issue references in text with links to the referenced
@@ -79,11 +48,10 @@ module Gitlab
           project = self.project_from_ref(project_ref)
 
           if project.issue_exists?(issue)
-            # FIXME: Ugly
             url = url_for_issue(issue, project, only_path: context[:only_path])
 
             title = "Issue: #{title_for_issue(issue, project)}"
-            klass = "gfm gfm-issue #{context[:reference_class]}".strip
+            klass = reference_class(:issue)
 
             %(<a href="#{url}"
                  title="#{title}"
@@ -94,10 +62,6 @@ module Gitlab
         end
       end
 
-      def project
-        context[:project]
-      end
-
       def url_for_issue(*args)
         IssuesHelper.url_for_issue(*args)
       end
diff --git a/lib/gitlab/markdown/label_reference_filter.rb b/lib/gitlab/markdown/label_reference_filter.rb
index 3bb84c50b9353980c9418450eb9c6048b6a7f1d6..f40b981ba60826311752753d3f8cc04f7c5cabf5 100644
--- a/lib/gitlab/markdown/label_reference_filter.rb
+++ b/lib/gitlab/markdown/label_reference_filter.rb
@@ -1,16 +1,7 @@
-require 'html/pipeline'
-
 module Gitlab
   module Markdown
-    # HTML filter that replaces label references with links. References within
-    # <pre>, <code>, <a>, and <style> elements are ignored.
-    #
-    # Context options:
-    #   :project (required) - Current project.
-    #   :reference_class    - Custom CSS class added to reference links.
-    #   :only_path          - Generate path-only links.
-    #
-    class LabelReferenceFilter < HTML::Pipeline::Filter
+    # HTML filter that replaces label references with links.
+    class LabelReferenceFilter < ReferenceFilter
       # Public: Find label references in text
       #
       #   LabelReferenceFilter.references_in(text) do |match, id, name|
@@ -42,30 +33,10 @@ module Gitlab
         )
       }x
 
-      # Don't look for references in text nodes that are children of these
-      # elements.
-      IGNORE_PARENTS = %w(pre code a style).to_set
-
       def call
-        doc.search('text()').each do |node|
-          content = node.to_html
-
-          next if project.nil?
-          next unless content.match(LABEL_PATTERN)
-          next if has_ancestor?(node, IGNORE_PARENTS)
-
-          html = label_link_filter(content)
-
-          next if html == content
-
-          node.replace(html)
+        replace_text_nodes_matching(LABEL_PATTERN) do |content|
+          label_link_filter(content)
         end
-
-        doc
-      end
-
-      def validate
-        needs :project
       end
 
       # Replace label references in text with links to the label specified.
@@ -83,7 +54,7 @@ module Gitlab
           if label = project.labels.find_by(params)
             url = url_for_label(project, label)
 
-            klass = "gfm gfm-label #{context[:reference_class]}".strip
+            klass = reference_class(:label)
 
             %(<a href="#{url}" class="#{klass}">#{render_colored_label(label)}</a>)
           else
@@ -118,10 +89,6 @@ module Gitlab
           { name: name.tr('\'"', '') }
         end
       end
-
-      def project
-        context[:project]
-      end
     end
   end
 end
diff --git a/lib/gitlab/markdown/merge_request_reference_filter.rb b/lib/gitlab/markdown/merge_request_reference_filter.rb
index 96a0c92942d15f2d332e1f48725bf7dd2a0ccb36..15f0c09ab00266affa8cd63d2ce5be1564bcd3ef 100644
--- a/lib/gitlab/markdown/merge_request_reference_filter.rb
+++ b/lib/gitlab/markdown/merge_request_reference_filter.rb
@@ -1,20 +1,10 @@
-require 'html/pipeline'
-
 module Gitlab
   module Markdown
     # HTML filter that replaces merge request references with links. References
-    # within <pre>, <code>, <a>, and <style> elements are ignored. References to
-    # merge requests that do not exist are ignored.
+    # to merge requests that do not exist are ignored.
     #
     # This filter supports cross-project references.
-    #
-    # Context options:
-    #   :project (required) - Current project, ignored when reference is
-    #                         cross-project.
-    #   :reference_class    - Custom CSS class added to reference links.
-    #   :only_path          - Generate path-only links.
-    #
-    class MergeRequestReferenceFilter < HTML::Pipeline::Filter
+    class MergeRequestReferenceFilter < ReferenceFilter
       include CrossProjectReference
 
       # Public: Find `!123` merge request references in text
@@ -45,25 +35,9 @@ module Gitlab
       IGNORE_PARENTS = %w(pre code a style).to_set
 
       def call
-        doc.search('text()').each do |node|
-          content = node.to_html
-
-          next if project.nil?
-          next unless content.match(MERGE_REQUEST_PATTERN)
-          next if has_ancestor?(node, IGNORE_PARENTS)
-
-          html = merge_request_link_filter(content)
-
-          next if html == content
-
-          node.replace(html)
+        replace_text_nodes_matching(MERGE_REQUEST_PATTERN) do |content|
+          merge_request_link_filter(content)
         end
-
-        doc
-      end
-
-      def validate
-        needs :project
       end
 
       # Replace `!123` merge request references in text with links to the
@@ -79,7 +53,7 @@ module Gitlab
 
           if merge_request = project.merge_requests.find_by(iid: id)
             title = "Merge Request: #{merge_request.title}"
-            klass = "gfm gfm-merge_request #{context[:reference_class]}".strip
+            klass = reference_class(:merge_request)
 
             url = url_for_merge_request(merge_request, project)
 
@@ -92,10 +66,6 @@ module Gitlab
         end
       end
 
-      def project
-        context[:project]
-      end
-
       # TODO (rspeicher): Cleanup
       def url_for_merge_request(mr, project)
         h = Rails.application.routes.url_helpers
diff --git a/lib/gitlab/markdown/reference_filter.rb b/lib/gitlab/markdown/reference_filter.rb
index 55cb6a4e6bcf134cb1effc59374d7a9096901ae3..5778fd865df4f432804197008bbb3c41d273677c 100644
--- a/lib/gitlab/markdown/reference_filter.rb
+++ b/lib/gitlab/markdown/reference_filter.rb
@@ -7,8 +7,7 @@ module Gitlab
     # References within <pre>, <code>, <a>, and <style> elements are ignored.
     #
     # Context options:
-    #   :project (required) - Current project, ignored when reference is
-    #                         cross-project.
+    #   :project (required) - Current project, ignored if reference is cross-project.
     #   :reference_class    - Custom CSS class added to reference links.
     #   :only_path          - Generate path-only links.
     #
diff --git a/lib/gitlab/markdown/snippet_reference_filter.rb b/lib/gitlab/markdown/snippet_reference_filter.rb
index 42f035ce2950194f02e3a5dd4f0052edd4d8792e..193a548af928b9ac5cd845c9ff046bb2ef812fb5 100644
--- a/lib/gitlab/markdown/snippet_reference_filter.rb
+++ b/lib/gitlab/markdown/snippet_reference_filter.rb
@@ -1,18 +1,10 @@
-require 'html/pipeline'
-
 module Gitlab
   module Markdown
-    # HTML filter that replaces snippet references with links. References within
-    # <pre>, <code>, <a>, and <style> elements are ignored. References to
+    # HTML filter that replaces snippet references with links. References to
     # snippets that do not exist are ignored.
     #
-    # Context options:
-    #   :project (required) - Current project, ignored when reference is
-    #                         cross-project.
-    #   :reference_class    - Custom CSS class added to reference links.
-    #   :only_path          - Generate path-only links.
-    #
-    class SnippetReferenceFilter < HTML::Pipeline::Filter
+    # This filter supports cross-project references.
+    class SnippetReferenceFilter < ReferenceFilter
       include CrossProjectReference
 
       # Public: Find `$123` snippet references in text
@@ -38,30 +30,10 @@ module Gitlab
       # This pattern supports cross-project references.
       SNIPPET_PATTERN = /#{PROJECT_PATTERN}?\$(?<snippet>\d+)/
 
-      # Don't look for references in text nodes that are children of these
-      # elements.
-      IGNORE_PARENTS = %w(pre code a style).to_set
-
       def call
-        doc.search('text()').each do |node|
-          content = node.to_html
-
-          next if context[:project].nil?
-          next unless content.match(SNIPPET_PATTERN)
-          next if has_ancestor?(node, IGNORE_PARENTS)
-
-          html = snippet_link_filter(content)
-
-          next if html == content
-
-          node.replace(html)
+        replace_text_nodes_matching(SNIPPET_PATTERN) do |content|
+          snippet_link_filter(content)
         end
-
-        doc
-      end
-
-      def validate
-        needs :project
       end
 
       # Replace `$123` snippet references in text with links to the referenced
@@ -77,7 +49,7 @@ module Gitlab
 
           if snippet = project.snippets.find_by(id: id)
             title = "Snippet: #{snippet.title}"
-            klass = "gfm gfm-snippet #{context[:reference_class]}".strip
+            klass = reference_class(:snippet)
 
             url = url_for_snippet(snippet, project)
 
diff --git a/lib/gitlab/markdown/user_reference_filter.rb b/lib/gitlab/markdown/user_reference_filter.rb
index 3ac82041ff4e04cd06c03d6a08b59c261cc97027..5fc8ed55fe26f114459f52e1ce95f3746b9a1190 100644
--- a/lib/gitlab/markdown/user_reference_filter.rb
+++ b/lib/gitlab/markdown/user_reference_filter.rb
@@ -1,18 +1,9 @@
-require 'html/pipeline'
-
 module Gitlab
   module Markdown
-    # HTML filter that replaces user or group references with links. References
-    # within <pre>, <code>, <a>, and <style> elements are ignored.
+    # HTML filter that replaces user or group references with links.
     #
     # A special `@all` reference is also supported.
-    #
-    # Context options:
-    #   :project (required) - Current project.
-    #   :reference_class    - Custom CSS class added to reference links.
-    #   :only_path          - Generate path-only links.
-    #
-    class UserReferenceFilter < HTML::Pipeline::Filter
+    class UserReferenceFilter < ReferenceFilter
       # Public: Find `@user` user references in text
       #
       #   UserReferenceFilter.references_in(text) do |match, username|
@@ -33,30 +24,10 @@ module Gitlab
       # Pattern used to extract `@user` user references from text
       USER_PATTERN = /@(?<user>#{Gitlab::Regex::NAMESPACE_REGEX_STR})/
 
-      # Don't look for references in text nodes that are children of these
-      # elements.
-      IGNORE_PARENTS = %w(pre code a style).to_set
-
       def call
-        doc.search('text()').each do |node|
-          content = node.to_html
-
-          next if project.nil?
-          next unless content.match(USER_PATTERN)
-          next if has_ancestor?(node, IGNORE_PARENTS)
-
-          html = user_link_filter(content)
-
-          next if html == content
-
-          node.replace(html)
+        replace_text_nodes_matching(USER_PATTERN) do |content|
+          user_link_filter(content)
         end
-
-        doc
-      end
-
-      def validate
-        needs :project
       end
 
       # Replace `@user` user references in text with links to the referenced
@@ -70,7 +41,7 @@ module Gitlab
         project = context[:project]
 
         self.class.references_in(text) do |match, user|
-          klass = "gfm gfm-project_member #{context[:reference_class]}".strip
+          klass = reference_class(:project_member)
 
           if user == 'all'
             url = link_to_all(project)
@@ -94,27 +65,23 @@ module Gitlab
         end
       end
 
-      def project
-        context[:project]
+      private
+
+      def urls
+        Rails.application.routes.url_helpers
       end
 
-      # TODO (rspeicher): Cleanup
       def group_url(*args)
-        h = Rails.application.routes.url_helpers
-        h.group_url(*args)
+        urls.group_url(*args)
       end
 
-      # TODO (rspeicher): Cleanup
       def user_url(*args)
-        h = Rails.application.routes.url_helpers
-        h.user_url(*args)
+        urls.user_url(*args)
       end
 
-      # TODO (rspeicher): Cleanup
       def link_to_all(project)
-        h = Rails.application.routes.url_helpers
-        h.namespace_project_url(project.namespace, project,
-                                only_path: context[:only_path])
+        urls.namespace_project_url(project.namespace, project,
+                                   only_path: context[:only_path])
       end
 
       def user_can_reference_group?(group)