diff --git a/docs/config/setup/interfaces/mermaidAPI.ParseOptions.md b/docs/config/setup/interfaces/mermaidAPI.ParseOptions.md
index 4386be9380..fa100744ed 100644
--- a/docs/config/setup/interfaces/mermaidAPI.ParseOptions.md
+++ b/docs/config/setup/interfaces/mermaidAPI.ParseOptions.md
@@ -14,6 +14,9 @@
 
 • `Optional` **suppressErrors**: `boolean`
 
+If `true`, parse will return `false` instead of throwing error when the diagram is invalid.
+The `parseError` function will not be called.
+
 #### Defined in
 
-[mermaidAPI.ts:60](https://github.com/mermaid-js/mermaid/blob/master/packages/mermaid/src/mermaidAPI.ts#L60)
+[mermaidAPI.ts:64](https://github.com/mermaid-js/mermaid/blob/master/packages/mermaid/src/mermaidAPI.ts#L64)
diff --git a/docs/config/setup/interfaces/mermaidAPI.ParseResult.md b/docs/config/setup/interfaces/mermaidAPI.ParseResult.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..9f912cc8c2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/config/setup/interfaces/mermaidAPI.ParseResult.md
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+> **Warning**
+>
+> ## THIS IS AN AUTOGENERATED FILE. DO NOT EDIT.
+>
+> ## Please edit the corresponding file in [/packages/mermaid/src/docs/config/setup/interfaces/mermaidAPI.ParseResult.md](../../../../packages/mermaid/src/docs/config/setup/interfaces/mermaidAPI.ParseResult.md).
+
+# Interface: ParseResult
+
+[mermaidAPI](../modules/mermaidAPI.md).ParseResult
+
+## Properties
+
+### diagramType
+
+• **diagramType**: `string`
+
+The diagram type, e.g. 'flowchart', 'sequence', etc.
+
+#### Defined in
+
+[mermaidAPI.ts:71](https://github.com/mermaid-js/mermaid/blob/master/packages/mermaid/src/mermaidAPI.ts#L71)
diff --git a/docs/config/setup/interfaces/mermaidAPI.RenderResult.md b/docs/config/setup/interfaces/mermaidAPI.RenderResult.md
index 6209782f75..aebd88b235 100644
--- a/docs/config/setup/interfaces/mermaidAPI.RenderResult.md
+++ b/docs/config/setup/interfaces/mermaidAPI.RenderResult.md
@@ -39,7 +39,19 @@ bindFunctions?.(div); // To call bindFunctions only if it's present.
 
 #### Defined in
 
-[mermaidAPI.ts:80](https://github.com/mermaid-js/mermaid/blob/master/packages/mermaid/src/mermaidAPI.ts#L80)
+[mermaidAPI.ts:94](https://github.com/mermaid-js/mermaid/blob/master/packages/mermaid/src/mermaidAPI.ts#L94)
+
+---
+
+### diagramType
+
+• **diagramType**: `string`
+
+The diagram type, e.g. 'flowchart', 'sequence', etc.
+
+#### Defined in
+
+[mermaidAPI.ts:84](https://github.com/mermaid-js/mermaid/blob/master/packages/mermaid/src/mermaidAPI.ts#L84)
 
 ---
 
@@ -51,4 +63,4 @@ The svg code for the rendered graph.
 
 #### Defined in
 
-[mermaidAPI.ts:70](https://github.com/mermaid-js/mermaid/blob/master/packages/mermaid/src/mermaidAPI.ts#L70)
+[mermaidAPI.ts:80](https://github.com/mermaid-js/mermaid/blob/master/packages/mermaid/src/mermaidAPI.ts#L80)
diff --git a/docs/config/setup/modules/mermaidAPI.md b/docs/config/setup/modules/mermaidAPI.md
index a1992c2254..e84eb0f86b 100644
--- a/docs/config/setup/modules/mermaidAPI.md
+++ b/docs/config/setup/modules/mermaidAPI.md
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 ## Interfaces
 
 - [ParseOptions](../interfaces/mermaidAPI.ParseOptions.md)
+- [ParseResult](../interfaces/mermaidAPI.ParseResult.md)
 - [RenderResult](../interfaces/mermaidAPI.RenderResult.md)
 
 ## References
@@ -25,13 +26,13 @@ Renames and re-exports [mermaidAPI](mermaidAPI.md#mermaidapi)
 
 #### Defined in
 
-[mermaidAPI.ts:64](https://github.com/mermaid-js/mermaid/blob/master/packages/mermaid/src/mermaidAPI.ts#L64)
+[mermaidAPI.ts:74](https://github.com/mermaid-js/mermaid/blob/master/packages/mermaid/src/mermaidAPI.ts#L74)
 
 ## Variables
 
 ### mermaidAPI
 
-• `Const` **mermaidAPI**: `Readonly`<{ `defaultConfig`: `MermaidConfig` = configApi.defaultConfig; `getConfig`: () => `MermaidConfig` = configApi.getConfig; `getDiagramFromText`: (`text`: `string`, `metadata`: `Pick`<`DiagramMetadata`, `"title"`>) => `Promise`<`Diagram`> ; `getSiteConfig`: () => `MermaidConfig` = configApi.getSiteConfig; `globalReset`: () => `void` ; `initialize`: (`options`: `MermaidConfig`) => `void` ; `parse`: (`text`: `string`, `parseOptions?`: [`ParseOptions`](../interfaces/mermaidAPI.ParseOptions.md)) => `Promise`<`boolean`> ; `render`: (`id`: `string`, `text`: `string`, `svgContainingElement?`: `Element`) => `Promise`<[`RenderResult`](../interfaces/mermaidAPI.RenderResult.md)> ; `reset`: () => `void` ; `setConfig`: (`conf`: `MermaidConfig`) => `MermaidConfig` = configApi.setConfig; `updateSiteConfig`: (`conf`: `MermaidConfig`) => `MermaidConfig` = configApi.updateSiteConfig }>
+• `Const` **mermaidAPI**: `Readonly`<{ `defaultConfig`: `MermaidConfig` = configApi.defaultConfig; `getConfig`: () => `MermaidConfig` = configApi.getConfig; `getDiagramFromText`: (`text`: `string`, `metadata`: `Pick`<`DiagramMetadata`, `"title"`>) => `Promise`<`Diagram`> ; `getSiteConfig`: () => `MermaidConfig` = configApi.getSiteConfig; `globalReset`: () => `void` ; `initialize`: (`options`: `MermaidConfig`) => `void` ; `parse`: (`text`: `string`, `parseOptions`: [`ParseOptions`](../interfaces/mermaidAPI.ParseOptions.md) & { `suppressErrors`: `true` }) => `Promise`<[`ParseResult`](../interfaces/mermaidAPI.ParseResult.md) | `false`>(`text`: `string`, `parseOptions?`: [`ParseOptions`](../interfaces/mermaidAPI.ParseOptions.md)) => `Promise`<[`ParseResult`](../interfaces/mermaidAPI.ParseResult.md)> ; `render`: (`id`: `string`, `text`: `string`, `svgContainingElement?`: `Element`) => `Promise`<[`RenderResult`](../interfaces/mermaidAPI.RenderResult.md)> ; `reset`: () => `void` ; `setConfig`: (`conf`: `MermaidConfig`) => `MermaidConfig` = configApi.setConfig; `updateSiteConfig`: (`conf`: `MermaidConfig`) => `MermaidConfig` = configApi.updateSiteConfig }>
 
 ## mermaidAPI configuration defaults
 
@@ -96,7 +97,7 @@ mermaid.initialize(config);
 
 #### Defined in
 
-[mermaidAPI.ts:608](https://github.com/mermaid-js/mermaid/blob/master/packages/mermaid/src/mermaidAPI.ts#L608)
+[mermaidAPI.ts:623](https://github.com/mermaid-js/mermaid/blob/master/packages/mermaid/src/mermaidAPI.ts#L623)
 
 ## Functions
 
@@ -127,7 +128,7 @@ Return the last node appended
 
 #### Defined in
 
-[mermaidAPI.ts:263](https://github.com/mermaid-js/mermaid/blob/master/packages/mermaid/src/mermaidAPI.ts#L263)
+[mermaidAPI.ts:277](https://github.com/mermaid-js/mermaid/blob/master/packages/mermaid/src/mermaidAPI.ts#L277)
 
 ---
 
@@ -153,7 +154,7 @@ the cleaned up svgCode
 
 #### Defined in
 
-[mermaidAPI.ts:209](https://github.com/mermaid-js/mermaid/blob/master/packages/mermaid/src/mermaidAPI.ts#L209)
+[mermaidAPI.ts:223](https://github.com/mermaid-js/mermaid/blob/master/packages/mermaid/src/mermaidAPI.ts#L223)
 
 ---
 
@@ -178,7 +179,7 @@ the string with all the user styles
 
 #### Defined in
 
-[mermaidAPI.ts:139](https://github.com/mermaid-js/mermaid/blob/master/packages/mermaid/src/mermaidAPI.ts#L139)
+[mermaidAPI.ts:153](https://github.com/mermaid-js/mermaid/blob/master/packages/mermaid/src/mermaidAPI.ts#L153)
 
 ---
 
@@ -201,7 +202,7 @@ the string with all the user styles
 
 #### Defined in
 
-[mermaidAPI.ts:186](https://github.com/mermaid-js/mermaid/blob/master/packages/mermaid/src/mermaidAPI.ts#L186)
+[mermaidAPI.ts:200](https://github.com/mermaid-js/mermaid/blob/master/packages/mermaid/src/mermaidAPI.ts#L200)
 
 ---
 
@@ -228,7 +229,7 @@ with an enclosing block that has each of the cssClasses followed by !important;
 
 #### Defined in
 
-[mermaidAPI.ts:124](https://github.com/mermaid-js/mermaid/blob/master/packages/mermaid/src/mermaidAPI.ts#L124)
+[mermaidAPI.ts:138](https://github.com/mermaid-js/mermaid/blob/master/packages/mermaid/src/mermaidAPI.ts#L138)
 
 ---
 
@@ -254,7 +255,7 @@ Put the svgCode into an iFrame. Return the iFrame code
 
 #### Defined in
 
-[mermaidAPI.ts:240](https://github.com/mermaid-js/mermaid/blob/master/packages/mermaid/src/mermaidAPI.ts#L240)
+[mermaidAPI.ts:254](https://github.com/mermaid-js/mermaid/blob/master/packages/mermaid/src/mermaidAPI.ts#L254)
 
 ---
 
@@ -279,4 +280,4 @@ Remove any existing elements from the given document
 
 #### Defined in
 
-[mermaidAPI.ts:313](https://github.com/mermaid-js/mermaid/blob/master/packages/mermaid/src/mermaidAPI.ts#L313)
+[mermaidAPI.ts:327](https://github.com/mermaid-js/mermaid/blob/master/packages/mermaid/src/mermaidAPI.ts#L327)
diff --git a/docs/config/usage.md b/docs/config/usage.md
index 699171001d..bb8b903a71 100644
--- a/docs/config/usage.md
+++ b/docs/config/usage.md
@@ -331,15 +331,17 @@ module.exports = (options) ->
 
 ## Advanced usage
 
-**Syntax validation without rendering (Work in Progress)**
+### Syntax validation without rendering
 
-The **mermaid.parse(txt)** function validates graph definitions without rendering a graph. **[This function is still a work in progress](https://github.com/mermaid-js/mermaid/issues/1066), find alternatives below.**
+The `mermaid.parse(text, parseOptions)` function validates graph definitions without rendering a graph.
 
-The function **mermaid.parse(txt)**, takes a text string as an argument and returns true if the definition follows mermaid's syntax and
-false if it does not. The parseError function will be called when the parse function returns false.
+The function `mermaid.parse(text, parseOptions)`, takes a text string as an argument and returns `{ diagramType: string }` if the definition follows mermaid's syntax.
 
-When the parser encounters invalid syntax the **mermaid.parseError** function is called. It is possible to override this
-function in order to handle the error in an application-specific way.
+If the definition is invalid, the function returns `false` if `parseOptions.suppressErrors` is set to `true`. Otherwise, it throws an error.
+
+The parseError function will be called when the parse function throws an error. It will not be called if `parseOptions.suppressErrors` is set to `true`.
+
+It is possible to override this function in order to handle the error in an application-specific way.
 
 The code-example below in meta code illustrates how this could work:
 
@@ -359,26 +361,10 @@ const textFieldUpdated = async function () {
 bindEventHandler('change', 'code', textFieldUpdated);
 ```
 
-**Alternative to mermaid.parse():**
-One effective and more future-proof method of validating your graph definitions, is to paste and render them via the [Mermaid Live Editor](https://mermaid.live/). This will ensure that your code is compliant with the syntax of Mermaid's most recent version.
-
 ## Configuration
 
-Mermaid takes a number of options which lets you tweak the rendering of the diagrams. Currently there are three ways of
-setting the options in mermaid.
-
-1.  Instantiation of the configuration using the initialize call
-2.  _Using the global mermaid object_ - **Deprecated**
-3.  _using the global mermaid_config object_ - **Deprecated**
-4.  Instantiation of the configuration using the **mermaid.init** call- **Deprecated**
-
-The list above has two ways too many of doing this. Three are deprecated and will eventually be removed. The list of
-configuration objects are described [in the mermaidAPI documentation](./setup/README.md).
-
-## Using the `mermaidAPI.initialize`/`mermaid.initialize` call
-
-The future proof way of setting the configuration is by using the initialization call to mermaid or mermaidAPI depending
-on what kind of integration you use.
+You can pass the required configuration to the `mermaid.initialize` call. This is the preferred way of configuring mermaid.
+The list of configuration objects are described [in the mermaidAPI documentation](./setup/README.md).
 
 ```html
 <script type="module">
@@ -407,32 +393,3 @@ mermaid.startOnLoad = true;
 
 > **Warning**
 > This way of setting the configuration is deprecated. Instead the preferred way is to use the initialize method. This functionality is only kept for backwards compatibility.
-
-## Using the mermaid_config
-
-It is possible to set some configuration via the mermaid object. The two parameters that are supported using this
-approach are:
-
-- mermaid_config.startOnLoad
-- mermaid_config.htmlLabels
-
-```javascript
-mermaid_config.startOnLoad = true;
-```
-
-> **Warning**
-> This way of setting the configuration is deprecated. Instead the preferred way is to use the initialize method. This functionality is only kept for backwards compatibility.
-
-## Using the mermaid.init call
-
-To set some configuration via the mermaid object. The two parameters that are supported using this approach are:
-
-- mermaid_config.startOnLoad
-- mermaid_config.htmlLabels
-
-```javascript
-mermaid_config.startOnLoad = true;
-```
-
-> **Warning**
-> This way of setting the configuration is deprecated. Instead the preferred way is to use the initialize method. This functionality is only kept for backwards compatibility.
diff --git a/packages/mermaid/src/docs/config/usage.md b/packages/mermaid/src/docs/config/usage.md
index ae3ad0f0aa..1f58665332 100644
--- a/packages/mermaid/src/docs/config/usage.md
+++ b/packages/mermaid/src/docs/config/usage.md
@@ -328,15 +328,17 @@ module.exports = (options) ->
 
 ## Advanced usage
 
-**Syntax validation without rendering (Work in Progress)**
+### Syntax validation without rendering
 
-The **mermaid.parse(txt)** function validates graph definitions without rendering a graph. **[This function is still a work in progress](https://github.com/mermaid-js/mermaid/issues/1066), find alternatives below.**
+The `mermaid.parse(text, parseOptions)` function validates graph definitions without rendering a graph.
 
-The function **mermaid.parse(txt)**, takes a text string as an argument and returns true if the definition follows mermaid's syntax and
-false if it does not. The parseError function will be called when the parse function returns false.
+The function `mermaid.parse(text, parseOptions)`, takes a text string as an argument and returns `{ diagramType: string }` if the definition follows mermaid's syntax.
 
-When the parser encounters invalid syntax the **mermaid.parseError** function is called. It is possible to override this
-function in order to handle the error in an application-specific way.
+If the definition is invalid, the function returns `false` if `parseOptions.suppressErrors` is set to `true`. Otherwise, it throws an error.
+
+The parseError function will be called when the parse function throws an error. It will not be called if `parseOptions.suppressErrors` is set to `true`.
+
+It is possible to override this function in order to handle the error in an application-specific way.
 
 The code-example below in meta code illustrates how this could work:
 
@@ -356,26 +358,10 @@ const textFieldUpdated = async function () {
 bindEventHandler('change', 'code', textFieldUpdated);
 ```
 
-**Alternative to mermaid.parse():**
-One effective and more future-proof method of validating your graph definitions, is to paste and render them via the [Mermaid Live Editor](https://mermaid.live/). This will ensure that your code is compliant with the syntax of Mermaid's most recent version.
-
 ## Configuration
 
-Mermaid takes a number of options which lets you tweak the rendering of the diagrams. Currently there are three ways of
-setting the options in mermaid.
-
-1. Instantiation of the configuration using the initialize call
-2. _Using the global mermaid object_ - **Deprecated**
-3. _using the global mermaid_config object_ - **Deprecated**
-4. Instantiation of the configuration using the **mermaid.init** call- **Deprecated**
-
-The list above has two ways too many of doing this. Three are deprecated and will eventually be removed. The list of
-configuration objects are described [in the mermaidAPI documentation](./setup/README.md).
-
-## Using the `mermaidAPI.initialize`/`mermaid.initialize` call
-
-The future proof way of setting the configuration is by using the initialization call to mermaid or mermaidAPI depending
-on what kind of integration you use.
+You can pass the required configuration to the `mermaid.initialize` call. This is the preferred way of configuring mermaid.
+The list of configuration objects are described [in the mermaidAPI documentation](./setup/README.md).
 
 ```html
 <script type="module">
@@ -406,34 +392,3 @@ mermaid.startOnLoad = true;
 ```warning
 This way of setting the configuration is deprecated. Instead the preferred way is to use the initialize method. This functionality is only kept for backwards compatibility.
 ```
-
-## Using the mermaid_config
-
-It is possible to set some configuration via the mermaid object. The two parameters that are supported using this
-approach are:
-
-- mermaid_config.startOnLoad
-- mermaid_config.htmlLabels
-
-```javascript
-mermaid_config.startOnLoad = true;
-```
-
-```warning
-This way of setting the configuration is deprecated. Instead the preferred way is to use the initialize method. This functionality is only kept for backwards compatibility.
-```
-
-## Using the mermaid.init call
-
-To set some configuration via the mermaid object. The two parameters that are supported using this approach are:
-
-- mermaid_config.startOnLoad
-- mermaid_config.htmlLabels
-
-```javascript
-mermaid_config.startOnLoad = true;
-```
-
-```warning
-This way of setting the configuration is deprecated. Instead the preferred way is to use the initialize method. This functionality is only kept for backwards compatibility.
-```
diff --git a/packages/mermaid/src/mermaid.ts b/packages/mermaid/src/mermaid.ts
index 99c3b7491b..8194872d44 100644
--- a/packages/mermaid/src/mermaid.ts
+++ b/packages/mermaid/src/mermaid.ts
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ import { dedent } from 'ts-dedent';
 import type { MermaidConfig } from './config.type.js';
 import { log } from './logger.js';
 import utils from './utils.js';
-import type { ParseOptions, RenderResult } from './mermaidAPI.js';
+import type { ParseOptions, ParseResult, RenderResult } from './mermaidAPI.js';
 import { mermaidAPI } from './mermaidAPI.js';
 import { registerLazyLoadedDiagrams, detectType } from './diagram-api/detectType.js';
 import { loadRegisteredDiagrams } from './diagram-api/loadDiagram.js';
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ export type {
   ParseErrorFunction,
   RenderResult,
   ParseOptions,
+  ParseResult,
   UnknownDiagramError,
 };
 
@@ -313,11 +314,23 @@ const executeQueue = async () => {
 /**
  * Parse the text and validate the syntax.
  * @param text - The mermaid diagram definition.
- * @param parseOptions - Options for parsing.
- * @returns true if the diagram is valid, false otherwise if parseOptions.suppressErrors is true.
- * @throws Error if the diagram is invalid and parseOptions.suppressErrors is false.
+ * @param parseOptions - Options for parsing. @see {@link ParseOptions}
+ * @returns If valid, {@link ParseResult} otherwise `false` if parseOptions.suppressErrors is `true`.
+ * @throws Error if the diagram is invalid and parseOptions.suppressErrors is false or not set.
+ *
+ * @example
+ * ```js
+ * console.log(await mermaid.parse('flowchart \n a --> b'));
+ * // { diagramType: 'flowchart-v2' }
+ * console.log(await mermaid.parse('wrong \n a --> b', { suppressErrors: true }));
+ * // false
+ * console.log(await mermaid.parse('wrong \n a --> b', { suppressErrors: false }));
+ * // throws Error
+ * console.log(await mermaid.parse('wrong \n a --> b'));
+ * // throws Error
+ * ```
  */
-const parse = async (text: string, parseOptions?: ParseOptions): Promise<boolean | void> => {
+const parse: typeof mermaidAPI.parse = async (text, parseOptions) => {
   return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
     // This promise will resolve when the render call is done.
     // It will be queued first and will be executed when it is first in line
@@ -366,7 +379,7 @@ const parse = async (text: string, parseOptions?: ParseOptions): Promise<boolean
  *   element will be removed when rendering is completed.
  * @returns Returns the SVG Definition and BindFunctions.
  */
-const render = (id: string, text: string, container?: Element): Promise<RenderResult> => {
+const render: typeof mermaidAPI.render = (id, text, container) => {
   return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
     // This promise will resolve when the mermaidAPI.render call is done.
     // It will be queued first and will be executed when it is first in line
diff --git a/packages/mermaid/src/mermaidAPI.spec.ts b/packages/mermaid/src/mermaidAPI.spec.ts
index 576d46f85b..ff7cc4bfd2 100644
--- a/packages/mermaid/src/mermaidAPI.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/mermaid/src/mermaidAPI.spec.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 'use strict';
-import { vi } from 'vitest';
+import { vi, it, expect, describe, beforeEach } from 'vitest';
 
 // -------------------------------------
 //  Mocks and mocking
@@ -685,14 +685,21 @@ describe('mermaidAPI', () => {
       ).resolves.toBe(false);
     });
     it('resolves for valid definition', async () => {
-      await expect(
-        mermaidAPI.parse('graph TD;A--x|text including URL space|B;')
-      ).resolves.toBeTruthy();
+      await expect(mermaidAPI.parse('graph TD;A--x|text including URL space|B;')).resolves
+        .toMatchInlineSnapshot(`
+        {
+          "diagramType": "flowchart-v2",
+        }
+      `);
     });
     it('returns true for valid definition with silent option', async () => {
       await expect(
         mermaidAPI.parse('graph TD;A--x|text including URL space|B;', { suppressErrors: true })
-      ).resolves.toBe(true);
+      ).resolves.toMatchInlineSnapshot(`
+        {
+          "diagramType": "flowchart-v2",
+        }
+      `);
     });
   });
 
@@ -734,7 +741,8 @@ describe('mermaidAPI', () => {
           it('should set aria-roledscription to the diagram type AND should call addSVGa11yTitleDescription', async () => {
             const a11yDiagramInfo_spy = vi.spyOn(accessibility, 'setA11yDiagramInfo');
             const a11yTitleDesc_spy = vi.spyOn(accessibility, 'addSVGa11yTitleDescription');
-            await mermaidAPI.render(id, diagramText);
+            const result = await mermaidAPI.render(id, diagramText);
+            expect(result.diagramType).toBe(expectedDiagramType);
             expect(a11yDiagramInfo_spy).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
               expect.anything(),
               expectedDiagramType
diff --git a/packages/mermaid/src/mermaidAPI.ts b/packages/mermaid/src/mermaidAPI.ts
index 65310d4fae..166bc25ad8 100644
--- a/packages/mermaid/src/mermaidAPI.ts
+++ b/packages/mermaid/src/mermaidAPI.ts
@@ -57,9 +57,19 @@ const DOMPURIFY_TAGS = ['foreignobject'];
 const DOMPURIFY_ATTR = ['dominant-baseline'];
 
 export interface ParseOptions {
+  /**
+   * If `true`, parse will return `false` instead of throwing error when the diagram is invalid.
+   * The `parseError` function will not be called.
+   */
   suppressErrors?: boolean;
 }
 
+export interface ParseResult {
+  /**
+   * The diagram type, e.g. 'flowchart', 'sequence', etc.
+   */
+  diagramType: string;
+}
 // This makes it clear that we're working with a d3 selected element of some kind, even though it's hard to specify the exact type.
 export type D3Element = any;
 
@@ -68,6 +78,10 @@ export interface RenderResult {
    * The svg code for the rendered graph.
    */
   svg: string;
+  /**
+   * The diagram type, e.g. 'flowchart', 'sequence', etc.
+   */
+  diagramType: string;
   /**
    * Bind function to be called after the svg has been inserted into the DOM.
    * This is necessary for adding event listeners to the elements in the svg.
@@ -90,29 +104,29 @@ function processAndSetConfigs(text: string) {
 /**
  * Parse the text and validate the syntax.
  * @param text - The mermaid diagram definition.
- * @param parseOptions - Options for parsing.
- * @returns true if the diagram is valid, false otherwise if parseOptions.suppressErrors is true.
- * @throws Error if the diagram is invalid and parseOptions.suppressErrors is false.
+ * @param parseOptions - Options for parsing. @see {@link ParseOptions}
+ * @returns An object with the `diagramType` set to type of the diagram if valid. Otherwise `false` if parseOptions.suppressErrors is `true`.
+ * @throws Error if the diagram is invalid and parseOptions.suppressErrors is false or not set.
  */
-
-async function parse(text: string, parseOptions?: ParseOptions): Promise<boolean> {
+async function parse(
+  text: string,
+  parseOptions: ParseOptions & { suppressErrors: true }
+): Promise<ParseResult | false>;
+async function parse(text: string, parseOptions?: ParseOptions): Promise<ParseResult>;
+async function parse(text: string, parseOptions?: ParseOptions): Promise<ParseResult | false> {
   addDiagrams();
-
-  text = processAndSetConfigs(text).code;
-
   try {
-    await getDiagramFromText(text);
+    const { code } = processAndSetConfigs(text);
+    const diagram = await getDiagramFromText(code);
+    return { diagramType: diagram.type };
   } catch (error) {
     if (parseOptions?.suppressErrors) {
       return false;
     }
     throw error;
   }
-  return true;
 }
 
-// append !important; to each cssClass followed by a final !important, all enclosed in { }
-//
 /**
  * Create a CSS style that starts with the given class name, then the element,
  * with an enclosing block that has each of the cssClasses followed by !important;
@@ -483,6 +497,7 @@ const render = async function (
   }
 
   return {
+    diagramType,
     svg: svgCode,
     bindFunctions: diag.db.bindFunctions,
   };