diff --git a/Classes/DataProcessing/DatabaseQueryProcessor.php b/Classes/DataProcessing/DatabaseQueryProcessor.php
index 6ef97268..7bc1cd64 100644
--- a/Classes/DataProcessing/DatabaseQueryProcessor.php
+++ b/Classes/DataProcessing/DatabaseQueryProcessor.php
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@
  *      bodytext = TEXT
  *      bodytext {
  *          field = bodytext
- *          parseFunc =< lib.parseFunc_links
+ *          parseFunc =< lib.parseFunc_RTE
  *      }
  *      link = TEXT
  *      link {
diff --git a/Configuration/TypoScript/2.x/ContentElement/Text.typoscript b/Configuration/TypoScript/2.x/ContentElement/Text.typoscript
index 1f64fb10..2e2dd796 100755
--- a/Configuration/TypoScript/2.x/ContentElement/Text.typoscript
+++ b/Configuration/TypoScript/2.x/ContentElement/Text.typoscript
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ tt_content.text {
                 bodytext = TEXT
                 bodytext {
                     field = bodytext
-                    parseFunc =< lib.parseFunc_links
+                    parseFunc =< lib.parseFunc_RTE
                 }
             }
         }
diff --git a/Configuration/TypoScript/2.x/ContentElement/Textmedia.typoscript b/Configuration/TypoScript/2.x/ContentElement/Textmedia.typoscript
index 869154d4..e8ffc070 100755
--- a/Configuration/TypoScript/2.x/ContentElement/Textmedia.typoscript
+++ b/Configuration/TypoScript/2.x/ContentElement/Textmedia.typoscript
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ tt_content.textmedia {
                 bodytext = TEXT
                 bodytext {
                     field = bodytext
-                    parseFunc =< lib.parseFunc_links
+                    parseFunc =< lib.parseFunc_RTE
                 }
                 gallery = TEXT
                 gallery {
diff --git a/Configuration/TypoScript/2.x/ContentElement/Textpic.typoscript b/Configuration/TypoScript/2.x/ContentElement/Textpic.typoscript
index afd759c6..2c4d47b4 100755
--- a/Configuration/TypoScript/2.x/ContentElement/Textpic.typoscript
+++ b/Configuration/TypoScript/2.x/ContentElement/Textpic.typoscript
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ tt_content.textpic {
                 bodytext = TEXT
                 bodytext {
                     field = bodytext
-                    parseFunc =< lib.parseFunc_links
+                    parseFunc =< lib.parseFunc_RTE
                 }
                 gallery = TEXT
                 gallery {
diff --git a/Configuration/TypoScript/2.x/Helper/ParseFunc.typoscript b/Configuration/TypoScript/2.x/Helper/ParseFunc.typoscript
index 903b0758..b586825f 100755
--- a/Configuration/TypoScript/2.x/Helper/ParseFunc.typoscript
+++ b/Configuration/TypoScript/2.x/Helper/ParseFunc.typoscript
@@ -6,22 +6,15 @@ lib {
         makelinks {
             http {
                 keep = {$styles.content.links.keep}
-                extTarget.data = parameters:target
+                extTarget = {$styles.content.links.extTarget}
             }
+
             mailto {
                 keep = path
             }
         }
+
         tags {
-            link = TEXT
-            link {
-                current = 1
-                typolink {
-                    parameter.data = parameters : allParams
-                    extTarget.data = parameters:target
-                }
-                parseFunc.constants = 1
-            }
             a = TEXT
             a {
                 current = 1
@@ -29,14 +22,24 @@ lib {
                     parameter.data = parameters:href
                     title.data = parameters:title
                     ATagParams.data = parameters:allParams
-                    target.data = parameters:target
-                    extTarget.data = parameters:target
+                    # the target attribute takes precedence over config.intTarget
+                    target.ifEmpty.data = parameters:target
+                    # the target attribute takes precedence over the constant (styles.content.links.extTarget)
+                    # which takes precedence over config.extTarget
+                    # do not pass extTarget as reference, as it might not be set resulting in the string being
+                    # written to the target attribute
+                    extTarget {
+                        ifEmpty < config.extTarget
+                        ifEmpty.override = {$styles.content.links.extTarget}
+                        override.data = parameters:target
+                    }
                 }
             }
         }
+
         allowTags = {$styles.content.allowTags}
         denyTags = *
-        sword = <span class="ce-sword">|</span>
+        # @deprecated since TYPO3 v12, remove with v13
         constants = 1
         nonTypoTagStdWrap {
             HTMLparser = 1
@@ -51,19 +54,22 @@ lib {
     parseFunc_RTE < lib.parseFunc
     parseFunc_RTE {
         # Processing <ol>, <ul> and <table> blocks separately
-        externalBlocks = article, aside, blockquote, div, dd, dl, footer, header, nav, ol, section, table, ul, pre
+        externalBlocks = article, aside, blockquote, div, dd, dl, footer, header, nav, ol, section, table, ul, pre, figure
         externalBlocks {
             ol {
                 stripNL = 1
-                stdWrap.parseFunc = < lib.parseFunc
+                stdWrap.parseFunc =< lib.parseFunc
             }
+
             ul {
                 stripNL = 1
-                stdWrap.parseFunc = < lib.parseFunc
+                stdWrap.parseFunc =< lib.parseFunc
             }
+
             pre {
                 stdWrap.parseFunc < lib.parseFunc
             }
+
             table {
                 stripNL = 1
                 stdWrap {
@@ -74,25 +80,34 @@ lib {
                             always = 1
                             list = contenttable
                         }
+
                         keepNonMatchedTags = 1
                     }
                 }
+
                 HTMLtableCells = 1
                 HTMLtableCells {
                     # Recursive call to self but without wrapping non-wrapped cell content
                     default.stdWrap {
-                        parseFunc = < lib.parseFunc_RTE
-                        parseFunc.nonTypoTagStdWrap.encapsLines.nonWrappedTag =
+                        parseFunc =< lib.parseFunc_RTE
+                        parseFunc.nonTypoTagStdWrap.encapsLines {
+                            nonWrappedTag =
+                            innerStdWrap_all.ifBlank =
+                        }
                     }
+
                     addChr10BetweenParagraphs = 1
                 }
             }
+
             div {
                 stripNL = 1
                 callRecursive = 1
             }
+
             article < .div
             aside < .div
+            figure < .div
             blockquote < .div
             footer < .div
             header < .div
@@ -101,20 +116,23 @@ lib {
             dl < .div
             dd < .div
         }
+
         nonTypoTagStdWrap {
+            HTMLparser = 1
+            HTMLparser {
+                keepNonMatchedTags = 1
+                htmlSpecialChars = 2
+            }
+
             encapsLines {
                 encapsTagList = p,pre,h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6,hr,dt
                 remapTag.DIV = P
                 nonWrappedTag = P
                 innerStdWrap_all.ifBlank = &nbsp;
             }
-            HTMLparser = 1
-            HTMLparser {
-                keepNonMatchedTags = 1
-                htmlSpecialChars = 2
-            }
         }
     }
+
     parseFunc_links {
         htmlSanitize = 1
         tags {
@@ -141,8 +159,3 @@ lib {
         }
     }
 }
-
-
-
-
-
diff --git a/Configuration/TypoScript/ContentElement/Shortcut.typoscript b/Configuration/TypoScript/ContentElement/Shortcut.typoscript
index c31ceeae..a2ce9577 100755
--- a/Configuration/TypoScript/ContentElement/Shortcut.typoscript
+++ b/Configuration/TypoScript/ContentElement/Shortcut.typoscript
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ tt_content.shortcut {
     fields {
         content {
             fields {
-                shortcut = COA
+                shortcut =< lib.renderChildren
                 shortcut {
                     10 = RECORDS
                     10 {
@@ -13,27 +13,6 @@ tt_content.shortcut {
                             {$styles.content.shortcut.tables}.stdWrap.wrap = |###BREAK###
                         }
                     }
-                    stdWrap {
-                        innerWrap = [|]
-                        split {
-                            token = ###BREAK###
-                            cObjNum = 1 |*|2|*| 3
-                            1 {
-                                current = 1
-                                stdWrap.wrap = |
-                            }
-
-                            2 {
-                                current = 1
-                                stdWrap.wrap = ,|
-                            }
-
-                            3 {
-                                current = 1
-                                stdWrap.wrap = |
-                            }
-                        }
-                    }
                 }
             }
         }
diff --git a/Configuration/TypoScript/ContentElement/Text.typoscript b/Configuration/TypoScript/ContentElement/Text.typoscript
index 1f64fb10..2e2dd796 100755
--- a/Configuration/TypoScript/ContentElement/Text.typoscript
+++ b/Configuration/TypoScript/ContentElement/Text.typoscript
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ tt_content.text {
                 bodytext = TEXT
                 bodytext {
                     field = bodytext
-                    parseFunc =< lib.parseFunc_links
+                    parseFunc =< lib.parseFunc_RTE
                 }
             }
         }
diff --git a/Configuration/TypoScript/ContentElement/Textmedia.typoscript b/Configuration/TypoScript/ContentElement/Textmedia.typoscript
index a187c251..98f04102 100755
--- a/Configuration/TypoScript/ContentElement/Textmedia.typoscript
+++ b/Configuration/TypoScript/ContentElement/Textmedia.typoscript
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ tt_content.textmedia {
                 bodytext = TEXT
                 bodytext {
                     field = bodytext
-                    parseFunc =< lib.parseFunc_links
+                    parseFunc =< lib.parseFunc_RTE
                 }
                 gallery = TEXT
                 gallery {
diff --git a/Configuration/TypoScript/ContentElement/Textpic.typoscript b/Configuration/TypoScript/ContentElement/Textpic.typoscript
index 2fac0d92..9a95208b 100755
--- a/Configuration/TypoScript/ContentElement/Textpic.typoscript
+++ b/Configuration/TypoScript/ContentElement/Textpic.typoscript
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ tt_content.textpic {
                 bodytext = TEXT
                 bodytext {
                     field = bodytext
-                    parseFunc =< lib.parseFunc_links
+                    parseFunc =< lib.parseFunc_RTE
                 }
                 gallery = TEXT
                 gallery {
diff --git a/Configuration/TypoScript/ContentElement/ParseFunc.typoscript b/Configuration/TypoScript/Helpers/ParseFunc.typoscript
similarity index 74%
rename from Configuration/TypoScript/ContentElement/ParseFunc.typoscript
rename to Configuration/TypoScript/Helpers/ParseFunc.typoscript
index 903b0758..b586825f 100755
--- a/Configuration/TypoScript/ContentElement/ParseFunc.typoscript
+++ b/Configuration/TypoScript/Helpers/ParseFunc.typoscript
@@ -6,22 +6,15 @@ lib {
         makelinks {
             http {
                 keep = {$styles.content.links.keep}
-                extTarget.data = parameters:target
+                extTarget = {$styles.content.links.extTarget}
             }
+
             mailto {
                 keep = path
             }
         }
+
         tags {
-            link = TEXT
-            link {
-                current = 1
-                typolink {
-                    parameter.data = parameters : allParams
-                    extTarget.data = parameters:target
-                }
-                parseFunc.constants = 1
-            }
             a = TEXT
             a {
                 current = 1
@@ -29,14 +22,24 @@ lib {
                     parameter.data = parameters:href
                     title.data = parameters:title
                     ATagParams.data = parameters:allParams
-                    target.data = parameters:target
-                    extTarget.data = parameters:target
+                    # the target attribute takes precedence over config.intTarget
+                    target.ifEmpty.data = parameters:target
+                    # the target attribute takes precedence over the constant (styles.content.links.extTarget)
+                    # which takes precedence over config.extTarget
+                    # do not pass extTarget as reference, as it might not be set resulting in the string being
+                    # written to the target attribute
+                    extTarget {
+                        ifEmpty < config.extTarget
+                        ifEmpty.override = {$styles.content.links.extTarget}
+                        override.data = parameters:target
+                    }
                 }
             }
         }
+
         allowTags = {$styles.content.allowTags}
         denyTags = *
-        sword = <span class="ce-sword">|</span>
+        # @deprecated since TYPO3 v12, remove with v13
         constants = 1
         nonTypoTagStdWrap {
             HTMLparser = 1
@@ -51,19 +54,22 @@ lib {
     parseFunc_RTE < lib.parseFunc
     parseFunc_RTE {
         # Processing <ol>, <ul> and <table> blocks separately
-        externalBlocks = article, aside, blockquote, div, dd, dl, footer, header, nav, ol, section, table, ul, pre
+        externalBlocks = article, aside, blockquote, div, dd, dl, footer, header, nav, ol, section, table, ul, pre, figure
         externalBlocks {
             ol {
                 stripNL = 1
-                stdWrap.parseFunc = < lib.parseFunc
+                stdWrap.parseFunc =< lib.parseFunc
             }
+
             ul {
                 stripNL = 1
-                stdWrap.parseFunc = < lib.parseFunc
+                stdWrap.parseFunc =< lib.parseFunc
             }
+
             pre {
                 stdWrap.parseFunc < lib.parseFunc
             }
+
             table {
                 stripNL = 1
                 stdWrap {
@@ -74,25 +80,34 @@ lib {
                             always = 1
                             list = contenttable
                         }
+
                         keepNonMatchedTags = 1
                     }
                 }
+
                 HTMLtableCells = 1
                 HTMLtableCells {
                     # Recursive call to self but without wrapping non-wrapped cell content
                     default.stdWrap {
-                        parseFunc = < lib.parseFunc_RTE
-                        parseFunc.nonTypoTagStdWrap.encapsLines.nonWrappedTag =
+                        parseFunc =< lib.parseFunc_RTE
+                        parseFunc.nonTypoTagStdWrap.encapsLines {
+                            nonWrappedTag =
+                            innerStdWrap_all.ifBlank =
+                        }
                     }
+
                     addChr10BetweenParagraphs = 1
                 }
             }
+
             div {
                 stripNL = 1
                 callRecursive = 1
             }
+
             article < .div
             aside < .div
+            figure < .div
             blockquote < .div
             footer < .div
             header < .div
@@ -101,20 +116,23 @@ lib {
             dl < .div
             dd < .div
         }
+
         nonTypoTagStdWrap {
+            HTMLparser = 1
+            HTMLparser {
+                keepNonMatchedTags = 1
+                htmlSpecialChars = 2
+            }
+
             encapsLines {
                 encapsTagList = p,pre,h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6,hr,dt
                 remapTag.DIV = P
                 nonWrappedTag = P
                 innerStdWrap_all.ifBlank = &nbsp;
             }
-            HTMLparser = 1
-            HTMLparser {
-                keepNonMatchedTags = 1
-                htmlSpecialChars = 2
-            }
         }
     }
+
     parseFunc_links {
         htmlSanitize = 1
         tags {
@@ -141,8 +159,3 @@ lib {
         }
     }
 }
-
-
-
-
-
diff --git a/Configuration/TypoScript/Helpers/RenderChildren.typoscript b/Configuration/TypoScript/Helpers/RenderChildren.typoscript
new file mode 100755
index 00000000..2b7ed834
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Configuration/TypoScript/Helpers/RenderChildren.typoscript
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+/**
+* This lib renders children in headless.
+* To use this code copy code below and replace FIELDNAME and TABLENAME with correct values for relation
+*
+children =< lib.renderChildren
+children.10 {
+  source.field = FIELDNAME
+  tables = TABLENAME
+  conf.TABLENAME.stdWrap.wrap = |###BREAK###
+}
+*
+*/
+
+lib.renderChildren = COA
+lib.renderChildren {
+    10 = RECORDS
+    stdWrap {
+        innerWrap = [|]
+        split {
+            token = ###BREAK###
+            cObjNum = 1 |*|2|*| 3
+            1 {
+                current = 1
+                stdWrap {
+                    wrap = |
+                }
+            }
+
+            2 {
+                current = 1
+                stdWrap {
+                    wrap = ,|
+                }
+            }
+
+            3 {
+                current = 1
+                stdWrap {
+                    wrap = |
+                }
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/Configuration/TypoScript/setup.typoscript b/Configuration/TypoScript/setup.typoscript
index cf1e20f0..91c76729 100644
--- a/Configuration/TypoScript/setup.typoscript
+++ b/Configuration/TypoScript/setup.typoscript
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@ plugin.tx_headless {
 
 ## Include page
 @import "EXT:headless/Configuration/TypoScript/Page/*.typoscript"
+## Include helpers
+@import "EXT:headless/Configuration/TypoScript/Helpers/*.typoscript"
 ## Include content elements
 @import "EXT:headless/Configuration/TypoScript/ContentElement/*.typoscript"
 ## Include configuration
diff --git a/Documentation/Developer/Index.rst b/Documentation/Developer/Index.rst
index 3efe9a44..1313e439 100644
--- a/Documentation/Developer/Index.rst
+++ b/Documentation/Developer/Index.rst
@@ -192,7 +192,7 @@ object with a header definition `lib.contentElementWithHeader`:
           bodytext = TEXT
           bodytext {
             field = bodytext
-            parseFunc =< lib.parseFunc_links
+            parseFunc =< lib.parseFunc_RTE
           }
           demoSubfields {
             fields {