Markov partitions provide a 'good' mechanism of symbolic dynamics for uniformly hyperbolic systems, forming the classical foundation for the thermodynamic formalism in this setting, and remaining useful in the modern theory. Usually, however, one takes Bowen's 1970's general construction for granted, or restricts to cases with simpler geometry (as on surfaces) or more algebraic structure. This thesis examines several questions on the algorithmic content of (topological) Markov partitions, starting with the pointwise, entropy-like, topological conjugacy invariant known as orbit complexity. The relation between orbit complexity de nitions of Brudno and Galatolo is examined in general compact spaces, and used in Theorem 2.0.9 to bound the decrease in some of these quantities under semiconjugacy. A corollary, and a pointwise analogue of facts about metric entropy, is that any Markov partition produces symbolic dynamics matching the original orbit complexity at each point. A Lebesgue-typical value for orbit complexity near a hyperbolic attractor is also established (with some use of Brin-Katok local entropy), and is technically distinct from typicality statements discussed by Galatolo, Bonanno and their co-authors. Both our results are proved adapting classical arguments of Bowen for entropy. Chapters 3 and onwards consider the axiomatisation and computable construction of Markov partitions. We propose a framework of 'abstract local product structures'