How to Build a Rich Text Editor with React Draft Wysiwyg

In the realm of web development, creating a powerful rich text editor that seamlessly integrates with your React applications can significantly enhance the user experience. This is where React Draft Wysiwyg comes into play, offering a comprehensive solution for developers looking to incorporate rich text editors into their projects.

This article aims to walk you through the process of setting up a rich text editor component using the React Draft Wysiwyg library, highlighting its benefits such as the ability to add custom controls, inline styles, and much more.

What is React Draft Wysiwyg?

React Draft Wysiwyg stands out for its customizable built-in features, configurable toolbar, and well-written documentation, making it a go-to choice for developers. Whether you're aiming to allow users to input formatted text segments, embed links, or change styles on the fly, React Draft Wysiwyg provides a powerful solution that caters to these needs.

Setting Up the Rich Text Editor

How do you install React Draft Wysiwyg?

To kick things off, you'll need to add the React Draft Wysiwyg library to your React project. This can be easily done using the command line. Open your terminal and navigate to your project directory. Then, execute the following command to install the library using npm or yarn:

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npm install react-draft-wysiwyg draft-js

or

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yarn add react-draft-wysiwyg draft-js

This command fetches the React Draft Wysiwyg library along with Draft JS, which is a dependency required for the editor to function properly.

How do you import the editor component and styles?

Once the installation is complete, the next step involves importing the editor component and its associated styles into your React component. Open the relevant JS file in your project and add the following imports at the top:

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import React from 'react';
import { Editor } from 'react-draft-wysiwyg';
import 'react-draft-wysiwyg/dist/react-draft-wysiwyg.css';

These lines import the Editor component from the React Draft Wysiwyg library and its CSS for styling. With these imports, you're now ready to add the editor to your React component.

Creating a New React Component

Creating a new React component to house the rich text editor is straightforward. Here's how you can do it:

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function App() {
  return (
    <div>
      <Editor
        toolbarClassName="toolbarClassName"
        wrapperClassName="wrapperClassName"
        editorClassName="editorClassName"
      />
    </div>
  );
}

export default App;

In this example, the Editor component is rendered within a div. The toolbarClassName, wrapperClassName, and editorClassName props are used to apply custom CSS classes for added styling. This setup provides a basic rich text editor within your React application.

Configuring the Editor

Configuring the editor to meet your specific needs involves utilizing the self-explanatory component props provided by React Draft Wysiwyg. For instance, if you wish to enable the uploading of images, you can use the toolbar prop like so:

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<Editor
  toolbar={{
    image: { uploadCallback: uploadImageCallBack, alt: { present: true, mandatory: false } },
  }}
/>

This configuration allows users to upload images within the editor, enhancing the richness of the content they can create. React Draft Wysiwyg's flexible and declarative API makes it simple to customize the editor's behavior to fit your application's requirements.

Understanding the Editor State

What are the different types of editor states?

In React Draft Wysiwyg, understanding the concept of editor state is crucial for managing the rich text editor's content effectively. There are primarily two types of editor states to consider: controlled and uncontrolled editors.

A controlled editor directly manages the editor state through React's state management, allowing for more granular control over the editor's content and behavior. On the other hand, an uncontrolled editor manages its state internally, requiring less code for basic scenarios but offering less control.

To manage the editor's state, React Draft Wysiwyg utilizes the EditorState object from Draft JS. This object encapsulates the current state of the editor, including the text content, selection, and history.

How do you use the EditorState object?

Using the EditorState object to manage your editor’s state involves initializing it within your component's state and updating it based on user interactions. Here's an example of how to initialize and use the EditorState in a controlled editor:

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import React, { useState } from 'react';
import { Editor } from 'react-draft-wysiwyg';
import { EditorState } from 'draft-js';
import 'react-draft-wysiwyg/dist/react-draft-wysiwyg.css';

function App() {
  const [editorState, setEditorState] = useState(EditorState.createEmpty());

  const onEditorStateChange = (newState) => {
    setEditorState(newState);
  };

  return (
    <Editor
      editorState={editorState}
      onEditorStateChange={onEditorStateChange}
    />
  );
}

export default App;

In this code snippet, the EditorState.createEmpty() method is used to initialize the editor with an empty state. The onEditorStateChange function updates the component's state whenever the editor's state changes, ensuring that the editor's content is managed reactively.

How do you convert editor content to HTML and vice versa?

Converting editor content to HTML (and vice versa) is a common requirement for storing or displaying the content outside the editor. React Draft Wysiwyg facilitates this conversion process through utility functions. To convert the editor state to HTML, you can use a library like draft-js-export-html:

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import { stateToHTML } from 'draft-js-export-html';

const htmlContent = stateToHTML(editorState.getCurrentContent());

Similarly, to convert HTML back to an editor state, you can use draft-js-import-html:

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import { stateFromHTML } from 'draft-js-import-html';

const contentState = stateFromHTML(htmlGenerated);
const newEditorState = EditorState.createWithContent(contentState);

These conversions are essential for data persistence, enabling you to store the editor content in a database as HTML and then render it back into the editor as needed.

Customizing the Editor

How do you add custom controls to the editor?

Adding custom controls to the rich text editor enhances its functionality and user experience. React Draft Wysiwyg provides a configurable toolbar prop that allows you to define custom controls easily. For example, to add custom text styling buttons for font size and font family, you can configure the toolbar like this:

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<Editor
  toolbar={{
    inline: { inDropdown: true },
    list: { inDropdown: true },
    textAlign: { inDropdown: true },
    link: { inDropdown: true },
    history: { inDropdown: true },
    fontFamily: {
      options: ['Arial', 'Georgia', 'Impact', 'Tahoma', 'Times New Roman', 'Verdana'],
    },
    fontSize: {
      options: [8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 16, 18, 24, 30, 36, 48, 60, 72, 96],
    },
  }}
/>

This configuration adds dropdowns for text alignment, font family, and font size, offering users a range of options to customize their content.

How do you customize the editor’s appearance and behavior?

Customizing the editor's appearance and behavior involves using CSS and the editor's props. For instance, to change the editor's background color and configure its behavior to include uploading images and embedding links, you can use the following props and CSS:

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<Editor
  editorClassName="editor-class"
  toolbar={{
    image: { uploadCallback: uploadImageCallback, previewImage: true },
    link: { inDropdown: true },
  }}
/>

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.editor-class {
  background-color: #f4f4f4;
}

By defining the editorClassName prop and corresponding CSS, you can easily modify the editor's look to match your application's design. Additionally, configuring the toolbar to include image uploading and link embedding functionalities enhances the editor's capabilities, making it a more versatile tool for content creation.

React Draft Wysiwyg's flexibility and extensive range of customizable built-in features make it an ideal choice for developers seeking to implement rich text editors in their web applications. Whether you're looking to add simple text formatting options or more complex functionalities like uploading images and embedding links, React Draft Wysiwyg provides the tools you need to create a rich text editor tailored to your specific requirements.

Advanced Features and Integration

How do you integrate React Draft Wysiwyg with other libraries and frameworks?

Integrating React Draft Wysiwyg with other libraries and frameworks can extend its functionality and adapt it to more complex development environments. For instance, if you're working within a React project that utilizes React Strict Mode, you might wonder about compatibility.

Fortunately, React Draft Wysiwyg is designed to work seamlessly with React's ecosystem, including React Strict Mode. Integration typically involves ensuring that the editor component's state management aligns with the overarching framework's state management strategy, whether you're using Context, Redux, or another state management library.

For more advanced integrations, such as incorporating Draft JS community libraries for additional features like mentions or hashtags, you can directly pass these extensions through the editorState prop, leveraging the Draft JS API alongside React Draft Wysiwyg's components. This approach allows for a highly customizable editor experience, tailored to the specific needs of your application.

How do you use React Draft Wysiwyg with Draft JS community libraries?

Integrating Draft JS community libraries involves importing the desired extensions and configuring them within your editor setup. For example, to add mention support to your editor, you can use the draft-js-mention-plugin:

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import React, { useState } from 'react';
import { EditorState } from 'draft-js';
import { Editor } from 'react-draft-wysiwyg';
import createMentionPlugin from 'draft-js-mention-plugin';

const mentionPlugin = createMentionPlugin();
const plugins = [mentionPlugin];

function App() {
  const [editorState, setEditorState] = useState(EditorState.createEmpty());

  return (
    <Editor
      editorState={editorState}
      onEditorStateChange={setEditorState}
      plugins={plugins}
    />
  );
}

This setup demonstrates how to incorporate a mention plugin, enhancing the editor with a mention feature that can be customized further based on your requirements. The key is to initialize the plugin and pass it to the Editor component via the plugins prop.

How do you publish HTML content from the editor and use it in your application?

Publishing HTML content from the editor and using it within your application involves converting the editor's content to HTML format, as previously discussed. Once converted, the HTML can be stored in a database, displayed in a web page, or used in any other context that accepts HTML content. Here's a simple example of how you might display the HTML content in a React component:

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import React, { useState } from 'react';
import { EditorState, convertToRaw } from 'draft-js';
import { Editor } from 'react-draft-wysiwyg';
import draftToHtml from 'draftjs-to-html';

function App() {
  const [editorState, setEditorState] = useState(EditorState.createEmpty());

  const publishContent = () => {
    const rawContentState = convertToRaw(editorState.getCurrentContent());
    const htmlContent = draftToHtml(rawContentState);
    // Here you can store the htmlContent in a database or display it directly
    console.log(htmlContent);
  };

  return (
    <div>
      <Editor
        editorState={editorState}
        onEditorStateChange={setEditorState}
      />
      <button onClick={publishContent}>Publish</button>
    </div>
  );
}

In this example, the publishContent function converts the editor state to raw format using convertToRaw from Draft JS, then to HTML using draftToHtml. The resulting HTML is logged to the console, but in a real application, you might send this HTML to a server or display it directly in your UI.

Troubleshooting and Best Practices

How do you troubleshoot common issues with React Draft Wysiwyg?

Troubleshooting common issues with React Draft Wysiwyg often involves checking for common pitfalls such as incorrect imports, misconfigured editor states, or CSS conflicts. If you encounter a warning message or unexpected behavior, ensure that you've correctly installed and imported the react-draft-wysiwyg and draft-js packages. Additionally, reviewing the official documentation and community forums can provide insights into resolving specific issues.

For issues related to styling or custom controls, verifying your CSS and reviewing how you've configured the editor's props can help identify the cause. Remember, React Draft Wysiwyg's editor component is highly customizable, so minor misconfigurations can sometimes lead to significant differences in behavior.

What are the best practices for using React Draft Wysiwyg?

When using React Draft Wysiwyg, the following best practices can enhance your editor's performance and user experience:

• Optimize Performance: Only load the features and plugins you need. Overloading the editor with unnecessary functionality can impact its performance.

• Responsive Design: Ensure your editor's CSS is responsive, providing a seamless experience across devices.

• Accessibility: Utilize the WAI-ARIA support attributes provided by React Draft Wysiwyg to make your editor accessible to all users.

• Data Validation: When publishing HTML content from the editor, validate and sanitize the HTML on the server side to prevent XSS attacks.

• State Management: In complex applications, consider managing the editor's state using a global state management library like Redux to keep your application's state synchronized.

By adhering to these best practices, you can leverage React Draft Wysiwyg to its fullest potential, creating rich text editors that are both powerful and user-friendly.

Conclusion

Throughout this guide, we've explored how to create a powerful rich text editor using React Draft Wysiwyg. From setting up the editor and understanding its state management to customizing its appearance and integrating advanced features, we've covered the essential steps to incorporate this versatile library into your React applications.

As you move forward, consider exploring more advanced customization and integration options to further tailor the editor to your needs. Stay up-to-date with the latest developments and updates to React Draft Wysiwyg by following the project's GitHub repository and participating in the community.

Whether you're building a blogging platform, a content management system, or any other application requiring rich text input, React Draft Wysiwyg offers a robust solution that can elevate your project.