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Extending Froala with an APA Website Citation Tool

APA Website Citation Tool

Imagine typing a paragraph, the cursor blinking as you search for the perfect source. You pull up a webpage, draft your sentence, and then hit a wall: you need an APA citation, fast. You don’t want to leave your writing window or disrupt your flow. What if you could summon a perfect APA citation with a single click, right inside your editor?

In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to extend Froala with a lightweight, reusable citation feature. Build a custom toolbar button that opens a popup, collect author/date/title/URL details, and insert a polished APA website citation exactly where you’re writing.

Along the way, you’ll quickly grasp what citations are, why APA matters, and how Froala’s flexibility makes this tool fit real writing workflows.

By the end, you’ll see that Froala isn’t just a text editor—it’s a powerful tool you can shape to fit specialized workflows, whether you’re supporting academic writing, content publishing, or collaborative editing. Get ready to add a professional-grade citation tool to Froala and give your users a smoother, smarter writing experience.

Takeaways

  • You can extend Froala with a lightweight, reusable citation tool that inserts APA website citations directly at the cursor.
  • The approach emphasizes a clean, lazy-loaded popup to minimize performance impact.
  • You can adapt the UI and formatter to support additional citation styles and branding requirements.

Understanding Citations

A citation gives credit to the source of information you use in your work. It helps readers verify facts, find more information, and ensures you avoid plagiarism. Citations apply whether you quote someone directly or paraphrase their ideas.

By contrast, a quotation is when you copy the exact words from a source. Quotations must always be followed by a citation. In short: quotations are the borrowed words, citations are the credit.

Citations appear in academic papers, blogs, reports, and any content where proper credit matters.

What is APA Citation Style?

APA Citation Style

The American Psychological Association (APA) style is one of the most widely used citation formats, especially in the social sciences.

A typical APA website citation includes:

  1. Author (person or organization)
  2. Date (year, month, and day if available)
  3. Title of the webpage (italicized)
  4. Website name (if different from the author)
  5. URL

Examples:

  • Individual author: Smith, J. (2023, May 10). How to write a research paper. Writing Guide. https://www.writingguide.org/research-paper
  • Organization author: World Health Organization. (2022, March 14). COVID-19 advice for the public. https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public

This structure ensures consistency and clarity for readers.

Why Extend Froala Editor with a Citation Feature?

Froala is more than a text editor—it’s a tool that developers can adapt to almost any content workflow. Writers, students, and professionals often need to insert citations, yet most editors don’t include citation tools by default.

Adding a custom citation button saves time, reduces formatting errors, and improves user experience. It also demonstrates how easily Froala can be tailored for specialized tasks. For example, to work as knowledge publishing or academic writing tool.

Step-by-Step Guide For Adding A Citation Feature

We will create a custom plugin named “Citation“. This plugin will register a new toolbar button to open the citation popup. The popup collects the citation details. You’ll need form fields for author, date, title, website name, and URL.

On submit, format the input as an APA website citation and insert it at the current cursor position.

Creating the Custom Citation Plugin

Define the popup template and the show/hide popup methods.

// Define popup template.
Object.assign(FroalaEditor.POPUP_TEMPLATES, {
  "citationPlugin.popup": "[_BUTTONS_][_CUSTOM_LAYER_][_CBUTTONS_]",
});

// Define popup buttons.
Object.assign(FroalaEditor.DEFAULTS, {
  citationPopupTopButtons: ["popupClose", "|"],
  citationPopupBottomButtons: ["citationSubmit", "|"],
});

// The custom popup is defined inside a plugin (new or existing).
FroalaEditor.PLUGINS.citationPlugin = function (editor) {
  // Create custom popup.
  function initPopup() {
    // Load popup template.
    var template = FroalaEditor.POPUP_TEMPLATES["citationPlugin.popup"];
    if (typeof template == "function") template = template.apply(editor);

    // Popup buttons.
    var citation_popup_top_buttons = "";

    // Create the list of buttons.
    if (editor.opts.citationPopupTopButtons.length > 1) {
      citation_popup_top_buttons += '<div class="fr-buttons">';
      citation_popup_top_buttons += editor.button.buildList(
        editor.opts.citationPopupTopButtons,
      );
      citation_popup_top_buttons += "</div>";
    }

    var citation_popup_bottom_buttons = "";

    // Create the list of buttons.
    if (editor.opts.citationPopupBottomButtons.length > 1) {
      citation_popup_bottom_buttons += '<div class="fr-buttons">';
      citation_popup_bottom_buttons += editor.button.buildList(
        editor.opts.citationPopupBottomButtons,
      );
      citation_popup_bottom_buttons += "</div>";
    }

    var citationPopupTemplate = `
    <div class="fr-citation-popup">
      <div class="fr-citation-input"> <label>Author:</label><input type="text" id="citation-author"></div>
      <div class="fr-citation-input"> <label>Date:</label><input type="text" id="citation-date"></div>
      <div class="fr-citation-input"> <label>Title:</label><input type="text" id="citation-title"></div>
      <div class="fr-citation-input"> <label>Website:</label><input type="text" id="citation-website"></div>
      <div class="fr-citation-input"> <label>URL:</label><input type="text" id="citation-url"></div>
    </div>`;
    // Load popup template.
    var template = {
      buttons: citation_popup_top_buttons,
      custom_layer: citationPopupTemplate,
      cbuttons: citation_popup_bottom_buttons,
    };

    // Create popup.
    var $popup = editor.popups.create("citationPlugin.popup", template);

    return $popup;
  }

  // Show the popup
  function showPopup() {
    // Get the popup object defined above.
    var $popup = editor.popups.get("citationPlugin.popup");

    // If popup doesn't exist then create it.
    // To improve performance it is best to create the popup when it is first needed
    // and not when the editor is initialized.
    if (!$popup) $popup = initPopup();

    // Set the editor toolbar as the popup's container.
    editor.popups.setContainer("citationPlugin.popup", editor.$tb);

    // If the editor is not displayed when a toolbar button is pressed, then set BODY as the popup's container.
    // editor.popups.setContainer('citationPlugin.popup', $('body'));

    // Trigger refresh for the popup.
    // editor.popups.refresh('citationPlugin.popup');

    // This custom popup is opened by pressing a button from the editor's toolbar.
    // Get the button's object in order to place the popup relative to it.
    var $btn = editor.$tb.find('.fr-command[data-cmd="citation"]');

    // Compute the popup's position.
    var left = $btn.offset().left + $btn.outerWidth() / 2;
    var top =
      $btn.offset().top +
      (editor.opts.toolbarBottom ? 10 : $btn.outerHeight() - 10);

    // Show the custom popup.
    // The button's outerHeight is required in case the popup needs to be displayed above it.
    editor.popups.show("citationPlugin.popup", left, top, $btn.outerHeight());
  }

  // Hide the custom popup.
  function hidePopup() {
    editor.popups.hide("citationPlugin.popup");
  }

  // Methods visible outside the plugin.
  return {
    showPopup: showPopup,
    hidePopup: hidePopup,
  };
};

This popup provides a simple input form for the citation.

Note: The code structure is designed to keep the popup creation lazy (only when needed) for performance.

Add a custom button to open the popup

Register a new command named “citation” and connect it to the plugin. The button lives on the Froala toolbar and triggers the popup when pressed. If the popup is already visible, it hides it.

// Add custom citation button
FroalaEditor.DefineIcon("citation", {
  template: "svgMultiplePath",
  PATHS: `<g id="SVGRepo_bgCarrier" stroke-width="0"></g><g id="SVGRepo_tracerCarrier" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round"></g><g id="SVGRepo_iconCarrier"> <g id="network"></g> <g id="connection"></g> <g id="page"></g> <g id="support"></g> <g id="configuration"></g> <g id="cloud_storage"></g> <g id="password"></g> <g id="search_engine"></g> <g id="history"></g> <g id="SEO"></g> <g id="optimization"></g> <g id="backlink"></g> <g id="performance"></g> <g id="analytics"></g> <g id="security"></g> <g id="dark_web"></g> <g id="video_player"></g> <g id="upload_download"></g> <g id="incognito_tab"></g> <g id="bookmark"> <g> <path d="M88.1,55l7.9-19.6c0.1-0.3,0.1-0.7-0.1-0.9C95.6,34.2,95.3,34,95,34h-7V17c0-2.8-2.2-5-5-5H17c-2.8,0-5,2.2-5,5v17H5 c-0.3,0-0.6,0.2-0.8,0.4c-0.2,0.3-0.2,0.6-0.1,0.9L11.9,55L4.1,74.6c-0.1,0.3-0.1,0.7,0.1,0.9C4.4,75.8,4.7,76,5,76h7v7 c0,2.8,2.2,5,5,5h66c2.8,0,5-2.2,5-5v-7h7c0.3,0,0.6-0.2,0.8-0.4c0.2-0.3,0.2-0.6,0.1-0.9L88.1,55z M17,14h66c1.7,0,3,1.3,3,3v5 H14v-5C14,15.3,15.3,14,17,14z M14,24h72v10H14V24z M86,83c0,1.7-1.3,3-3,3H17c-1.7,0-3-1.3-3-3v-7h72V83z M6.5,74l7.5-18.6 c0.1-0.2,0.1-0.5,0-0.7L6.5,36h87l-7.5,18.6c-0.1,0.2-0.1,0.5,0,0.7L93.5,74H6.5z"></path> <circle cx="80" cy="18" r="2"></circle> <circle cx="74" cy="18" r="2"></circle> <circle cx="68" cy="18" r="2"></circle> <path d="M65.5,50H54.4L51,39.4c-0.1-0.4-0.5-0.7-1-0.7s-0.8,0.3-1,0.7L45.6,50H34.5c-0.4,0-0.8,0.3-1,0.7c-0.1,0.4,0,0.9,0.4,1.1 l9,6.5l-3.4,10.6c-0.1,0.4,0,0.9,0.4,1.1c0.4,0.3,0.8,0.3,1.2,0l9-6.5l9,6.5c0.2,0.1,0.4,0.2,0.6,0.2s0.4-0.1,0.6-0.2 c0.4-0.3,0.5-0.7,0.4-1.1l-3.4-10.6l9-6.5c0.4-0.3,0.5-0.7,0.4-1.1C66.3,50.3,65.9,50,65.5,50z M55.3,57.1 c-0.4,0.3-0.5,0.7-0.4,1.1l2.7,8.3l-7.1-5.1c-0.2-0.1-0.4-0.2-0.6-0.2s-0.4,0.1-0.6,0.2l-7.1,5.1l2.7-8.3c0.1-0.4,0-0.9-0.4-1.1 L37.6,52h8.8c0.4,0,0.8-0.3,1-0.7L50,43l2.7,8.3c0.1,0.4,0.5,0.7,1,0.7h8.8L55.3,57.1z">
</path> </g> </g> </g>`,
  VIEWBOX: "0 0 100 100",
});

FroalaEditor.RegisterCommand("citation", {
  title: "Insert Citation",
  undo: false,
  focus: false,
  popup: true,
  // Buttons which are included in the editor toolbar should have the plugin property set.
  plugin: "citationPlugin",
  callback: function () {
    if (!this.popups.isVisible("citationPlugin.popup")) {
      this.citationPlugin.showPopup();
    } else {
      if (this.$el.find(".fr-marker")) {
        this.events.disableBlur();
        this.selection.restore();
      }
      this.popups.hide("citationPlugin.popup");
    }
  },
});

Here, we define a new icon and tell Froala what to do when the user clicks it.

Add a close button for the popup

Define a close icon (popupClose) and wire it to hide the popup.

This button allows users to close the popup without inserting a citation.

// Define custom popup close button icon and command.
FroalaEditor.DefineIcon("popupClose", { SVG_KEY: "back" });
FroalaEditor.RegisterCommand("popupClose", {
  title: "Close",
  undo: false,
  focus: false,
  callback: function () {
    this.citationPlugin.hidePopup();
  },
});

Handle form submission (APA formatting)

Add a new button (citationSubmit). When clicked, it triggers the following actions:

  • Read the form fields.
  • Build the APA website citation string.
  • Insert the citation into the editor at the cursor position.
  • Close the popup afterward.
// Define custom popup close button icon and command.
FroalaEditor.DefineIcon("citationSubmit", {
  template: "svgMultiplePath",
  PATHS: `<g id="SVGRepo_bgCarrier" stroke-width="0"></g><g id="SVGRepo_tracerCarrier" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round"></g><g id="SVGRepo_iconCarrier"><path d="M905.92 237.76a32 32 0 0 0-52.48 36.48A416 416 0 1 1 96 512a418.56 418.56 0 0 1 297.28-398.72 32 32 0 1 0-18.24-61.44A480 480 0 1 0 992 512a477.12 477.12 0 0 0-86.08-274.24z" fill="#231815"></path><path d="M630.72 113.28A413.76 413.76 0 0 1 768 185.28a32 32 0 0 0 39.68-50.24 476.8 476.8 0 0 0-160-83.2 32 32 0 0 0-18.24 61.44zM489.28 86.72a36.8 36.8 0 0 0 10.56 6.72 30.08 30.08 0 0 0 24.32 0 37.12 37.12 0 0 0 10.56-6.72A32 32 0 0 0 544 64a33.6 33.6 0 0 0-9.28-22.72A32 32 0 0 0 505.6 32a20.8 20.8 0 0 0-5.76 1.92 23.68 23.68 0 0 0-5.76 2.88l-4.8 3.84a32 32 0 0 0-6.72 10.56A32 32 0 0 0 480 64a32 32 0 0 0 2.56 12.16 37.12 37.12 0 0 0 6.72 10.56zM230.08 467.84a36.48 36.48 0 0 0 0 51.84L413.12 704a36.48 36.48 0 0 0 51.84 0l328.96-330.56A36.48 36.48 0 0 0 742.08 320l-303.36 303.36-156.8-155.52a36.8 36.8 0 0 0-51.84 0z" fill="#231815"></path></g>`,
  VIEWBOX: "0 0 1024 1024",
});

FroalaEditor.RegisterCommand("citationSubmit", {
  title: "Close",
  undo: false,
  focus: false,
  callback: function () {
    //Read values from inputs: citation-author, citation-date, citation-title, citation-website, citation-url
    var author = document.getElementById('citation-author').value;
    var date = document.getElementById('citation-date').value;
    var title = document.getElementById('citation-title').value;
    var website = document.getElementById('citation-website').value;
    var url = document.getElementById('citation-url').value;
    
    //Build APA string
    var citation = `<p>${author}. (${date}). <cite>${title}</cite>. ${website}. ${url}</p>`;

    // Insert into Froala editor
    this.html.insert(citation);
    // close the popup 
    this.citationPlugin.hidePopup();
  },
});

Optional: style the inserted citation

You can also wrap citations in a consistent container for styling —for example, wrapping it in a <p class="citation">

.citation {
  font-size: 0.9em;
  color: #555;
}

Style the form (popup)

Add basic layout/styling for the form inside the popup.

Example CSS:

.fr-citation-popup {

  padding: 10px;

}

.fr-citation-popup label{

  width: 75px;

  display: inline-block;

}

.fr-citation-popup input{

  padding: 5px;

  margin-bottom: 5px;

  border-radius: 7px !important;

  border: 1px solid #333 !important;

}

Initialize the editor with the new button

Include the citation button in the Froala toolbar.

const editor = new FroalaEditor("#editor", {

  toolbarButtons: [

    ["bold", "italic", "underline", "fontSize", "lineHeight"],

    ["alignLeft", "alignCenter", "alignRight"],

    ["citation", "textColor", "backgroundColor"],

    ["insertLink", "html"],

  ],

});

After you follow our step-by-step guide, you’ll end up with:

  • A single, reusable plugin named “Citation”
  • A toolbar button labeled Citation
  • A popup form to collect author, date, title, website name, and URL
  • APA-formatted website citations inserted at the cursor position
  • Optional styling hooks to ensure consistent appearance

Enhancements and Tips

  • Validation: Require fields like Author and Title to prevent incomplete citations.
  • Support Multiple Citation Formats: Add options for MLA or Chicago to support more audiences.
  • Links: Make URLs clickable so readers can follow sources directly.
  • Citation Block: Insert citations in a styled container for better readability.

Conclusion

We started with the basics of citations and APA style, then walked through creating a custom button, building a popup, handling input, and inserting formatted citations. This small feature demonstrates how powerful and customizable Froala really is.

With just a few lines of JavaScript, you transformed Froala into an academic-friendly writing tool. Now, you can extend this feature further—support more citation styles, build citation libraries, or connect to external reference managers.

Froala gives you the building blocks; your creativity defines what’s possible.

Try adding this citation button to your own Froala editor setup. Explore Froala’s documentation to see what else you can customize, and consider expanding the feature to support your users’ unique workflows. With Froala, the editor grows with your needs.

5 Signs You Need AI Functionality in Your HTML Code Writer

An exclamation point along with a symbol for AI, representing the 5 signs you need AI functionality in your WYSIWYG editors.

An HTML code writer is a must for applications that let users create content without touching raw code. With such a tool, marketers can build landing pages, bloggers can draft articles, and educators can create digital learning experiences. The tool empowers many users, but recurring problems remain, such as repetitive formatting, moderation backlogs, and other manual processes.

As developers, the burden of addressing these user pain points falls to us. Thankfully, a modern HTML code writer or WYSIWYG HTML editor can come equipped with artificial intelligence (AI) functionality. This helps remove repetitive tasks, suggest improvements on the go, and allow humans to focus on higher-level work.

But ask yourself, “Do I really need AI in my editor, or is it just the hype talking?” Sometimes, extending the basics is enough, but other times, smart features make all the difference. Knowing the signals should help you decide.

This guide highlights five signs that show when AI can positively transform an HTML code writer. Additionally, it explains how AI tackles common bottlenecks, how to test readiness, and how to adopt it safely and responsibly.

Key Takeaways

  • Repetitive formatting and file processing bottlenecks are strong signs that AI can boost efficiency in your HTML code writer.
  • AI can auto-generate metadata like alt text or image tags, saving manual effort and improving accessibility.
  • Content moderation blockers decrease when AI handles the automatic filtering for inappropriate content.
  • Multilingual support becomes more feasible when AI suggests translations and localized phrasing.
  • User demand for smart features, like summarization and code refactoring, points to the need for AI-driven tools.

5 Signs You Should Add AI to Your HTML Code Writer

Before diving into each signal, let’s establish one thing: AI is not necessarily all about automating every decision and feature. Instead, it’s about reducing repetitive, mechanical work so your team can focus on strategy, creativity, or compliance. If the following scenarios sound familiar, AI will likely make a difference in your applications.

Sign #1: End Users Constantly Repeat the Same Formatting Tasks

When teams repeatedly apply identical layouts, CSS classes, or inline formatting, they might end up wasting time or producing inconsistencies. For example, a marketing team might need to insert the same call to action banner across dozens of pages. Doing this manually, even with copy-paste shortcuts, can lead to errors.

AI can observe the patterns and suggest templates, reusable components, or even nearly complete content. Think of how Google’s Smart Compose, which uses AI, offers sentence completion based on what you’ve typed before.

An example that shows Google's Smart Compose feature. In the GIF, the user types an email, and Google automatically suggests what to type next, including the phrases "...this week?" and "Please let me know."

Google’s Smart Compose in Gmail

The same principles apply to HTML editors. Instead of starting with a blank space, the editor could suggest relevant elements based on what you’ve been creating.

Tip: Begin with a “suggest template” feature instead of forcing automatic changes. This approach helps build trust and avoids giving users unwanted surprises or irritation. Ask permission from the user before generating content right away.

Sign #2: You Need Better File Metadata Processing but Lack the Resources

Accessibility, SEO, and usability depend on accurate metadata. Alt text helps screen readers describe images for visually impaired users. File tags and captions, on the other hand, make media libraries searchable.

However, writing these manually for every upload is tedious, and skipping them hurts both usability and page ranking.

AI can instantly generate alt text based on image recognition, extract visible text using OCR (optical character recognition), and propose descriptive captions. For instance, uploading a product image of a cat could automatically yield metadata like

  • Alt text: “Orange domestic shorthair cat lying down on a table”
  • Suggested tags: “cats, pets, animals”

A GIF of an HTML code writer with AI and file upload features. Here, the user uploads a picture of a cat, which the AI correctly identifies.

The GIF above demonstrates how an HTML code writer can use AI to recognize images and provide descriptive tags. In this setup, the user uploads an image of an orange cat on a table. Afterwards, the AI features of the file picker generated a few related tags, which included “cat: 95” and “animal: 95.”

This means that the AI is positive that the image contains a cat. The organization can then use this to organize the files based on the generated tags.

Tip: Always present AI-generated metadata as editable suggestions. Human oversight helps ensure accuracy and prevent mistakes (e.g., tagging the orange cat as a “croissant”).

Sign #3: You’re Relying Solely on Manual Moderation or Safety Checks for Uploads

If your application contains user-generated content, especially media, manual moderation is probably slowing down workflows. Checking each image, video, or snippet of HTML for inappropriate or unsafe material is not scalable. This could lead to delays or, worse, errors in moderating content, potentially harming users or the platform.

AI-powered content safety models can act as a preventive layer. They quickly flag NSFW or risky uploads, block obvious violations, and route borderline cases to human moderators.

A 2025 study by Dr. Neha Khushal Gadhvi et al. states that AI flags unsafe content significantly faster than humans. It recalls how Facebook’s AI was able to flag more than 99% of hate speech before users were able to report it.

Note: In the same study above, the researchers found that AI isn’t completely safe from bias or false results. Thus, when implementing AI in your HTML code writer, take your time in developing or improving your model’s training data. Additionally, use AI as a filtering layer, not as the final decision-maker, by keeping humans in the loop.

Sign #4: You Serve a Multilingual Audience and Find It Tough to Localize

Expanding to foreign markets usually requires translating UI language and allowing their users to type in their own languages. Hiring professional translators for every update is expensive and slow. Worse, inconsistent translations might hurt credibility and user trust.

Thankfully, you can now have AI-driven translation and localization features inside an HTML code writer. These can suggest translations, adjust phrasing to fit cultural norms, and even handle pluralization rules. For example, you can set your editor’s AI to suggest translating text if a user types in another language.

An image that shows 2 people speaking different languages. There's a robot between them that translates their languages so they can communicate better. This signifies how HTML code writers with AI functionality can incorporate multilingual support easily.

Note: Like with everything AI, AI translation is not foolproof. Always urge users to review what they type before publishing it.

Sign #5: Users Request Smart Features from You

Sometimes, the clearest signal comes directly from your users. If they ask for summarization tools, grammar checks, or smarter formatting, they’re telling you they want more efficiency.

AI can enable features like

  • Summarizing long text blocks into concise snippets in one button click
  • Automatically generating content like images, table data (like in Canva Sheets), or even videos and audio
  • Checking content grammar and quality and providing improvement tips
  • Suggesting headings and other elements
  • Optimizing and reformatting code

Imagine a knowledge base article written in plain HTML from an old site. AI could generate a clean, up-to-date outline with <h2> and <h3> tags, summarize key sections, and even highlight accessibility issues. This significantly reduces manual editing and improves readability.

How AI Eases Common but Tough HTML Code Writer Problems

Aside from solving isolated issues, adding AI to HTML code writers can also smooth out systemic bottlenecks across multiple areas of content creation or coding.

File and Media Handling

End users juggle resizing images, converting file formats, checking for unsafe content, and scanning for any malware, among other tasks. Doing this manually creates scattered workflows, slows publishing, and increases the risk of mistakes.

An HTML code writer with AI functionality could centralize all these tasks. For example, in one workflow, it could automatically compress a file, convert PNGs into WebP for faster page loads, and flag NSFW material.

Instead of juggling five different tools, users get a streamlined upload process that produces smaller and safer files by default.

Advanced Styling and Templates

Teams without design backgrounds often create mismatched pages. Fonts appear inconsistent, color palettes drift, and layouts ignore brand guidelines. This could result in a site that feels unprofessional and disjointed.

AI can function like brand police. It could analyze the company’s design system and recommend templates that keep content within those boundaries. For example, when someone creates a new product page, the AI might suggest a pre-styled component that aligns with the company’s typography and palette.

Instead of design reviews catching inconsistencies at the end, content starts off polished and on-brand. This reduces back-and-forth with designers and helps non-designers produce professional-quality work.

Spelling, Grammar, and Style Checks

A laptop with two words hovering in front of it: "speelingg," which is highlighted in red, and "spelling," which is highlighted in blue and with a check mark. This demonstrates how editors with AI can detect spelling and grammar errors or even style inconsistencies or poor practices.

Maintaining consistent tone and perfect syntax and spelling across pages, languages, and authors is difficult. One contributor writes casually, another writes in formal business language, and yet another introduces grammar mistakes that slip through review.

As briefly stated earlier, an in-editor AI co-writer can function like a real-time writing assistant. It can help flag typos, correct grammar, improve writing, and suggest rewrites that match the organization’s preferred style. With multilingual support, AI can even maintain consistency when translating across regions.

As a result, content is more consistent and readable. And even if multiple people contribute to the same content, it could seem as though one person wrote it.

Code Review and Refactoring

Over time, websites and web applications accumulate unused or unnecessary code. Multiple editors leave behind redundant <div> wrappers, inline styles, or outdated practices. The result is bloated, inconsistent markup that can potentially hurt performance, accessibility, or maintenance.

An HTML code writer with AI features could act like a live code reviewer. It can improve code by recommending replacing generic <div> tags with semantic ones like <header> or <article>. It could also suggest stripping out duplicate CSS or highlight accessibility issues such as missing alt text.

Instead of gradually drifting toward messy, unmaintainable code, teams can leverage AI to get a cleaner, more semantic, and accessible codebase. This can help improve load times, search rankings, and scalability.

How to Evaluate for AI-Readiness

Before adding AI, test whether your team and workflows are ready. Check to see if you have:

  • A Clear User Problem: Can you pinpoint measurable friction like time lost in manual processes, errors encountered, or repeated support tickets?
  • Sufficient Data: Do you have real or synthetic samples from which AI can learn?
  • Privacy and Compliance Requirements: Will processing content via AI meet data protection laws?
  • Success Metrics: Define measurable goals like acceptance rate of AI suggestions or reduced moderation time. If, in closed test runs, you see users not using the AI at all, think about your requirements again.
  • A Fallback Plan: Ensure the editor still functions if the integrated AI fails or is unavailable.

Low-Risk Ways to Introduce AI in an HTML Code Writer

Don’t rush when adopting AI. Start small, like:

  • Offering AI suggestions instead of generating automatically and making changes right away, as stated earlier. Let users confirm any changes from the AI before applying them.
  • Keeping humans in the loop for sensitive tasks (e.g., false positives or bias in content moderation, code review).
  • Using feature flags and gradual rollout. Don’t launch every AI functionality at once; instead, enable features in stages or for select user groups. This helps you compare adoption rates, gather feedback, and make adjustments before scaling up.
  • Running A/B tests to track real impact before expanding further.

AI Risks and Red Flags (and How to Mitigate Them)

A digital circuit "storm" that symbolizes AI hallucinations or how AI can go haywire sometimes, even in HTML code writer setups.

AI is powerful, but it can introduce risks. In fact, rushing into it without safeguards can create the opposite of the desired effect, potentially destroying user trust. By anticipating risks, you can build in defenses that keep the technology helpful rather than harmful.

  • Hallucinations: AI sometimes invents details or produces misleading suggestions. Use guardrails and require human review to reduce the chance of bad outputs slipping through.
  • Privacy leaks: If content includes names, addresses, or confidential data (PII), sending it to a third-party API without protection creates compliance problems. Encrypt sensitive data, strip unnecessary personal information, and consider running AI locally when possible.
  • Over-automation: Don’t auto-publish AI content without human confirmation. While this obviously saves time, it can lead to more exhausting work in the future. Keeping humans in control ensures AI remains a powerful support tool, not a counterproductive part of the workflow.
  • Cost creep: Track usage carefully and limit expensive features to where they add value.

By addressing these risks early, teams can have confidence in introducing AI while keeping quality, compliance, and costs under control.

Conclusion

AI goes well with an HTML code writer, providing strategic upgrades when teams face formatting, moderation, or multilingual support bottlenecks. The key is to add it where it solves measurable problems, not where it creates new risks. You should also check first if you really need AI or not.

With platforms like Froala, teams can start with low-risk features such as image tagging suggestions or layout helpers, then grow into moderation or code refactoring as confidence builds. Always keep human oversight, privacy compliance, AI ethics, and cost management in mind.

6 Features You Can Deliver Instantly with HTML Editor Software

An HTML editor software at the middle. Around it are icons for emojis, tables, spell checks, and file uploads, representing some of the tricky features that you can instantly implement using the editor.

HTML editor software resides in most web applications and websites nowadays. Blogs need it for copywriting, email platforms need it for campaigns, ecommerce apps use it for product descriptions, and so on. Because of the efficient way it allows users to edit content, it has become a staple in development workflows.

It’s easy to make basic editing features like font formatting and text alignment by yourself. However, these simple features just won’t cut it when it comes to modern user needs.

Users expect smooth uploads, easy table editing, and even real-time collaboration, which are significantly tricky to build from scratch. Adding upload functionality sounds simple, until you realize you also need validation, security and content safety checks, and automatic resizing.

This is why HTML editor software exists. Instead of building many features over a long period of time, developers can rely on tested, prebuilt modules that integrate directly into their app. This helps save time, gives users what they need instantly, and points the product growth in the right direction.

Key Takeaways

  • Many important features that look simple (like tables and uploads) hide deep technical challenges.
  • The speed of delivering features matters more than perfection in competitive environments.
  • Good HTML editor software turns months of development and testing into minutes or hours of integration.
  • Real-time editing, grammar checks, different initialization methods, advanced file handling, and rich content have become baseline expectations shaped by popular tools. Meeting them keeps your product innovative and competitive.
  • Choose editor features based on real user needs.

Why Fast HTML Editor Software Feature Delivery Matters for Developers

As you might have experienced, speed is survival nowadays. Teams can’t afford to spend months rebuilding, testing, refining, and maintaining HTML editor software from the ground up. Every week they spend on reinventing formatting or tables is a week not spent on core product innovation.

Two sides of the image show the difference in feature delivery. At the left side, a conveyor belt fast-tracks the deployment of several features, representing HTML editor software. At the other side, many developers write HTML to accommodate these requirements, building slower.

By adopting HTML editor software, teams:

  • Shorten development cycles: Features that once took months can now take days or even minutes to integrate. For modern HTML editors, developers need only add or remove features, encapsulated in plugins, in their setup.
  • Stay focused on their value proposition: Developers work on the parts that make their web application unique instead of rebuilding existing technology.
  • Deliver consistent experiences: Users see polished, professional editors that work reliably across different devices, platforms, or even user bases.

Note: It’s alright to take your time and develop your own HTML editor. However, end users might prefer having all editing features available and working right away instead of having to wait. So, consider your project needs, project timeline, and resources before you decide.

6 Features HTML Editor Software Instantly Gives You

A modern WYSIWYG HTML editor usually comes with most of the necessary features your users need. Some even include advanced or novel features like real-time collaboration, autosaving, and artificial intelligence (AI). Here are six hard-to-implement but nice-to-have features that you can instantly obtain with HTML editor software.

Advanced File and Media Handling

If there’s one feature that almost every user asks for, it’s file uploads. From images in blog posts to videos in course material or PDFs in knowledge bases, people crave media. The problem is that file handling is more than just picking a file and sending it to a server.

Today, file handling encompasses the following chain of responsibilities:

  • Security: Uploaded files can potentially harm your infrastructure. Malicious scripts can hide inside images, or large files can cause denial-of-service (DoS) attacks. For every upload, ensure the implementation of validation (size and type checks), virus detection checks, and content safety checks (NSFW).
  • Performance: Large images or videos can slow down your app. If you don’t compress or resize them, you’ll frustrate users on slower networks.
  • Format compatibility: Not every browser or device can play every video codec or handle every image form. Developers must either convert formats or block unsupported ones.
  • Processing: File handling doesn’t end after the upload. Sometimes, applications enhance or transform uploaded files to suit platform standards.

This is a lot to build on your own, which is where HTML editor software comes in. The best WYSIWYG editors provide built-in file pickers with configurable upload and post-upload rules. You can set file size limits and even automate transformations and processing like image resizing, video conversion, or image recognition.

A GIF that showcases file upload and image cropping in HTML editor software.

The GIF above demonstrates a file upload wherein users can transform the file without needing to leave the editor. In this implementation, you can even scan the uploaded image for viruses or unsafe content or automate other processing tasks.

Further Reading: To align your file upload security with industry best practices, read this blog by OWASP (Open Web Application Security Project). It concisely lists down three security risks for file uploads, along with the prevention methods.

Real-Time Editing

Collaboration is now a baseline expectation, with tools like Google Docs and Canva Teams in widespread adoption. Teams want to work on the same content at the same time while keeping track of changes. But real-time collaboration is technically demanding; for instance, you need to manage:

  • Low-latency synchronization: Each keystroke must appear almost instantly across all active users. Otherwise, the editor would feel laggy and frustrating to use.
  • Conflict resolution: What happens if two people edit the same word at the same time? You need a consistent way to merge changes without corrupting the document.
  • User presence and identity: Users expect to see who else is editing, where their cursor is, and when they join or leave. To take it further, they also expect to see some sort of version history, showing who edited what at a given time.

These challenges usually require WebSocket connections, a protocol for real-time communication, and CRDTs (conflict-free replicated data types) or similar algorithms.

HTML editor software removes much of the burden by offering real-time collaboration plugins. Developers can integrate with existing sync services or, in some cases, use the editor’s built-in backend. Mentions and change tracking are sometimes included and give users the ability to tag teammates or roll back edits.

Note: Mentions are more than just “@someone” commands. They often tie into a user directory, autocomplete, and notifications. Good editor software makes integrating this feature seamless.

Robust Table Editing

Tables are powerful for presenting data, but they can sometimes cause headaches, as this accessibility guide from Stanford University shows. For instance, adding or resizing columns often breaks the layout, especially in mobile views. Additionally, including support for accessibility (e.g., screen readers) adds another layer of complexity.

Developers who try to build editors that support tables usually run into these common problems:

  • Resizing and alignment: Simple drag-to-resize sounds easy, but aligning cells consistently and keeping all elements intact across devices is tough.
  • Responsive design: Tables that look neat on desktop can sometimes seem unreadable on smaller screens. Without responsive wrapping, mobile users have difficulty navigating them.
  • User experience: Non-technical end users often struggle with raw HTML tables. They expect drag handles, dropdown menus for table options, and quick insert for cells and other table elements.

HTML editor software solves these issues by bundling in table functionality. These range from drag handles to responsive templates and even custom table styling and media-in-cell support.

Multiple Initialization Modes

Sometimes, you’ll want full-page editing for a blog post. Other times, you’ll need a document-ready editor for Google Docs-like apps.

Building multiple modes has its complexities, because each requires different CSS and JavaScript handling:

  • Inline mode allows users to edit content through an inline toolbar by clicking on an element. This is similar to link editing in Google Docs or WordPress or some grammar checkers.
  • Full-page editing includes the usage of <html>, <head>, and <body> tags as well as the <!DOCTYPE> declaration. This is useful for a complete page editing experience, such as in content management systems (CMS).
  • Document-ready mode presents optimal editing options for creating online documents, containing “print” or “export to PDF” buttons, among many others. Think of it like any word processor, such as MS Word or Google Docs.
  • A full-featured mode contains as many features as possible to support as many requirements as it can. However, be careful when using this, since having many features might slow down the editor or overwhelm the user. Because of this, you should consider toolbar organization and using a lightweight WYSIWYG editor.
  • The iframe mode places the editor’s content in an isolated iframe. This prevents potential conflicts with the main page’s styles and scripts.
  • Popup or modal mode separates the content view from the editing process. It does so by opening a modal popup containing the editor once the user clicks a button.

Modern HTML editor software has to support most of these initialization modes out of the box to accommodate different use cases.

This GIF demo shows a document processor powered by HTML editor software. The user first inserts an image, then highlights a sentence, and lastly, clicks the print button.

For instance, in this GIF demo, an HTML editor appears akin to a full document processor. Here, the user inserts an image, highlights a sentence, and clicks the print button. Editors like this one allow you to build robust document editors without needing too much effort.

Spelling and Grammar Checking

Checking for spelling and grammar correctness is important for most editors, especially in professional setups. Writers, learners, and professionals expect at least some sort of help when typing, since catching typos manually is inefficient. However, adding spelling and grammar checking is not that straightforward normally.

Here’s what’s usually involved when implementing your own spelling and grammar checking:

  • Spell checks highlight misspelled words against a dictionary. While basic, they prevent obvious credibility issues. But what if you need to support multiple languages or technical vocabularies?
  • Grammar checks go beyond spelling by analyzing sentence structure. They flag subject-verb agreement errors, missing punctuation, or awkward phrasing. Implementing this requires integration with advanced language models or APIs.
  • Style checking addresses tone, clarity, and readability. For example, a style checker might highlight passive voice, long sentences, or jargon, similar to how WordPress analyzes content readability. This goes a step beyond correctness to improve communication.

The best WYSIWYG HTML editor should have a prebuilt spelling and grammar checker. By doing so, it consolidates all editing features in the editor. In turn, you won’t have to worry about integrating other spelling and grammar checking services separately.

Rich Content (Emojis, Embeds, Code Blocks, Math)

Text rarely tells the full story, as modern users rely heavily on emojis and Markdown to communicate better. Similarly, developers need code blocks to create web content using an environment in which they’re more comfortable.

If your end users want the ability to express themselves more freely, you have to implement a combination of the following, depending on the use case:

  • Emoji: These symbols add emotion and tone; for instance, a simple thumbs up can replace a sentence of approval. However, emojis need standard rendering across platforms.
  • Embeds: Let authors drop in YouTube videos, X tweets, or interactive maps. The challenge here is security, as malicious code from untrusted domain embeds could run in your app.
  • Code Blocks: Use syntax highlighting to make programming languages readable. This also allows developers to switch between a WYSIWYG (live preview) and HTML mode.
  • Math editing: Allows educators or learners in scientific fields to write mathematical expressions easily on the web. However, it’s difficult to enable LaTeX input (a math markup language) from scratch, especially when it comes to higher math.

This GIF shows a user adding various rich content into the editor. The user adds an emoji, a table, and a horizontal line. The user also browsers through several tabs of special characters and symbols.

Capable HTML editor software possesses all or most of these rich content features. For instance, it can allow users to include math expressions through simple WYSIWYG equation builders. Additionally, it can escape special characters automatically to prevent injection attacks in embedded code.

Conclusion

Delivering advanced editing features quickly isn’t about showing off. It’s about removing friction for users, speeding up your developer workflow, and simplifying maintenance.

Spelling and grammar checks improve clarity. Advanced file handling satiates the primal gravitation towards media content and processing. Rich content features make documents more expressive and versatile.

The key here is balance. Give users enough power to get creative without overwhelming them or bloating your app or making them wait too long. Every feature should justify itself with measurable impact, such as faster workflows, fewer errors, or higher user satisfaction.

The best HTML editor software turns these once-complex features into plug-and-play modules. This lets your team ship faster and focus where it matters, building the unique values of your product.

That said, always assess your users’ requirements first. Never give features they won’t use, and prioritize what they need most. And if you can roll these out quickly or at the same time, you’ll earn trust and enthusiasm faster than any marketing campaign could.

Note: If you want to see some of these features in action, visit this GitHub repository. It demonstrates the file upload, document-ready, and rich content functionalities using a WYSIWYG editor.

Step-by-Step Guide to Styling Froala Editor with Custom Skins and Icons

editor skins and icon pack

When building modern web applications, every detail of your UI matters—including the editor your users interact with daily. Froala’s WYSIWYG Editor is already known for its clean design and powerful features, but did you know you can take it even further? With customizable skins and icon packs, you can transform the editor’s look and feel to perfectly match your brand or design system.

Whether you want to align it with your company’s style guide, keep up with the latest design trends, or simply create multiple themes you can switch between with ease, Froala makes it possible. From subtle tweaks to complete visual overhauls, the editor becomes a seamless part of your website rather than just an add-on.

In this article, we’ll walk you through two practical, step-by-step examples of customizing both the editor skin and its icons. By the end, you’ll see just how flexible Froala is when it comes to adapting to your design vision—and how these enhancements can elevate the editing experience for your users.

Custom Froala icons and color theme

Why Customize Froala Editor Skins and Icons?

The editor isn’t just a utility—it’s a core part of how users interact with your application. When the design of the editor feels disconnected from the rest of your UI, it can break the flow and reduce engagement. By customizing Froala’s skins and icons, you ensure that your editor feels like a natural extension of your product.

Here’s why it matters:

  • Brand Alignment: Every brand has its own identity, from colors to typography. Custom skins let you bring that identity into the editor, ensuring a cohesive look across your entire platform.
  • Staying on Trend: Design trends evolve quickly. Froala’s flexibility allows you to refresh your editor’s style to stay current with popular design systems such as Material Design, Fluent UI, or Bootstrap themes.
  • Improved User Experience: A familiar, polished editor encourages users to focus on content creation without distractions. Consistent icons and intuitive design make the editing process smoother.
  • Seamless Integration: Whether your editor is embedded in a CMS, SaaS dashboard, or client-facing portal, customization helps it blend in perfectly with the surrounding interface.

Understanding Froala Skins and Icons

Before jumping into customization, it’s important to understand what skins and icons mean:

Skins: Customizing the Editor’s Appearance

Skins define the overall appearance of the Froala editor. This includes the colors, spacing, typography, borders, and the look of the toolbar, dropdowns, and modals.

Since Froala is an HTML component, you can change its skin by overriding the default CSS styles. For example, adding the following CSS will change the background color of the top toolbar to red:

.fr-toolbar.fr-top{

  background: red

}

red toolbar

In order to manage multiple skins, Foala has a “themes” feature that lets you easily switch between different skins using the theme configuration option:

  1. Create a new CSS file, e.g., “my-custom-theme.css”, and add your custom styles.
  2. Include the stylesheet in your HTML  
    <link href='../css/my-custom-theme.css' rel='stylesheet' type='text/css' />
  3. Set the theme configuration when initializing the Froala editor:  
    new FroalaEditor('#editor', {
    
      theme: 'my-custom-theme'
    
    })
  4. This will add the my-custom-theme class to the Froala .fr-box element, allowing you to target your custom styles.

Moreover, there are a few configurations that can be used to customize the editor UI. This includes:

  • toolbarBottom: Position toolbar at the bottom.
  • direction: Enable right-to-left text
  • height: Adjust editing area size
  • documentReady: Create a document-like editor interface

Icon Packs:

Icons are the visual language of your editor. Every toolbar button—bold, italic, add link, insert image—is represented by an icon. Froala’s default icons are clean and professional, but you can swap them out with custom SVGs or font-based icons to match your brand or design system.

Froala’s icons are defined in JavaScript. You can select a predefined icon template or create a custom one. An icon template is an HTML structure that represents the icons, with a placeholder variable that will be replaced with the specific icon identifier. For example, the FontAwesome icon template is defined as:

<i class="fa fa-[NAME]" aria-hidden="true"></i>

For each icon, you need to define a NAME attribute that will replace the [NAME] placeholder. For example, for the “bold” button, you would set:

FroalaEditor.ICONS.bold.NAME = "bold"

This will generate the HTML code:

<i class="fa fa-bold" aria-hidden="true"></i>

Froala provides several predefined icon templates, and you can also define your own custom templates using the FroalaEditor.DefineIconTemplate() method.

Available pre-made icon templates in Froala are

FroalaEditor.ICON_TEMPLATES = {

  font_awesome: '<i class="fa fa-[NAME]" aria-hidden="true"></i>,',

  font_awesome_5: '<i class="fas fa-[FA5NAME]" aria-hidden="true"></i>',

  font_awesome_5s: '<i class="far fa-[FA5NAME]" aria-hidden="true"></i>',

  text: '<span style="text-align: center;">[NAME]</span>',

  image: '<img src=[SRC] alt=[ALT] />',

  svgMultiplePath: '<svg class="fr-svg" focusable="false" viewBox="[VIEWBOX]" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg">[PATHS]</svg>',

  svg: '<svg viewBox="0 0 24 24" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg">[PATH]</svg>'

}

By default, Froala uses the SVG template. You can change the template like

FroalaEditor.ICON_DEFAULT_TEMPLATE = 'material_design';

 How skins and icons work together to shape the editing experience

When combined, skins and icons give you total control over how the editor feels. You can opt for a subtle refresh (e.g., just adjusting colors) or a complete overhaul with a new theme and branded icons.

Example 1: Borderless skin with Line Awesome icons pack

Froala borderless skin

In this example, we modify the editor UI to follow the minimalist design trend by removing the editor outline borders. Also, we will enhance the icon design by replacing the default icons with the Line Awesome icons package.

Create a Borderless Theme

  1. Create a CSS file named “borderless-theme.css” with these styles:  
    .borderless-theme .fr-toolbar.fr-top,
    .borderless-theme .fr-wrapper{
      border: unset !important;
    }
    
    .borderless-theme .fr-second-toolbar{
        background: #f5f5f5;
        border-color: #f5f5f5;
    }
    
    .borderless-theme .fr-toolbar .fr-command.fr-btn i, .borderless-theme .fr-popup .fr-command.fr-btn i, borderless-theme .fr-modal .fr-command.fr-btn i{
      font-size: 23px !important;
    
    
  2. Include the stylesheet in your HTML.
  3. Set the theme configuration when initializing the Froala editor:  
    new FroalaEditor('#editor', {
    
      theme: 'borderless-theme'
    
    })
    

This will add a borderless design to the Froala editor, removing unnecessary borders and creating a more minimalist interface. The CSS targets the top toolbar, wrapper, and second toolbar, stripping away default border styles. Additionally, it adjusts the icon size to create a cleaner, more modern look.

Implement Line Awesome Icons

Line Awesome are flat line icons made by Icons8 to be an alternative to Font Awesome icons. They are used similar to Font Awesome.

To use them in Froala, add the Line Awesome stylesheet to your HTML:

<link rel= "stylesheet" href= "https://maxst.icons8.com/vue-static/landings/line-awesome/line-awesome/1.3.0/css/line-awesome.min.css" >

In your JavaScript:

  1. Define a new icon template for Line Awesome  
    FroalaEditor.ICON_TEMPLATES.line_awesome = '<i class= "las la-[NAME]" ></i>'
  2. Since they are similar to Font Awesome and have the same name, we will take advantage of that using the NAME placeholder which icons already have so we don’t need to define them again.
  3. Switch the editor default template  
    FroalaEditor.ICON_DEFAULT_TEMPLATE = 'line_awesome'

     The editor now is packed with the new skin and icons.

Example 2: Classic skin with Iconography icons pack

Froala classic skin

In this example, we modify the editor UI to follow the classic editor design with straight borders. Also, we will enhance the icon design replacing the default icons with the Iconography icons package.

Classic Theme

  1. Create a new CSS file named classic-theme.css and add these styles to achieve a classic, straight-edged look:  
    .classic-theme .fr-toolbar.fr-top,
    .classic-theme .fr-wrapper{
    border-radius: 0;
        border: 1px solid #CCCCCC;
    }
    
    .classic-theme .fr-toolbar .fr-more-toolbar.fr-expanded{
      border-top: 1px solid #CCCCCC;
    }
    
    .classic-theme .fr-box .fr-second-toolbar{
    border-radius: 0;
        border: 1px solid #CCCCCC;
    }
    
    .classic-theme .fr-toolbar .fr-btn-grp{
      border-right: 1px solid #CCCCCC;
    }
    
    .classic-theme .fr-toolbar .fr-btn-grp.fr-float-right{
      border: unset !important;
    }
    
    .classic-theme .fr-desktop .fr-command.fr-selected:not(.fr-table-cell), .fr-desktop .fr-command:active, .fr-desktop .fr-command:hover:not(.fr-table-cell), .fr-desktop .fr-command:focus:not(.fr-table-cell), .fr-desktop .fr-command.fr-btn-hover:not(.fr-table-cell), .fr-desktop .fr-command.fr-expanded:not(.fr-table-cell), .fr-toolbar .fr-command.fr-btn.fr-open:not(:hover):not(:focus):not(:active),
    .fr-toolbar .fr-more-toolbar{
      background: transparent !important
    }
    
    .classic-theme .fr-toolbar .fr-command.fr-btn span, .fr-popup .fr-command.fr-btn span, .fr-modal .fr-command.fr-btn span{
      font-size: 19px !important;
    
    
  2. Include the stylesheet in your HTML
  3. Set the theme configuration when initializing the Froala editor: 
    new FroalaEditor('#editor', {
    
      theme: 'classic-theme'
    
    });

     

Iconography Icons

Iconography icons come from the Telerik/Kendo UI design system. They consist of more than 400 unique icons. To use them with Froala:

First, add the Iconography font stylesheet in your HTML:

<link rel="stylesheet" href="https://unpkg.com/@progress/kendo-font-icons/dist/index.css" />

Then, in your JavaScript, create a new icon template named iconography:

FroalaEditor.ICON_TEMPLATES.iconography = '<span class="k-icon k-font-icon k-i-[GNAME]"></span>';

Here [GNAME] is a placeholder for the actual Iconography name. You must set a GNAME value for each icon you customize.

Since some icons are added in recent releases, we provided a small compatibility helper to set GNAME only if the icon exists (helps with newer/older Froala versions):

function setIconGNAME(buttonName, customIcon){

  if (FroalaEditor.ICONS[buttonName] !== undefined) {

    FroalaEditor.ICONS[buttonName].GNAME = customIcon;

  }

}

Apply the GNAME mappings for the icons you want.

setIconGNAME("align", "align-middle");

setIconGNAME("align-center", "align-center");

setIconGNAME("align-justify", "align-justify");

setIconGNAME("align-left", "align-left");

setIconGNAME("align-right", "align-right");

setIconGNAME("autoplay", "play-sm");

setIconGNAME("backgroundColor", "pencil");

setIconGNAME("bold", "bold");

setIconGNAME("cancel", "x-outline");

setIconGNAME("centerTableAlign", "table-position-center");

setIconGNAME("centerTableAlignActive", "table-position-center");

setIconGNAME("clearFormatting", "strip-all-formatting");

setIconGNAME("cloudIcon", "cloud");

setIconGNAME("color", "foreground-color");

setIconGNAME("colorsBack", "level-up");

setIconGNAME("deleteAll", "clean-outline");

setIconGNAME("emoticons", "hand");

setIconGNAME("emoticonsBack", "level-up");

setIconGNAME("fileBack", "level-up");

setIconGNAME("filesByURL", "file-bac");

setIconGNAME("filesEmbed", "file-programming");

setIconGNAME("filesUpload", "file-add");

//setIconGNAME("filestackIcon", "align");

//setIconGNAME("filestackIconAdd", "align");

setIconGNAME("findAndReplaceArrowDown", "chevron-down");

setIconGNAME("findAndReplaceArrowUp", "chevron-up");

setIconGNAME("findReplaceIcon", "replace-single");

setIconGNAME("fontFamily", "font-family");

setIconGNAME("fontSize", "font-size");

setIconGNAME("formatOL", "list-ordered");

setIconGNAME("formatOLSimple", "list-roman-big");

setIconGNAME("formatUL", "list-unordered");

setIconGNAME("fullscreen", "fullscreen");

setIconGNAME("fullscreenCompress", "fullscreen-exit");

setIconGNAME("getPDF", "file-pdf");

setIconGNAME("help", "info-circle");

setIconGNAME("html", "html5");

setIconGNAME("image-align", "image-absolute-position");

setIconGNAME("image-align-center", "table-align-middle-center");

setIconGNAME("image-align-left", "table-align-middle-left");

setIconGNAME("image-align-right", "table-align-middle-right");

setIconGNAME("imageAlign", "image-absolute-position");

setIconGNAME("imageAlt", "toolbar-float");

setIconGNAME("imageBack", "level-up");

setIconGNAME("imageByURL", "link");

setIconGNAME("imageCaption", "comment");

setIconGNAME("imageDisplay", "display-block");

//setIconGNAME("imageFilestackOnly", "align");

setIconGNAME("imageLink", "hyperlink-open");

setIconGNAME("imageManager", "folder-open");

setIconGNAME("imageManagerDelete", "trash");

setIconGNAME("imageManagerInsert", "image-add");

setIconGNAME("imageRemove", "trash");

setIconGNAME("imageReplace", "chart-area-stacked");

setIconGNAME("imageSize", "col-resize");

setIconGNAME("imageStyle", "apply-format");

setIconGNAME("imageTransformations", "scale");

setIconGNAME("imageUpload", "image-add");

setIconGNAME("indent", "indent");

setIconGNAME("inlineClass", "css");

setIconGNAME("inlineStyle", "apply-format");

setIconGNAME("inputBack", "level-up");

setIconGNAME("inputEdit", "inputbox");

setIconGNAME("inputStyle", "css3");

setIconGNAME("insert", "plus");

setIconGNAME("insertAll", "file-add");

setIconGNAME("insertFile", "file-add");

setIconGNAME("insertFiles", "images");

setIconGNAME("insertHR", "horizontal-rule");

setIconGNAME("insertImage", "image-add");

setIconGNAME("insertLink", "link-add");

setIconGNAME("insertTable", "table-add");

setIconGNAME("insertVideo", "file-video");

setIconGNAME("italic", "italic");

setIconGNAME("leftTableAlign", "table-position-start");

setIconGNAME("leftTableAlignActive", "table-position-start");

setIconGNAME("lineHeight", "line-height");

setIconGNAME("linkBack", "level-up");

setIconGNAME("linkEdit", "envelope-link");

setIconGNAME("linkList", "list-unordered-square");

setIconGNAME("linkOpen", "hyperlink-open");

setIconGNAME("linkRemove", "unlink");

setIconGNAME("linkStyle", "link-vertical");

setIconGNAME("markdown", "clipboard-markdown");

setIconGNAME("minimize", "window-minimize");

setIconGNAME("moreMisc", "more-vertical");

setIconGNAME("moreParagraph", "more-vertical");

setIconGNAME("moreRich", "more-vertical");

setIconGNAME("moreText", "more-vertical");

setIconGNAME("outdent", "outdent");

setIconGNAME("paragraphFormat", "paragraph-mark");

setIconGNAME("paragraphStyle", "paragraph-height");

setIconGNAME("print", "print");

setIconGNAME("quickInsert", "plus-outline");

setIconGNAME("quote", "right-double-quotes");

setIconGNAME("redo", "redo");

setIconGNAME("remove", "trash");

setIconGNAME("rightTableAlign", "table-position-end");

setIconGNAME("rightTableAlignActive", "table-position-end");

setIconGNAME("save", "save");

setIconGNAME("selectAll", "select-all");

setIconGNAME("specialCharBack", "level-up");

setIconGNAME("specialCharacters", "transactions");

setIconGNAME("strikeThrough", "strikethrough");

setIconGNAME("subscript", "subscript");

setIconGNAME("superscript", "supscript");

setIconGNAME("tableBack", "level-up");

setIconGNAME("tableCellHorizontalAlign", "align-self-end-alt");

setIconGNAME("tableCellProperties", "table-cell-properties");

setIconGNAME("tableCellStyle", "table-wizard");

setIconGNAME("tableCellVerticalAlign", "align-self-start");

setIconGNAME("tableCells", "table-cell");

setIconGNAME("tableColorRemove", "trash");

setIconGNAME("tableColumns", "columns");

setIconGNAME("tableFooter", "file-footer");

setIconGNAME("tableHeader", "file-header");

setIconGNAME("tablePropertiesIcon", "table-properties");

setIconGNAME("tableRemove", "table-delete");

setIconGNAME("tableRows", "rows");

setIconGNAME("tableSelectorIcon", "arrows-move");

setIconGNAME("textColor", "foreground-color");

setIconGNAME("underline", "underline");

setIconGNAME("undo", "undo");

setIconGNAME("video-align", "align-middle");

setIconGNAME("video-align-center", "align-center");

setIconGNAME("video-align-left", "align-left");

setIconGNAME("video-align-right", "align-right");

setIconGNAME("videoAlign", "align-middle");

setIconGNAME("videoBack", "level-up");

setIconGNAME("videoByURL", "link");

setIconGNAME("videoDisplay", "display-inline-block");

setIconGNAME("videoEmbed", "clipboard-code");

//setIconGNAME("videoFilestackOnly", "align");

setIconGNAME("videoRemove", "trash");

setIconGNAME("videoReplace", "replace-all");

setIconGNAME("videoSize", "handle-resize");

setIconGNAME("videoUpload", "upload");

Some icon entries have a template attribute, which may override your custom icon. To ensure your iconography icons render the way you defined, remove the template attribute from those icons:

const iconsWithTemplate = ['quickInsert', 'tableCellProperties', 'tablePropertiesIcon', 'leftTableAlign', 'leftTableAlignActive', 'centerTableAlign', 'centerTableAlignActive', 'rightTableAlignActive', 'rightTableAlign', 'tableSelectorIcon', 'findReplaceIcon'];

iconsWithTemplate.forEach((icon) => {

 delete FroalaEditor.ICONS[icon].template;

})

Some icons should keep their original SVG instead of using Font/Iconography e.g. Filestack icons. For those, add the SVG template:

//Keep Filestack Icons SVG Template

if (FroalaEditor.ICONS.filestackIcon !== undefined) {

  FroalaEditor.ICONS.filestackIcon.template = "svg";

  FroalaEditor.ICONS.filestackIconAdd.template = "svg";

}

Switch Froala’s default icon template to iconography:

FroalaEditor.ICON_DEFAULT_TEMPLATE = 'iconography';

When you reload the editor, the icons should now use the Iconography set.

Notes and tips:

  • You can mix and match: keep some default icons with their templates if you don’t have replacements and fully replace others with Iconography.

Try the demo on this JSFiddle link and experiment with different styles. You’ll see how easy it is to transform the editor into something that feels uniquely yours.

Use Cases

Customization isn’t just about aesthetics—it unlocks practical advantages in real-world scenarios. Here are some common use cases:

  • Corporate Branding: Enterprises often need their tools to reflect strict brand guidelines. Custom skins and icons ensure the editor fits perfectly into corporate websites, intranets, or client portals.
  • SaaS Dashboards: For SaaS applications, consistency across all modules is key. A tailored Froala editor makes the content editing experience feel integrated with the rest of the dashboard UI.
  • White-Label Solutions: Agencies and developers offering white-label platforms can quickly rebrand the editor for different clients. Creating multiple skins and icon packs makes it easy to switch styles without rewriting code.
  • Design System Alignment: Many modern apps follow design frameworks like Material, Fluent, or custom systems. Froala’s flexible customization allows you to match the editor’s look to these standards effortlessly.

Conclusion

Froala is more than just a rich text editor—it’s a customizable UI component that can be molded to fit your exact needs. By taking advantage of skins and icons, you can align the editor with your branding, keep pace with modern design trends, and deliver a seamless user experience.

Whether you need a professional corporate look, a playful theme for creative projects, or multiple styles for white-label solutions, Froala’s customization options give you the freedom to design the editor your users will love.

Ready to transform your editor? 🎨✍️

Start a free trial of Froala and experiment with custom skins and icon packs today. No credit card required — try it on your project and see the difference instantly.

 

Why “HTML to WYSIWYG” Conversion Works Best for Legacy Content Migration

A 2D image that shows HTML code that's being converted into WYSIWYG content, similar to a printer, representing the "HTML to WYSIWYG" conversion for legacy content.

Many organizations still rely on large libraries of legacy content written in raw HTML. These materials include training manuals, blog post archives, and internal knowledge bases. Over time, the problem isn’t that the information becomes useless, but that the format becomes harder to manage.

Converting this content into modern editing environments like WordPress saves time, prevents data loss, and gives teams more flexibility. This is where the need for an HTML-to-WYSIWYG workflow emerged. It lets you migrate old HTML into WYSIWYG editors where users can manage text, images, and links without touching code.

This article explains why migration matters, what “HTML to WYSIWYG” conversion involves, and why this could beat other migration methods. Additionally, you’ll learn about the benefits of this process as well as the challenges you should expect.

Key Takeaways

  • Legacy content often holds valuable institutional knowledge that needs preservation or modernizing.
  • An HTML-to-WYSIWYG approach makes old content editable for all types of users.
  • WYSIWYG editors that support HTML clean up outdated markup while preserving structure and functionality.
  • This shift enables faster migration, better team collaboration, and long-term flexibility.
  • Challenges in formatting, security, and training exist, but with HTML content review, security best practices, and an intuitive editor, you can address these accordingly.

Why Legacy Content Migration Matters

Before you look at how conversion works, it’s worth asking why migration is so important.

Preserving Institutional Knowledge

A 2D image showing some HTML code inside a lockbox, representing legacy content that organizations can modernize.

Older websites, intranets, or training portals often carry years of valuable content. For instance, a university might store old course materials, or a company might keep policy manuals. Throwing these archives away risks losing intellectual property and documented best practices.

On the other hand, migrating this content into a modern system helps ensure the knowledge stays accessible and editable for current needs. New educators or employees could benefit greatly by preserving, and eventually modernizing, what existed years before they arrived.

Supporting Modern User Expectations

Users no longer expect to edit content with raw HTML tags like <p> or <table> (think MySpace in the 2000s). They prefer rich text editors with simple controls, drag-and-drop support, and Markdown for formatting. When organizations migrate legacy content, users can update web copy, revise old documents, or refresh presentations without calling a developer.

A demonstration of how code view, which allows for the shift from HTML to WYSIWYG and vice versa, works.

For those who prefer coding web content, modern WYSIWYG HTML editors allow users to switch to and from code view. The benefit is that they’ll see how the content renders as they’re editing it.

Avoiding Platform Lock-in

Legacy systems often store content in outdated or proprietary formats. This creates a kind of “lock-in” where content gets stuck. By converting through an HTML to WYSIWYG workflow, organizations free their content from dependence on one system.

After converting the content into WYSIWYG format, users can move, republish, or reuse it across different platforms.

What “HTML to WYSIWYG” Conversion Really Means

You may already have an idea about the “HTML to WYSIWYG” phrase that you keep seeing across this article. But let’s unpack what this phrase actually covers in this section.

Translating Code to Editable Content

As we all know, raw HTML contains tags for structure, like <h1> for headings or <a> for links. An HTML-to-WYSIWYG process translates these into editable text blocks, clickable links, and formatted sections inside an HTML editor.

In this setup, a heading tag turns into a styled title. A table tag turns into a table you can edit with a toolbar. Think of it as “modernizing” old HTML into Google Docs files, CMS (content management system) blogs, or even webpage content.

This shift empowers people who are not too familiar with HTML to easily manage content.

Cleaning and Standardizing Markup

Legacy HTML often includes outdated tags like <font> or <center> and inline styles that no longer match modern design standards. Converting these removes unnecessary markup and transforms it into cleaner, standardized code that today’s editors can handle. This cleanup makes formatting more consistent across browsers, devices, and platforms.

Note: Standardization also improves accessibility. Screen readers and assistive technologies often struggle with messy code. Cleaner markup follows accessibility guidelines and benefits everyone in terms of providing similar experiences regardless of ability.

Maintaining Functionality While Upgrading Experience

An editor with file management features. The file picker is open, and an image is uploaded. The image is being cropped, showing how modern editors allow users to modernize their content as well, even images.

A strong migration keeps links, media, and formatting intact while offering modern features like drag-and-drop or visual editing. For example, an embedded image remains in place after a smooth migration. But now, users can resize or caption it, or even apply filters, without touching HTML.

This approach preserves the core functionality while upgrading the overall user experience.

Benefits of “HTML to WYSIWYG” for Organizations

Now that you know what’s involved, let’s look at the broader benefits that this approach provides.

Faster Migration, Less Manual Work

Rewriting hundreds of pages of HTML by hand is inefficient, or at the very least, exhausting. Automated conversion tools or modern WYSIWYG editors that support HTML speed this up by processing large batches at once. This reduces repetitive work and makes large-scale migrations, like moving a corporate knowledge base, feasible in weeks instead of months.

For example, we have this use case where a company has to migrate and modernize some old but important documents. These are strong policies that some senior members established using HTML some 20-30 years ago.

However, times have changed, and they need to rewrite some content. And at the same time, management requested to include supplementary images that help explain these policies better.

Manually, such a task is taxing, and it would take either a large team of proofreaders or a long time. With HTML-to-WYSIWYG conversion via HTML-friendly editors, this turns into a simpler task that involves copy-pasting followed by visual editing.

Broader Team Collaboration

When content turns editable through WYSIWYG, teams across departments can participate. Marketing can adjust campaign materials, operations can update SOPs, and training staff can revise guides. This reduces reliance on developers and speeds up updates since more people share ownership of the content.

Let’s go back to our previous example with the policy modernization. With a modern WYSIWYG HTML editor, proofreaders can copy-paste the old content into the editor and work on it simultaneously. And with features like autosaving, comments and mentions, and real-time collaboration, WYSIWYG editors streamline content editing with multiple people.

Long-Term Flexibility

Once the content is in WYSIWYG, end users will have an easier time adapting it to future systems. Modern editors evolve to support new file formats, accessibility guidelines, and mobile workflows. By converting legacy content, organizations set themselves up for smoother transitions tomorrow, instead of facing another round of legacy lock-in.

Why “HTML to WYSIWYG” Conversion Outperforms Other Migration Methods

When organizations migrate legacy content, they often face a choice. Should they rewrite everything from scratch, archive it in static formats, or keep maintaining plain HTML files? Compared to these alternatives, HTML-to-WYSIWYG conversion could offer the best balance of accuracy, usability, and scalability.

Manual Rewriting vs. Automated Conversion

A GIF that shows the difference between manual and automatic HTML conversion. In the manual process, users have to copy and paste the HTML content and edit each element accordingly. For the automatic process, after pasting the content, users can edit it directly using the WYSIWYG editor, skipping the coding process.

Manual (paste, rewrite old code) vs automatic (paste old code, use toolbar buttons) code migration

  • Manual rewriting slows everything down. The (human) converters have to retype, format, and check every page. Even if they copy-paste the content, they would have to manually replace all old code. This eats up time and resources.
  • Human error increases with scale. Even experienced writers may skip details or introduce inconsistencies across thousands of pages. And even though humans could also produce errors in converted content, the chances would be lower with a smaller scale.
  • HTML-to-WYSIWYG conversion automates the heavy lifting. Instead of rewriting, it transforms existing code into editable, user-friendly content. Afterwards, users can rely on the editor’s toolbar to easily edit the migrated content as needed. Teams save time and preserve the original intent of the content.

PDF Archiving vs. Editable Content

  • PDFs are static snapshots. They lock information in place, making it hard to update or repurpose. Most PDF editing also requires additional costs for that specific feature.
  • Accessibility suffers in PDFs. Readers using assistive technologies or mobile devices often struggle to interact with archived documents.
  • In a WYSIWYG editor, content stays alive. Teams can edit, improve, expand, and collaborate on old material without starting over.

Plain HTML Maintenance vs. User-Friendly Editors

  • Raw HTML requires technical know-how. Only developers or people comfortable with coding can maintain or edit the content. WYSIWYG editors, on the other hand, allow both developers and non-technical users to freely edit content.
  • This creates bottlenecks. Non-technical teams and users, like marketing or training staff, must always wait for developer support with plain HTML maintenance. They could also learn basic HTML, but even that takes time.
  • WYSIWYG removes barriers. Everyone, regardless of coding ability, can update or improve migrated content directly. This means that non-technical users can implement advanced formatting, embeds, or other features just as easily as developers.

Challenges to Watch Out for

Converting legacy content isn’t without its challenges. However, with the right approach, you can manage them better. Here are some common issues you might face, as well as how you can address them.

Formatting Inconsistencies

Not every piece of legacy HTML maps perfectly into a rich text editor. For example, tables with custom styling or nested lists may need manual adjustments after conversion. To ensure consistency and readability across all content, implement a review step and keep track of these hard-to-modernize elements.

Security and Clean Code

Old HTML sometimes contains inline scripts or outdated principles like embedded JavaScript in <script> tags. These can pose some security risks if carried over. Conversions should always sanitize content, removing scripts and restricting file types, to protect both users and the platform.

Tip: Always implement validation layers during migration. This ensures unsafe content doesn’t reach production environments. Having code editing capabilities also lets you review the HTML easier with modern syntax highlighting. Furthermore, having an AI-capable WYSIWYG editor allows users to gain security or best practices insights as they migrate legacy content.

Training and Change Management

A GIF that demonstrates how a WYSIWYG editor handles table formatting and editing.

Even with a simpler editor, staff may need some training. WYSIWYG tools often have advanced features like embedding media or managing tables. A short onboarding session, a quick-start guide, or some easy documentation pages may help non-technical users build confidence.

Having a WYSIWYG editor with an organized toolbar layout, proper tooltips, and easy navigation addresses this challenge much better.

Conclusion

Migrating legacy content doesn’t have to mean starting over. An HTML-to-WYSIWYG approach gives organizations a structured way to bring old materials into modern workflows. It protects and modernizes valuable knowledge, empowers non-technical teams, and prevents future lock-in.

By balancing technical accuracy with usability, conversion delivers both immediate benefits and long-term resilience. The result is clear: organizations preserve the past while preparing for the future.

To get started with your legacy content migration process, check out this GitHub repo that can guide you with implementing code view, table handling, and more.

Discord-Inspired Spoiler! Spice Up Your Web Editor Content With Hidden Text

text spoiler

Modern editors aren’t just about bold and italic anymore — they’re about creating richer ways to format and present content. One modern feature you’ve likely seen in forums, chat apps, and blogs is spoiler text: content that’s hidden until a reader chooses to reveal it. Whether it’s for plot twists, quiz answers, or sensitive details, spoiler formatting can add both fun and utility to your writing.

In this post, we’ll explore how to implement spoiler text in the Froala WYSIWYG Editor. Instead of inserting raw HTML, we’ll take advantage of Froala’s built-in format.toggle API to wrap the current selection in a <span> element with a custom CSS class. This approach ensures that your spoiler style can be applied and removed just like bold or italic, keeping the editing experience clean and intuitive.

By the end, you’ll have a neat little toggle button in your Froala toolbar that lets users mark text as a spoiler — and some CSS that hides it until revealed.

Froala editor - spoiler feature

Prerequisites

Before we start, make sure you have:

  • A working Froala Editor setup on your page.
  • Basic knowledge of JavaScript and CSS.

If you already have Froala running, you’re good to go.

Step 1: Define the Spoiler Style with CSS

First, let’s create a CSS class that hides text until hovered.

Instead of hiding text with a black background, we’ll use a blur effect. This keeps the text visible but unreadable until the user hovers or focuses on it.

.spoiler-text {
  filter: blur(4px);                /* Blurs the text (adjust blur strength as needed) */
  transition: filter 0.3s ease-in-out; /* Smoothly animates the blur change */
  user-select: none;                /* Prevents copying the hidden text */
  cursor: default;                  /* Keeps cursor neutral (not text-selectable) */
}

.spoiler-text:hover,
.spoiler-text:focus {
  filter: blur(0);                  /* Removes blur on hover or keyboard focus */
}

How it works:

  • filter: blur(4px); → makes the text unreadable by blurring it.
  • transition: filter 0.3s ease-in-out; → ensures the blur fades smoothly when toggled.
  • user-select: none; → prevents people from selecting/copying blurred text.
  • cursor: default; → makes the cursor behave like normal text, not editable text.
  • :hover and :focus states → when the user hovers with a mouse or focuses with the keyboard (Tab), the blur is removed, revealing the text.

This gives a sleek “spoiler reveal” effect, and it also works for keyboard users (important for accessibility).

Step 2: Add a Custom Command to Froala

Next, we’ll teach Froala how to apply this class from a custom toolbar button.

FroalaEditor.ICON_DEFAULT_TEMPLATE = 'font_awesome';

// 1) Define an icon for the toolbar 
FroalaEditor.DefineIcon('spoiler', {NAME: 'eye-slash', template: 'font_awesome'});

// 2) Register a command that toggles a span.spoiler-text
FroalaEditor.RegisterCommand('spoiler', {
  title: 'Sensitive Content',
  icon: 'spoiler',
  focus: true,
  undo: true,
  refreshAfterCallback: true,

  // When clicked: toggle the span with class "my-span"
  callback: function () {
    // 'this' is the editor instance
    this.format.toggle('span', { class: 'spoiler-text' });
  },

  // Called to refresh button state (so it shows active when selection is inside span.my-span)
  refresh: function ($btn) {
    var isActive = this.format.is('span', { class: 'spoiler-text' });
    $btn.toggleClass('fr-active', isActive);
    $btn.attr('aria-pressed', isActive ? 'true' : 'false');
  }
});

What happens here:

  • We create a button with an “eye-slash” icon.
  • The callback applies or removes the <span class="spoiler-text">.
  • The refresh method updates the button state so it lights up when spoiler is active.

Click-to-Reveal For Mobile Users

On the desktop, hover-to-reveal works nicely. But on mobile devices, there’s no hover — so it’s better to let users tap or click to reveal the text.

We can achieve this with a tiny bit of JavaScript:

/* Default blurred style */
.spoiler-text {
  filter: blur(4px);
  transition: filter 0.3s ease-in-out;
  user-select: none;
  cursor: pointer;  /* Cursor indicates clickability */
}

/* When revealed, blur is removed */
.spoiler-text.revealed {
  filter: blur(0);
}
// Toggle reveal on click
document.addEventListener('click', function (e) {
  if (e.target.classList.contains('spoiler-text')) {
    e.target.classList.toggle('revealed');
  }
});

How it works:

  • By default, .spoiler-text is blurred.
  • When the user clicks (or taps) on it, JavaScript toggles the .revealed class.
  • .revealed removes the blur filter, showing the hidden content.
  • Clicking again can re-hide the text (or you can remove the toggle if you want a one-time reveal).

Example in Action:

<p>Answer: <span class="spoiler-text">42</span></p>

Now, on both desktop and mobile, readers can click or tap the blurred text to reveal it smoothly.

Step 3: Add the Button to Your Toolbar

Now tell Froala to include the button in the toolbar.

new FroalaEditor('#editor', {

  toolbarButtons: ['bold', 'italic', 'underline', 'spoiler', 'insertLink']

});

When the editor loads, you’ll see the Spoiler button next to the others.

Step 4: Try It Out

Type some text into the editor, highlight a word or sentence, then click the Spoiler button.

  • The text should now look hidden with a blur effect.
  • Hover over it to reveal what’s inside.
  • Click Spoiler button again to remove the formatting.

Use Cases & Tips

spoiler text use cases

Spoiler text can be used in many different contexts beyond just hiding movie endings. Here are some detailed scenarios where it can really improve the user experience:

1. Hiding Quiz or Homework Answers

If you’re creating an educational platform or blog, spoiler text is perfect for concealing answers until the student is ready.

  • The question or exercise is always visible.
  • The answer remains blurred until the learner hovers over it (or clicks, if you adapt the CSS).
  • This encourages active learning because users first attempt the question before revealing the solution.

Example:

<p>What is 12 × 8?</p>  
<span class="spoiler-text">96</span>

2. Revealing Hints Step by Step

Sometimes you don’t want to give away the full answer immediately — just a nudge. Spoiler formatting lets you add “progressive disclosure” to your content.

  • The first hint might be lightly blurred.
  • A second hint might contain more detail.
  • Finally, the full answer can be revealed.

This is especially useful for puzzle games, coding tutorials, or escape room guides.

Example:

<p>Hint 1: <span class="spoiler-text">It’s a two-digit number.</span></p>  

<p>Hint 2: <span class="spoiler-text">It’s divisible by 12.</span></p>

3. Concealing Story Spoilers in Blogs and Communities

Writers, bloggers, and fan communities often need to discuss books, movies, or TV shows without ruining the experience for readers who haven’t caught up.

  • Spoiler formatting allows discussions without fear of spoiling the fun.
  • Readers who want the details can reveal them on their own.

Example:

<p>The twist in the final episode is <span class="spoiler-text">the detective was the villain all along</span>.</p>

4. Masking Sensitive Information

Spoiler text isn’t just for fun — it can also be a practical way to hide personal or sensitive details in demos or screenshots.

  • For example, showing an API key or password without exposing it directly.
  • You can blur the data but still reveal it when needed.
  • This makes tutorials safer without completely removing important context.

Example:

<p>Your API key is: <span class="spoiler-text">12345-ABCDE</span></p>

5. Styling Variations for Fun

Spoiler text doesn’t have to look the same everywhere. You can:

  • Change the blur strength (subtle vs. strong).
  • Swap blur for pixelation (with a CSS trick).
  • Add hover animations (like fade-in or glow).
  • Require a click instead of hover by toggling a CSS class with JavaScript.

These variations let you adapt spoiler text to the tone of your platform — serious for sensitive info, playful for games or fan discussions.

FAQ: Creating Spoiler Text in Froala Editor

  1. Can I change the blur strength of the spoiler text?
    Yes. In the CSS, adjust the value in filter: blur(4px);. A higher number makes the text harder to read before revealing, while a smaller number makes it faintly visible.
  2. Can I make the spoiler reveal on click instead of hover?
    Absolutely. The article shows a “click-to-reveal” variation that toggles a .revealed class using JavaScript. This is especially useful for mobile devices where hover doesn’t exist.
  3. Will spoiler text be accessible for keyboard users?
    Yes. Since we also support :focus, users navigating with the keyboard (using Tab) can reveal the text. If you want click-only behavior, ensure the element can still be focused (e.g., add tabindex="0" to the spoiler spans).
  4. Can I style the spoiler differently, like fade-in or with a colored box?
    Definitely. The .spoiler-text class is just a starting point. You can add animations, background colors, or even icons. For example:

    .spoiler-text.revealed {   
      animation: fadeIn 0.5s ease-in-out;
    }
  1. Can I prevent users from copying spoiler text before it’s revealed?
    Yes. We added user-select: none; in the CSS so blurred text can’t be highlighted or copied. You can remove this line if you want to allow copying even when blurred.
  2. Does this feature work in all browsers?
    The blur effect (filter: blur) works in all modern browsers (Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari). For older browsers, you may want to provide a fallback style, like hidden text with a black background.
  3. Can I use this same technique for other custom formats?
    Yes. The same format.toggle approach in Froala can be used for any custom inline style — like highlights, callouts, or even custom tags. Just swap out the class name and CSS.

Key Takeaways

  • Spoiler text adds interactivity — it’s great for hiding answers, hints, story spoilers, or sensitive info.
  • Use CSS for the hiding effect — blur, background color, or any creative styling you prefer.
  • Froala’s format.toggle API makes spoiler text behave like bold/italic (easy to apply and remove).
  • Click-to-reveal works best for mobile, while hover-to-reveal is fine for desktop.
  • Customizable styles let you adapt spoiler text to your platform’s tone — fun, educational, or professional.

Conclusion

With just a bit of CSS and Froala’s format.toggle API, you can give your editor a spoiler text feature that feels as natural as bold or italic. It’s flexible, easy to maintain, and a great example of extending Froala with your own custom formatting.

Now that you’ve seen how spoiler text works, try experimenting with other styles — like blurred text, tooltips, or even animated reveals. Froala makes it simple to extend the editor to fit your needs.

Try It Yourself 🎉

Want to see spoiler text in action? 👉 Open the live demo on JSFiddle and try adding spoiler formatting to your own text.

Select some text, click the Spoiler button, and watch it blur until you hover or tap to reveal!

✨ Pro tip: After testing, try modifying the CSS to change the blur strength or switch to a background-color reveal. You’ll see how flexible this technique is.

Download Froala for free and test this feature on your site today!

How the Best JavaScript WYSIWYG Editor Handles Media and File Embedding

A laptop with an example of the best JavaScript WYSIWYG editor at the center. The editor has a video embedded into some content. Floating icons that represent files that users can embed surround the editor.

Every content-centric modern application has to have a way to embed files, especially images, videos, and documents. Since users might expect file management to be a natural part of the experience, this raises the stakes for developers. Aside from giving users file embeds, developers must also do so without turning the application into a clunky or unreliable mess.

The real challenge lies in balance. Embedding media must feel intuitive enough so creators work smoothly. However, it should also be secure and fast enough so developers avoid bloated code or costly maintenance.

This is where the best JavaScript WYSIWYG editor comes in. Instead of requiring manual code or difficult processes for embeds, it provides tools that benefit both creators and developers alike. In this article, you’ll see how such an editor addresses this.

Key Takeaways

  • Media embedding is central to modern content creation, not just an optional feature.
  • The best JS WYSIWYG editor streamlines this process with drag-and-drop, multi-source uploads, built-in media management, and file handling automation.
  • Beyond visuals, it also handles document embedding and interactive elements like code snippets.
  • Developers benefit from simple integrations, customization options, and lower maintenance overhead.
  • Strong embedding capabilities help ensure scalability, cross-platform reliability, and future-readiness for content-heavy applications.

Why Media and File Embedding Is Central to Content Creation

When users interact with content online, they rarely separate text from visuals or attachments. To them, it’s a single flow of information.

On the other hand, developers know how complex it is to merge these elements behind the scenes. This is why the ability to embed media and files directly within a WYSIWYG editor has turned essential.

Visual Engagement

Firstly, multimedia adds context and captures attention; in fact, it engages users better than text. A 2020 study by Kiwon Seo states, based on previous empirical findings, that “…people tend to first see the visual, rather than the verbal part of the message.”

For example, would you want to go through an entire course about human anatomy without any diagrams or videos? Probably not, since you could take longer, and not everyone has the time to read through entire blocks of text. The reality is users might no longer treat visuals as a bonus but as an expected part of the baseline.

An image of a burger as well as the text "we sell burgers."

Here’s another example: the image above contains a sample advertisement for a burger joint. Its 2 elements are a large burger at the center as well as the text “We sell burgers” below it. Before a viewer even sees the text, they will most likely see the image of a giant burger first.

Content Versatility

Embedding goes beyond pictures. A strong WYSIWYG editor should support PDFs, videos, and even codes or scripts. Adding audio or video deepens storytelling, whether in an online course, a financial report, or a blog post.

By allowing a wide range of formats, the best JavaScript WYSIWYG editor helps ensure the platform adapts across industries.

Note: If you really have to allow users to upload scripts or code snippets (like GitHub), you should always remain careful. Always sanitize user inputs to remove malicious code, avoid executing uploaded scripts on your server, and apply strict directory and access controls.

Workflow Efficiency

Without seamless embedding, creators waste time jumping between tools, copying code, or troubleshooting formatting (like in Word apps). Direct embedding from the rich text editor solves this by cutting out unnecessary steps. This helps users focus on content rather than tech hurdles.

How the Best JavaScript WYSIWYG Editor Streamlines Media Embedding

Embedding media might sound straightforward, but poor implementations often create friction like slow uploads, broken layouts, or inconsistent rendering. The best JavaScript WYSIWYG editor addresses these issues by offering intuitive and stable workflows amidst file embeds.

Drag-and-Drop and Multi-Source Uploads

A GIF that shows how drag-and-drop uploads work.

A GIF that shows how a drag-and-drop upload works.

Instead of always navigating the file explorer, why not give users some alternative ways to upload files? For instance, modern WYSIWYG editors let users drag and drop files for uploads. They often allow users to choose their upload source, from local files to Google Drive, online content, and custom sources.

Tip: The GIF above demonstrates a standard drag-and-drop feature in modern WYSIWYG editors. If you’re curious as to how you can implement this, here’s the GitHub for this demo.

By going beyond manual code or explorer-based uploads, advanced editors feel natural and fast, especially when handling multiple assets.

Built-in Media Management

Uploading a file is only the start, as users may need to perform other actions on the files. Examples include image tagging, which is the process of obtaining tags that describe an image’s general features, and virus detection.

The best JavaScript WYSIWYG editor centralizes these features, giving users complete control over their files without leaving the editor. Such an editor should handle most file-related actions or alterations before, during, and post upload.

For example, let’s say we have an Instagram clone that contains a WYSIWYG editor with built-in media management. Its users won’t have to use other software to sharpen, crop, apply filters to, or rotate any image they upload. In the server, the application can then automatically get descriptive tags from the image and categorize and sort it with other public content.

File Handling Automation

Implementing standards like size limits, automatic compression, virus detection, or content safety checks in your application is vital. Without them, files can quickly bloat storage, slow down performance, or even introduce security or community safety risks.

Modern editors often integrate these workflows seamlessly into the upload process. For instance, they can automatically compress large images or detect potentially harmful files before they reach the server.

Handling File Embedding beyond Media

Not all embeds are about visuals. Many industries depend on documents, structured data, or interactive elements. A good editor recognizes this broader need.

Consider a researcher uploading a paper or a business embedding a PDF containing some policy. Without proper integration, users might rely on external viewers that interrupt the experience. Having an editor that supports documents keeps everything accessible in one place, especially if it also has a document viewer.

2 screenshots showing both a WYSIWYG view and code view for some HTML content.

Beyond static files, creators use interactive elements like code snippets, charts, or widgets. These help bring content to life, which is handy in developer teams, education, or other technical setups. A flexible WYSIWYG HTML editor supports these without becoming bloated or overly complicated.

Lastly, in terms of security, embedding files must also be safe for both your infrastructure and users.

For instance, your editor must prevent users from uploading unsafe or invalid file types. To do this, always check file type and size validity in the back end, and never run executable files. If you really have to, isolate and sandbox them.

You should also check every file upload for potential threats, such as viruses or malware. Some WYSIWYG editors let you scan files for viruses, preventing them from having a place in your server.

Why Choosing the Best JavaScript WYSIWYG Editor Matters for Developers

From a developer’s perspective, every added feature has trade-offs. Editors with poor UX might frustrate end users, increase maintenance costs, or slow down projects. A capable WYSIWYG editor considers these issues as much as possible.

Simplified Integration

Developers don’t want to reinvent file handling from scratch. With prebuilt APIs and plugins, you can add media embedding features quickly without disrupting existing systems. This speeds up project delivery and reduces integration headaches.

Customization Options

Different applications demand different levels of complexity. For instance, a university LMS (learning management system) might need advanced math support, while a blog might only require images. Customizable editors let developers enable only the most important features, keeping the interface neat and organized.

Reduced Maintenance

Media standards evolve constantly. The best JavaScript WYSIWYG editor handles updates concerning browser requirements, accessibility rules, or video codecs without much intervention. As a result, developers spend less time patching compatibility issues, making maintenance much less of a headache.

The Long-Term Value of Robust Media Embedding

As the end users’ needs and project requirements grow, applications must keep up. Thankfully, a JavaScript WYSIWYG editor with powerful media embedding features handles this well in the long run.

Scalability for Teams

As content volume increases, workflows can easily turn into bottlenecks. The best JavaScript WYSIWYG editor helps ensure that media embedding stays consistent and efficient even as more users collaborate on the same platform.

Cross-Platform Reliability

End users expect embedded media to work seamlessly whether they’re on a desktop browser or a mobile device. Cross-platform reliability reduces friction and strengthens trust in their product. For example, a blog post that appears consistent on all devices reflects well not only on the editor but also on the platform.

Future-Ready Content

New media formats and technologies often continue to appear, leading to a constantly evolving content ecosystem. Editors that evolve alongside these trends prevent platforms from becoming outdated. This future readiness helps developers avoid major rewrites every few years.

Conclusion

Media and file embedding has always been central to content creation. It drives engagement, improves clarity, and supports diverse use cases across industries. However, embedding isn’t always simple unless the right tools are in place.

The best JavaScript WYSIWYG editor offers a secure, scalable, and user-friendly solution to this challenge. For developers, it reduces complexity and maintenance while simplifying integration and feature implementation. For creators, it provides helpful controls that let them focus on ideas rather than syntax.

The outcome? Fewer clunky workflows, more unhindered creativity, and content platforms that grow better over time.

The Easy Way to Format Math Online with a Visual HTML Editor

A visual HTML editor. Around it are mathematical symbols, representing mathematical formatting.

Math is one of the most universal languages, but it’s not always easy to write mathematical expressions online. For students, teachers, researchers, and even developers, formatting these expressions has always remained a challenge. Symbols, fractions, and integrals don’t fit neatly into plain text, which means content often looks cluttered or worse, unreadable.

Raw LaTeX code is powerful and popular in academia, but it isn’t always friendly to non-experts. For instance, a missed bracket or mistyped command can break an entire equation. On the other hand, HTML and MathML provide structure for equations but require technical knowledge to implement correctly.

A visual HTML editor changes this equation entirely. By turning complex notation into point-and-click actions, it makes math formatting simple, accessible, and accurate. In this article, you’ll learn how visual HTML editors make writing mathematical expressions easier while addressing common complexities in traditional methods.

Key Takeaways

  • Traditional math formatting methods (plain text, LaTeX, and MathML) are useful but could have significant barriers for non-technical users.
  • A visual HTML editor streamlines the math formatting process with real-time previews, intuitive toolbars, and accessibility features.
  • Math-friendly editors make collaboration easier across education, research, and professional fields.
  • For developers, embedding such editors means fewer support issues, smoother workflows, and better scalability and maintenance.
  • Accessible math formatting will continue to grow in importance as online education and publishing expand.

Traditional Methods of Math Formatting

Before modern visual HTML editors, users and developers had to use manual code or symbols to write math expressions online. Each method has its strengths and limitations and is still a viable option today depending on your needs.

Plain Text

Some platforms still rely on plain text to approximate math. For example, fractions might appear as 1/2 or exponents as x^2. While this works for the simplest cases, it quickly breaks down when equations grow more complex.

Imagine typing a quadratic formula, integral, or a matrix this way. While plain text has its place in quick chats or informal notes, it doesn’t scale for professional use. Overall, it lacks structure, visual clarity, and accessibility support.

LaTeX

LaTeX is the gold standard in scientific publishing. It uses a markup-like syntax to produce beautifully typeset equations, such as \frac{a}{b} for fractions. You first write lines of code, adding syntax between the words and numbers, and then produce a PDF.

You can also use it for presentations, but is the output really worth all the mental pain? Researchers and mathematicians (and even math or computer science majors) prefer it because of its precision and flexibility. However, LaTeX has a steep learning curve.

A sample excerpt from a PDF outputted from LaTeX.

Figure 1: A sample PDF output written in LaTeX, from my research back in university

New users must memorize commands, and even experienced ones face frustration when small syntax errors break output. For educators or students unfamiliar with coding, LaTeX can feel like a barrier rather than a solution.

Tip: LaTeX is ideal for technical experts but slows down collaboration in mixed groups, especially where not everyone likes coding. If you want to learn more about how LaTeX works, check out this formatting cheat sheet.

MathML

MathML is an XML-based markup language that displays math on the web. Used together with HTML, it’s a good solution for organized and accessible math expressions.

Unlike plain text, MathML provides structure that machines and browsers can interpret consistently. And unlike LaTeX, it’s more accessible and easier to share with collaborators. Here’s a sample snippet that displays the quadratic formula using MathML and HTML:

<math display="block">
 <mrow>
   <mi>x</mi>
   <mo>=</mo>
   <mfrac>
     <mrow>
       <mo>−</mo>
        <mi>b</mi>
      </mrow>
      <mo>±</mo>
     <msqrt>
       <msup>
         <mi>b</mi>
         <mn>2</mn>
       </msup>
       <mo>−</mo>
     <mrow>
         <mn>4</mn>
       <mo>⁢</mo>
       <mi>a</mi>
       <mo>⁢</mo>
       <mi>c</mi>
     </mrow>
    </msqrt>
  </mfrac>
 </mrow>
</math>

The downside? Like LaTeX, writing MathML by hand is tedious. Even a simple fraction (like in the quadratic formula) requires multiple nested tags, making it impractical for everyday use. While developers may appreciate its precision, most content creators might avoid it because of the complexity.

What Are Some Challenges in Formatting Math Expressions?

Even with established methods like LaTeX and MathML, creating math content online often feels more difficult than it seems.

The Complexity of Raw Code

As stated earlier, writing in LaTeX or MathML requires technical knowledge, and even small syntax errors can break equations. This discourages non-technical users from contributing, widening the gap between technical and non-technical users. For instance, in an LMS for high school students, they might not want to use complex markup to write equations.

The User Experience Problem

Math doesn’t behave like plain text. Users often need to preview formatting before they gain confidence that it looks correct. Switching between editing and preview modes slows down productivity. Worse, rendering may differ depending on the platform, leaving equations inconsistent.

Collaboration Barriers

Teachers, students, and colleagues often come from varied backgrounds, so expecting everyone to “speak the same code” is unrealistic. Shared documents full of syntax (e.g., LaTeX) can look messy and discourage collaboration.

How a Visual HTML Editor Simplifies Math Formatting

A sample visual HTML editor that supports easy math formatting. The user clicks on the math formatting button first, inputs an expression, then clicks "OK" to display the expression on the editor. Various mathematical symbols, both simple and advanced, are present in the editor.

Figure 2: A visual HTML editor that supports extensive math formatting

A visual HTML editor, also known as a WYSIWYG HTML editor or rich text editor, helps address the aforementioned challenges. It does so by combining the precision of markup with the accessibility of a user-friendly interface. Instead of memorizing commands, users click buttons, insert symbols, and preview the output instantly.

Real-Time Preview

Instead of switching between raw code and output, users see results as they type. This feedback loop encourages experimentation and helps users correct errors immediately. Developers also benefit since fewer formatting errors translate into fewer support tickets.

Additionally, this helps educators and students stay focused on their tasks instead of the math markup syntax.

Intuitive Toolbar Options

A visual HTML editor typically includes toolbars with common math functions, such as fractions, exponents, square roots, integrals, and more. For users, this feels closer to word processing than coding. It bridges the gap between technical accuracy and ease of use.

A demo that shows a math-ready visual HTML editor in action. In the GIF, the user selects the square root icon, which opens up the MathType editor. The user then types an equation in the MathType editor. After the user clicks "OK," the math expression is displayed on the visual HTML editor.

Figure 3: A math-friendly visual HTML editor in action

As a result, the visual HTML editor reduces the steep learning curve for math notations. Users would just plug in an equation, symbol, or expression from the toolbar and insert the variables and constants.

Accessibility for Everyone

By abstracting away the complexity, these editors empower more people to create. Teachers without coding knowledge can prepare lessons, and students can write assignments. Researchers, developers, and colleagues can collaborate on drafts without worrying about syntax.

Note: Many modern editors also integrate with assistive technologies, ensuring equations remain accessible to screen readers and compliant with accessibility guidelines.

Where Math-Friendly Visual HTML Editors Shine

The impact of math-ready editors is most obvious in contexts where accuracy, clarity, and developer-friendliness or ease of implementation are critical.

Education Platforms

Learning Management Systems (LMS) depend on clear, structured math materials. With a visual HTML editor, teachers can prepare equations without coding, and students can focus on solving problems instead of figuring out formatting. This promotes interactive learning and quicker grading, revisions, or feedback.

Research and Academia

Academic publishing often requires strict formatting standards like IEEE. A WYSIWYG HTML editor speeds up the process by producing clean, consistent equations that meet publication requirements. This reduces the time from draft to submission and helps researchers collaborate more effectively.

Tip: Want to ensure that users’ content follows these formatting standards? Try some of the following with your visual HTML editor:

  • Incorporate an AI writing assistant in your editor. This can make suggestions, fix formatting mistakes or inconsistencies, and help standardize user content.
  • Create custom templates for research paper elements, assignment answers, or other content structures. For example, you can create a “title” template that automatically appears at the center top and has a 32px (24 pt) font.

Everyday Applications

Math isn’t confined to classrooms or research labs. Blogs or forums might include math snippets, while professionals like data scientists or engineers might need to share math content.

A sample application that uses a visual HTML editor for math formatting. This is Desmos, a graphing calculator found online.

Online graphing calculators like Desmos also often use visual HTML editors, like in the image above. A rich text editor makes math formatting seamless across industries, ensuring clarity whenever math is involved.

The Long-Term Benefits for Developers and Users

For developers, adopting a math-ready visual HTML editor in platforms could mean fewer maintenance headaches, improving scalability. Consistent markup reduces bugs and ensures math displays correctly across browsers and devices.

HTML editors also save time. Instead of debugging formatting issues, developers can focus on the larger application logic, be that for LMS or forums. Furthermore, you won’t have to think about implementing math syntax checking or formatting from scratch or on your own.

For users, the payoff is simpler workflows, better collaboration, and content that looks professional without the technical hurdles.

Conclusion

Formatting math online doesn’t have to feel like solving a problem itself. With the help of a visual HTML editor, your users can write, preview, and share math expressions more easily.

These tools bridge the gap between power and usability, giving developers maintainability while offering creators speed and clarity. They’re almost LaTeX level in terms of precision, and yet they’re significantly easier to use. As education, research, and publishing continue to expand online, the importance of accessible math formatting will only increase.

Note that no math formatting method is better than the rest at everything. Plain text works for simple chats, LaTeX turns into a powerful weapon when wielded correctly, and HTML editors combine usability and accuracy. In the end, check your requirements, and go for the option that works best for you and your users.

Math formatting using LaTeX and MathML is already cool. Why not make it cool and easy with a visual HTML editor?

What’s New in Froala 4.6.2: Powerful Table Functionality

We are excited to announce the release of Froala 4.6.2, which introduces new Table features. These features were highly requested by our users and we are thrilled to finally bring it to you.

Moreover, this release comes with an enhanced Word Pasting Experience.

Additionally, we’ve made several other improvements to our powerful text editor. We believe this new addition will greatly enhance your editing experience with Froala.

Improved Table Editing Experience

Froala 4.6.2 introduces several new table features that enhance the editing experience. Users can now easily drag and drop tables, copy and paste cells, and resize tables vertically. Let’s find out how.

Flexible Table Positioning: Drag and Drop Tables

This release introduces the ability to easily move tables within the editor by dragging and dropping them. Users can click and hold the draggable handle at the top-left of a table, then drag it to the desired location on the page.

This feature simplifies rearranging tables in your content. You can move a table higher or lower, or shift it to a new section. The drag-and-drop functionality provides an intuitive way to adjust the table’s positioning.

Froala also includes a new configuration option called enableTableSelection. Users can select and drag tables when set to true (the default). Setting it to false disables table selection and dragging, giving you more control over the table positioning.

This draggable table feature works consistently across different table types and layouts, ensuring a seamless editing experience no matter how your tables are structured. This new capability in Froala 4.6.2 empowers content creators to organize and rearrange tabular data within their content quickly.

drag and drop table

Froala 4.6.2 Vertical Table Resizing Feature

We are excited to introduce the highly requested vertical table resizing feature. This new capability allows users to easily adjust the height of rows within a table, giving them more control over the layout and appearance of tabular data.

The vertical resizing functionality works consistently with Froala’s existing horizontal resizing features. Users can simply click and drag the resize handle at the bottom of a table row to adjust its height. This makes it easy to fine-tune the visual presentation of tables to best suit the content.

Froala now applies <colgroup> and <col> tags during table creation and resizing. This provides a cleaner, more consistent resizing experience.

Moreover, Froala has introduced a new configuration option called proportionalTableResize. This allows developers to choose between:

  1. Proportional adjustments: Resizing the table from any side (top, bottom, left, or right) proportionally adjusts all rows or columns. If resizing is done between specific rows or columns, only that row or column is resized.
  2. Targeted resizing: Resizing affects only the individual row or column being adjusted.

With the introduction of vertical resizing, combined with the existing horizontal resizing capabilities, Froala editor empowers content creators to precisely shape and optimize the appearance of tables within their digital content. This feature enhances the overall table management experience, making it easier than ever to create visually appealing and well-structured tabular layouts.

resize table

Effortless Table Data Replication: Froala’s New Copy-Paste Cell Feature

Froala 4.6.2 introduces another powerful new copy-and-paste feature for table cells, including both the content and formatting. This highly requested functionality empowers content creators to quickly replicate and transfer tabular data within their digital content.

To copy cells, users can select multiple cells by holding the Shift key and clicking, or by dragging the mouse over the desired cells. Then, they can copy the cells using the standard Ctrl+C (Windows) or Cmd+C (Mac) shortcuts.

The copied cells retain not only the data but also the formatting attributes, such as font styles, colors, and borders. When pasted, the exact visual representation and structure of the original table cells are preserved.

Pasting is just as simple. Users position their cursor where they want the cells to go, then use Ctrl+V (Windows) or Cmd+V (Mac) to paste.

Click and hold the draggable handle at the top-left of a table before copying if you want to copy the entire table while preserving its original size.

If pasting into an empty area, Froala will automatically create a new table to hold the pasted content, maintaining the original formatting. If pasting into an existing table, Froala will adjust the column widths and row heights as needed to ensure a proper fit, maintaining the visual integrity of the tabular data.

This copy-and-paste functionality empowers content creators to work with tables more efficiently. They can quickly duplicate and transfer data between tables, or even generate new tables from copied content. By preserving the original formatting, this feature streamlines the content creation process, saving time and enhancing the overall user experience.

copy table

More Table Enhancements and Bug Fixes

The 4.6.2 release includes several other table-related improvements and bug fixes. These changes help ensure a more stable and reliable table editing experience across different browsers.

For example, users can now properly align cell content within tables. We also addressed an issue where users were previously unable to select text within table cells due to a Firefox-specific problem.

These updates further solidify Froala’s commitment to providing a robust and user-friendly content creation platform. Content creators can now work with tabular data more seamlessly and create visually appealing, well-structured tables with ease.

By addressing these table-related bugs and enhancing the overall editing experience, Froala continues to improve its text editor capabilities and empower users to produce high-quality content.

Enhanced Word Pasting Experience

In addition to the new table features, Froala 4.6.2 also includes several improvements to the Word pasting functionality. These enhancements deliver a more seamless experience when users copy and paste content from Microsoft Word into the Froala editor.

Support Scrolling to View Comments

Froala 4.6.2 improves the handling of Word comments when pasting content. Now, when users paste content that contains comments, Froala inserts an anchor tag at the location of each comment. The actual comments are then appended to the bottom of the pasted content.

This new functionality allows users to easily navigate to the relevant comments by simply clicking on the anchor tags. The anchor tags provide a clear visual cue, making it straightforward for users to jump to the associated comments quickly.

This enhancement improves the overall flow and organization of the pasted content. Users can now effortlessly review and understand the context of the comments, leading to a more seamless content creation experience.

Optimized Pasting Attribute

Another enhancement in Froala 4.6.2 is the change in the attribute used to identify pasted content. Previously, the editor would add an id="isPasted" attribute to elements that were pasted from Microsoft Word.

In this release, the editor now uses a data-pasted="isPasted" attribute instead. This change provides several benefits:

  1. Semantic Improvement: The use of a data-* attribute aligns better with HTML’s semantic structure, as it indicates that the attribute is for internal use and does not represent a standard HTML attribute.
  2. Compatibility: The id attribute is reserved for unique identifiers within an HTML document, and using it for pasted content could cause conflicts with other elements on the page. The data-* attribute avoids this potential issue.
  3. Accessibility: Screen readers and other assistive technologies are more likely to ignore data-* attributes, reducing the risk of exposing unnecessary information to users.

By making this change, Froala ensures a more robust and accessible handling of pasted content, while also maintaining the ability to identify and process the pasted elements as needed.

Improved Numbered List Alignment

Froala 4.6.2 also addresses an issue related to the alignment of pasted numbered lists. Previously, when copying and pasting numbered lists from Microsoft Word, the list items could sometimes appear misaligned within the Froala editor.

This release includes a fix for this problem, ensuring that the numbered lists are correctly aligned and formatted when pasted into the editor. Users can now seamlessly copy and paste numbered lists from Word, and the list structure and formatting will be preserved without any visual inconsistencies.

These enhancements to the Word pasting functionality in Froala 4.6.2 demonstrate the team’s commitment to improving the content creation experience. By addressing common pain points, such as handling comments and numbered lists, Froala continues to provide a robust and user-friendly platform for content creators to work with.

Much More…

We have addressed several bug fixes to improve the overall performance and stability of the editor.

Here are some of the key improvements:

  1. Pasting from External Sources on Android Chrome: Copied content (text or images) from external sources is now inserted at the cursor position in the Froala Editor when pasted using long-press or system paste on Android Chrome.
  2. Preserving Formatting on Delete: The keepFormatOnDelete configuration now correctly preserves the formatting when deleting characters or entire lines. Users can continue typing using the same style.
  3. Inserting <br> in Empty Table Cells: The issue with the html.wrap(false, true, false) method has been resolved, and it removes the <br> tags in empty <td> elements when called after inserting the table.
  4. Angular Compatibility: The compilation error when referencing FroalaEditor in Angular projects has been addressed.

These bug fixes and enhancements demonstrate Froala’s commitment to continuously improving the editor’s performance and addressing user-reported issues. By resolving these problems, Froala ensures a more reliable and seamless content creation experience for its users.

Please find the complete changelog list here.

How Can I Update?

Update to Froala WYSIWYG Editor 4.6.2 today and experience enhanced editing features and improvements.

Follow the table below to learn how to download the latest Froala Editor release and include it in your project based on your preferred method.

If you are using a plain JavaScript library or other framework, follow the table below to learn how to download the latest Froala Editor release and include it in your project based on your preferred method.

Method How to download Include in your project
CDN
<!-- Include Editor stylesheet-->
<link href="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/[email protected]/css/froala_editor.pkgd.min.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" />

<!-- Include Editor JavaScript file-->
<script type="text/javascript" src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/[email protected]/js/froala_editor.pkgd.min.js"></script>
CDN (Always the latest version)
<!-- Include Editor stylesheet-->
<link href="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/froala-editor@latest/css/froala_editor.pkgd.min.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" />

<!-- Include Editor JavaScript file-->
<script type="text/javascript" src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/froala-editor@latest/js/froala_editor.pkgd.min.js"></script>
NPM
npm install froala-editor
<!--

Replace the {download-folder-path} in the following example with the path to the folder containing the stylesheet file e.g.

../css/froala_editor.pkgd.min.js

-->

<link href="{download-folder-path}/froala_editor.pkgd.min.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" />

<!--

Replace the {download-folder-path} with the path to the folder containing the JS file e.g.

../js/froala_editor.pkgd.min.js

-->

<script type="text/javascript" src="{download-folder-path}/froala_editor.pkgd.min.js"></script>
bower
bower install froala-wysiwyg-editor
NO Package Manager Download Froala WYSIWYG Editor files using the download form here.
Integrated with a Framework Select your preferred framework from 17 different popular frameworks.
Other options Check here for other options for using Froala WYSIWYG Editor in your project.

For Froala Editor Version 2 Users:

Follow this migration guide for step-by-step instructions on upgrading from version 2.

Try The Latest Froala Editor

Explore a variety of examples that demonstrate the functionality of the Froala HTML Editor.

Support and Feedback

We are dedicated to always offering the best possible experience for all our users. We believe this release, meant to enhance Typescript support, is a stepping stone towards that commitment. We encourage you to try this improved Typescript support and give us your valuable feedback. Your input is crucial for delivering continuous enhancement and meeting your evolving needs. Thank you for being a valuable part of our vibrant and growing community.
We would like to hear what you think of the latest release! Join us on our GitHub Community to chat with our product manager, developers, and other members of the Froala team.

Change Log

Get Started

  • You can download and start using Froala in less than five minutes following our get-started guide.

Technical Questions

Why HTML Editor Software Is a Hidden Ally for Content Creators

The handshake icon on top of an HTML editor software. This symbolizes how these tools can be allies for content creators.

HTML editor software often doesn’t get the credit it deserves. Sometimes dismissed as nothing more than a box for typing text, it actually powers online content creation. Blogs, social media platforms, collaborative document tools, and countless more applications all rely on these editors.

For content creators, a reliable editor determines how fast they can structure articles, style text, embed media, and more. For developers, the right editor helps reduce integration challenges, minimize bugs, and improve long-term maintainability.

This dual impact, empowering creators while easing developer workload, is what makes a WYSIWYG editor much more than a utility. It turns into a foundation for smooth development workflows, end-user happiness, and scalable digital experiences. Take an HTML editor software deep dive below to learn how these tools silently empower important features of today’s applications.

Note: A WYSIWYG editor (what you see is what you get) is another name for HTML editor software. It usually comes in the form of an in-app rich text editor or even a separate online HTML editor. This tool means that what users see while writing (bold text or headings) is exactly what viewers will see afterwards.

Key Takeaways

  • HTML editor software powers content creation by handling formatting, styling, media embedding, and other rich text and advanced content features behind the scenes.
  • Developers benefit from drop-in compatibility with CMS platforms and web frameworks (e.g., React), reducing integration work with popular technologies.
  • Editors with a modular plugin architecture lead to better maintenance by keeping editors lightweight and only enabling necessary features.
  • In the long run, editors help you scale according to your needs while making the latest tools (e.g., AI) available to your users.
  • HTML editors remain a hidden ally, serving both developers and creators by enabling seamless, user-friendly integration and content editing experiences.

How HTML Editor Software Simplifies Integration

Ensuring that every tool works seamlessly with existing systems is one of the biggest hurdles in building or maintaining platforms. HTML editor software eliminates much of this friction by offering built-in support for common frameworks, content management systems (CMS), and third-party tools. Instead of wrestling with compatibility issues, developers can focus on optimizing the overall experience of their applications.

An example of HTML editor software integrated into WordPress, a popular CMS.

An HTML editor software within WordPress

Note: CMS includes popular platforms like WordPress or Drupal, as well as custom-built platforms where users can create and share content. These tools help non-technical users write, publish, and manage web content without HTML knowledge. CMS also significantly reduce developer tasks, allowing you to use templates and reusable page elements.

Finally, editors today are capable of adapting across use cases. Whether for a business portal or a blog, developers can deploy the same editor in different contexts without rewriting code. This also means that users have the same experience using the editor regardless of what device, browser, or operating system they use.

How HTML Editor Software Empowers Developers and Creators

HTML editor software shapes how end users produce and see content. Developers can use editor configurations to design custom experiences for different kinds of users.

For example, a teacher writing course content in a learning platform may only need basic formatting and math expressions. In this case, developers of the learning platform can enable just those features to better suit the teacher’s needs.

Content styling is another critical advantage. Without a centralized editor, content can easily look inconsistent in both design and format. HTML editors solve this through theming and customization, which allow developers to “force” a certain look for content.

As a result, end users don’t have to style everything to fit their branding every time they interact with the editor. For example, let’s say we have an email platform that uses HTML editor software. Instead of having to add an email signature (logo, contact, etc.) every time, users only need to click a custom button.

The image is split into two. On the left side is a developer building an application. Above the developer are puzzle pieces, representing plugins that you can integrate or customize in HTML editor software. On the right side are digital horizontal lines, representing the thousands of lines of abstracted code that go into these plugins.

Modern editors come with flexible architectures that let teams choose only the components they need. This modular, plugin-based design is particularly valuable in large projects where maintainability and performance are top concerns.

Lightweight editors that let developers choose which plugins or features to include allow them to prevent bundles from bloating. Additionally, through plugins, developers delegate non-primary features to focused solutions.

Because of plugins’ abstraction and easy integration, developers won’t have to reinvent the wheel or create complex functionality.

For projects that evolve quickly, this flexibility is a key factor in helping developers and creators get what they need. Read this insightful article to learn more about plugin systems and their strengths and issues. As the author of that article said, “…not everything has to belong to the core.”

Maintenance Advantages of HTML Editor Software

When it comes to HTML editor software, you can either create your own from scratch or integrate a third-party one. Each method has its own advantages and disadvantages, and there’s no clear winner for every use case. In the end, you will have to assess your project requirements and make your decision based on them.

Building Your Own vs. Integrating Third-Party HTML Editor Software

Creating your own WYSIWYG editor allows you to have more control over its features and design. However, you might encounter various issues and difficulties, including implementing complex features (real-time collaboration, media management, or HTML code viewing). In the long run, you also have to worry about maintaining your custom editor while working on core features.

On the other hand, ready-made HTML editor software lets you start faster while not putting maintenance in your hands. Some might also have fixed features, features you don’t need, or poor customization, which isn’t ideal. When choosing a ready-made solution, ensure that you pick one that supports modular plugins and thorough customization.

Regular Updates

The best HTML editor keeps pace with web standards like HTML5, accessibility standards, and security patches. This means developers won’t need to spend more time fixing editor-related bugs and figuring out how to comply with every security and accessibility guideline.

The symbol for updates, which third-party HTML editor software usually includes.

Accessibility standards, such as WCAG and WAI-ARIA, help platforms serve every person regardless of ability. For instance, applications that comply with these guidelines allow people with disabilities to use their features just as easily as other people do. To get started or to learn more about accessibility, read up on W3’s accessibility overview and WCAG guidelines.

Separation of Concerns

Developers don’t need to recreate how an editor should handle bold text, image alignment, or link embedding. As an alternative, they can offload that responsibility to proven rich text editor libraries. This separation allows developers to dedicate their time to higher-level application features.

With these HTML editors, developers need only call or import the plugins or features they need. They don’t have to know how the exact process works, only how they’ll integrate the editor and its features. Additionally, they won’t have to maintain the editor itself.

Reduced Bugs

When using a well-tested editor, formatting problems like mismatched tags or broken links are far less common. Stable editors also help minimize compatibility issues across different browsers. And every time a new editor feature emerges, you won’t have the responsibility of checking whether everything else still works.

Long-Term Benefits of HTML Editor Software

When choosing a tool, you’re not only solving today’s problems but also preparing for the future. HTML editor software is built to scale, meaning that it can support projects as they grow. From new users to expanding content needs, editors must evolve to handle higher demand without requiring much effort from developers.

  • Scalability: An editor should grow with your project. Websites and platforms eventually gain more visitors or users and shift toward complex needs (like interactive content). A scalable editor can support advanced use cases without forcing a rewrite or migration to a new system.
  • Collaboration-Friendly: Some modern editors include or allow integration with real-time collaboration features. This enables multiple users to work on the same article or document at once, similar to Google Docs or WordPress. Such capabilities reduce versioning conflicts and boost team productivity.
  • Future-Readiness: HTML editors have evolved to incorporate AI-assisted writing, workflow automation, and even accessibility improvements. Choosing the right editor today means preparing for tomorrow’s innovations without major rework.

Why HTML Editor Software Is a “Hidden Ally”

A top-to-bottom view of an iceberg. The top part represents what end users experience, such as text editing, good UI/UX, and consistent structure. The bottom part contains what HTML editor software and developers do behind the scenes (e.g., protecting against XSS, ensuring browser compatibility, optimizing load performance, etc.).

HTML editor software rarely makes headlines, but its influence is everywhere. You already most likely encounter a few HTML editors every day as both a developer and a user. Some of the most popular editors include Froala WYSIWYG editor, TinyMCE, CKEditor, and Quill.

These tools power content creation across industries, working silently in the background to ensure smooth transactions between users and platforms.

Developers may not always receive direct recognition for choosing the right editor. However, the impact of that choice resonates in the success of the platforms you build.

In many ways, the HTML editor is a hidden ally, shaping content creation without drawing attention to itself. With an intuitive UI, it takes the end user through their editing journey as fast and accurately as possible.

The real power of an HTML editor lies in how invisible it appears. When it’s doing its job right, users barely notice it; they just see smoother workflows, better collaboration, and higher-quality output. On the development side, it helps reduce support tickets, lowers maintenance overhead, and keeps developers focused without asking recognition in return.

Conclusion

HTML editor software often doesn’t get the credit it deserves. But it doesn’t need credit. After integration, it waits for the next input, ready to help users create better content more easily.

For creators, editors are where ideas transform into publishable content. A good WYSIWYG editor or rich text editor ensures users convey those ideas clearly and consistently.

For developers, the choice of editor affects project maintainability, framework integration, and feature customization and extendability. When you choose the right HTML editor software for your use case, it isn’t just about convenience. You should pick one that safeguards scalability and smooth operations for years.

As we move into the last few months of 2025 and beyond, HTML editor software stands out as more than a text tool. It’s a strategic component, a hidden ally, if you will, in building better, faster, and more accessible digital experiences.

Top Rich Text Editor Trends Developers Should Watch in 2025

3D illustration of a rich text editor interface with customizable toolbar buttons and collaboration icons, symbolizing modern RTE trends in 2025.

As we head into 2025, many developers find that rich text editors (RTEs) are no longer just small features tucked into larger products. Instead, these editors have become important parts of content management systems, CRMs, productivity platforms, and e-learning solutions. A few years ago, basic text formatting was enough. Now, developers want more customization, better performance, stronger scalability, and even advanced features like AI-driven help. Recent data from CKEditor’s “2024 State of Collaborative Editing” and TinyMCE’s “2024 RTE Survey” clearly demonstrate these new priorities.

Key Takeaways

  • Developers prioritize customization, seeking full control to tailor rich text editors to their needs.
  • Performance is the top concern, with lightweight editors like Froala providing faster load times and smoother experiences.
  • Scalability is essential for handling growing user bases and integrating with cloud infrastructures.
  • Demand for AI-powered features is increasing, moving beyond basic formatting to include predictive text and grammar checks.
  • Rich text editors are now core infrastructure components in modern applications, crucial for content creation and collaboration.

 

Trend No. 1: More Control and Customization

To start, many developers now need rich text editors that fit their unique needs. According to TinyMCE’s 2024 RTE Survey, 52% of developers want full control over their editor’s experience. This number is important because it shows that most developers do not want a “one-size-fits-all” editor. Instead, they want to shape the editor to match their application’s look, feel, and workflow.

Some ways developers achieve this include:

  • Adding or removing toolbar buttons to match the project’s brand and style.
  • Using flexible APIs to create custom plugins or special formatting features.
  • Including revision histories or other custom workflows that feel natural for their teams.

Here’s a simple example using Froala to customize the toolbar:

 

new FroalaEditor('div#froala-editor', {
  // Add the custom buttons in the toolbarButtons list, after the separator.
  toolbarButtons: [['undo', 'redo' , 'bold'], ['alert', 'clear', 'insert']]
})

 

This configuration limits the toolbar to core formatting and image features while keeping the editor lightweight.

By having this level of control, developers can make sure their editors feel like a true part of their product, not just a separate tool.

Explore more Froala examples.

Trend No. 2: Faster Performance Matters Most

Next, performance has become a top priority. In TinyMCE’s 2024 RTE Survey, 79% of respondents said performance is the most critical factor. Today’s users have high standards. If an editor loads slowly or feels sluggish, they might lose focus or trust.

Developers often enhance editor performance by employing techniques such as lazy loading plugins (loading only when needed) and reducing bundle size using tools like Webpack or Rollup. 

For instance, instead of loading every plugin upfront, you can configure Froala or TinyMCE to initialize core features first, then load optional ones on demand. This reduces initial load time and keeps the editor responsive.

By paying attention to performance, developers can offer a better user experience. They can make sure that, as soon as a user opens the editor, it feels responsive and stable.

Trend No. 3: Scaling for Bigger Workloads

As we move forward, many products must handle larger and more spread-out user bases. According to the TinyMCE 2024 RTE Survey, 43% of developers prioritize scalability. This makes sense because many apps now serve global teams and large groups of users, sometimes all at once. Editors must handle:

  • Many users editing documents at the same time.
  • Real-time changes appearing smoothly for everyone.
  • Growing workloads as the product becomes more popular.

By choosing an RTE that can scale without breaking, developers can trust that their editor won’t slow down or fail as more users rely on it. In the end, scalability means fewer headaches when traffic increases or when a project grows in complexity.

Trend No. 4: Going Beyond Basic Formatting with AI and Smart Features

Everyone expects basic formatting features like bold, italics, and headings. In fact, TinyMCE’s 2024 RTE Survey shows that 88% of developers consider these core features a given. But basic formatting alone will not set an editor apart anymore.

Today, developers are looking for ways to enhance the writing process. Some are interested in AI-driven tools, such as:

  • Predictive text suggestions that help users write faster.
  • Grammar and spelling checks that improve the quality of content.
  • Intelligent formatting that adjusts style automatically.

With these new features, the editor becomes more than just a text box. It starts to feel like a smart assistant, guiding users and helping them produce better results. This aligns with a finding in Cloudinary’s 2023 State of Visual Media Report: “68% of developers believe that AI’s main benefit is enabling productivity and efficiency.”

For instance, Froala integrates with Gemini and other popular generative AI tools to improve readability, SEO, and content quality. Making such features accessible in a rich text editor’s toolbar helps users produce top-notch content in significantly less time. Because of this, the most advanced RTEs have gone beyond basic formatting, making them a core part of modern applications.

Froala rich text editor integrates with Gemini
Froala rich text editor integrates with Gemini

 

Trend No. 5: RTEs as Core Infrastructure

In the past, some teams saw RTEs as extras, but that is no longer the case. CKEditor’s “2024 State of Collaborative Editing” report found that 71% of respondents consider RTEs critical to their platforms. This shows a big change.

Developers now treat these editors as key building blocks. For example:

  • In a CMS, a well-designed RTE lets marketing teams update content without needing a developer for every small change.
  • In a productivity suite, the RTE supports collaboration by letting multiple people edit the same document at once, track changes, and comment.
  • In an e-learning platform, the RTE can help teachers build lessons, quizzes, and discussions that include rich media and advanced formatting.

Because these scenarios depend on a reliable editor, choosing the right one is a big decision.

Trend No. 6: Real-World Integration

When we think about these trends, it is easy to see them in real products. Many developers remember times when a slow editor frustrated writers or when a lack of custom features forced the team to find odd workarounds. On the other hand, a good, flexible editor can make everyone’s job easier.

For example, a CMS might use a customizable editor that matches a company’s brand and makes sure that authors can create content without needing a technical person. A collaboration tool might rely on an RTE that loads fast enough to keep everyone’s ideas flowing smoothly. An e-learning platform might use an RTE that handles tables, images, videos, and special formatting to keep students engaged.

Trend No. 7: Why a Lean and Flexible Tool Helps

Some tools already fit these new needs without shouting about it. For example, an editor like Froala stays light and easy to load while still offering ways to add custom features. Furthermore, it scales nicely and works well with popular languages and frameworks.

According to the 2024 Stack Overflow Development Survey, JavaScript continues to dominate as the most popular programming language. With 62.3% of developers using JS, 39.8% desiring it, and 58.3% admiring it in 2024, it’s here to stay. This highlights the importance of using rich text editors that integrate into diverse technologies, especially widely used ones. Such versatility allows developers to quickly adapt to new requirements, such as changes in tech stacks, promoting scalability.

A lean tool like Froala can help developers meet their goals without slowing them down. Even if it is not the only choice, it represents the kind of editor that developers now look for—something that does not get in the way but instead supports growth and new ideas.

Challenges with Rich Text Editors

Even the best rich text editor solutions come with challenges that developers need to consider:

  • Performance Trade-offs – A rich text editor loaded with too many plugins or AI tools can slow down page speed and impact user experience.
  • Cross-Browser Consistency – Certain formatting or custom features may render differently across browsers, requiring extra testing.
  • Scalability Issues – Handling real-time collaboration for thousands of users at once can strain resources without proper optimization.
  • Integration Complexity – Embedding a rich text editor into CRMs, CMS platforms, or enterprise apps often requires custom APIs and security configurations.
  • Accessibility Concerns – Many editors still fall short of WCAG standards, limiting usability for people relying on screen readers or keyboard navigation.

By planning for these limitations, teams can select a rich text editor that balances advanced features with stability and long-term performance.

In Conclusion

The data from these surveys is hard to ignore. More than half of developers want deep customization. Nearly four-fifths put performance first. Almost half focus on scalability. Also, a large majority expect at least some baseline formatting, and many want even more advanced features, including AI-driven help.

These changes show that choosing the right RTE is more important than ever. Today’s developers need an editor that fits into their workflow, loads quickly, scales easily, and offers a path to smarter features. By paying attention to these factors, teams can pick an editor that feels like part of the product’s core, not just another add-on.

References
CKEditor. “The 2024 State of Collaborative Editing.” CKSource, a Tiugo Technologies Company.
https://ckeditor.com/insights/collaboration-survey-report-2024/

TinyMCE. “The 2024 RTE Survey.” Tiny Technologies.
https://www.tiny.cloud/blog/announcing-the-2024-state-of-rich-text-editors-report

2024 Stack Overflow Developer Survey.
https://survey.stackoverflow.co/2024/

Cloudinary. “2023 State of Visual Media Report.”
https://cloudinary.com/state-of-visual-media-report

Text Editor Market Insights Report. “Global Text Editor Market Overview and Trends.” Verified Market Reports.
https://www.verifiedmarketreports.com/product/text-editor-market/

Froala Official Site. “Why Froala? Key Features and Benefits.”
https://www.froala.com

A Step-by-Step Guide to Checking Image and Video Safety Using an HTML Editor Software

The symbol for content safety (an eye with a diagonal slash across), which is an important part of HTML editor software.

As developers, we all want users to feel safe or productive in the applications that we make. This leads to implementing policies that prevent users from seeing or uploading explicit, violent, or distracting content. As a result, content moderation is more important than ever.

Thankfully, accomplishing complex tasks has become much easier using automation, advanced file uploaders, and even DeepSeek API integrations. For instance, in this article, you’ll implement automated SFW (safe for work) checks using HTML editor software and Filestack Workflows. Let’s get to it!

Key Takeaways

  • Ensure uploaded content is appropriate to maintain a professional and comfortable environment.
  • Automatically identify safe-for-work (SFW) content to handle multiple files efficiently.
  • Implement automated content safety checks with Froala Editor and Filestack Workflows.
  • Connect Filestack Workflows to a webhook endpoint to get instant feedback on file status.
  • Combine different file processing tasks in your Workflow.

Why Is Content Safety Important in Web Applications?

User-generated content can significantly impact the tone and reputation of your application. Unsafe or inappropriate content can potentially alienate, harm, or repulse users. This in turn can cause huge problems for your brand’s image, leading to users’ distrust or disgust.

A 2D animated person using a platform with HTML editor software at work. The person can browse safely due to a content safety checker.

In general, you’ll want to scan whether there’s anything unsafe in user content. And in social media and B2B and family-friendly platforms, implementing content safety checking becomes more imperative. By automating SFW checking, you:

  • Maintain a positive user experience.
  • Reduce human or manual content moderation.
  • Increase application scalability in moderating content.

Now, let’s check out the tools that we’ll need for integrating automated safety checking.

What You Need to Implement Automated Safety Checking

Alongside HTML editor software, you’ll also need a file management solution where users can upload files. This will also take care of checking the safety of content. Finally, in this use case, you’ll use a webhook endpoint to receive information about content safety from the upload.

Froala Editor

An HTML editor software, which you’ll use to upload images. Since v4.3, it has natively supported Filestack, making transforming and processing files even easier using the editor. Here, you’ll integrate it into a React application.

Filestack

A complete file management solution that handles everything file-related, from uploads and transformations to storage and even automation. In this example, you’ll use Filestack Workflows to automate SFW checking. Make sure that you have access to Filestack’s Webhooks, SFW checking, and Workflows features.

A workflow executes a set of tasks and logic wired up after an upload to enforce business processes and automate ingest. After configuring a workflow, you can call it with a single reference in your code. And since workflows are asynchronous, you also need to configure a webhook.

Webhook Endpoint

A webhook is similar to an API in the sense that it allows data exchange. However, it’s different in that it automatically triggers after specific events, unlike APIs that require the client to request data first. In your applications, you can configure webhooks to receive information from Filestack using Node.js or PHP.

For simplicity, you can use Beeceptor to receive JSON payloads from Filestack for every file upload.

How to Automatically Check Content Safety Using HTML Editor Software

Checking content safety using HTML editor software is usually a straightforward process. It actually involves little coding and only a bit of setup. Follow the steps below to find out exactly how you can implement this.

Set up Your Filestack Workflow

To get started, log into your Filestack dashboard and navigate to the “Workflows” tab. Create a new workflow (in this case, “SFWChecker”). Add a task and select “sfw” from the list. Name the task “sfw_result.” In the webhook later on, you should see the same task name in the JSON payload.

Afterwards, create 2 events below the SFW task: store and remove. For the “store” task, click the “Add new condition” button. Next, check that the job will only store the image if the value of “sfw” is true. Do the reverse (don’t store if “sfw” is false) for the “remove” task. Here’s how your workflow should look:

Filestack workflow configuration interface

Create Your Endpoint

After setting up your workflow, create your endpoint using the back-end scripting language or framework of your choice. In this case, you can use Beeceptor to test out the SFW checker workflow.

Configure Your Application Webhooks

Once you have the link to your endpoint, go to “Configuration > Webhooks” on the Filestack dashboard. Afterwards, paste your webhook link to the input field and set the dropdown beside it to “Workflow.” Add your webhook, and you should see it among the list of webhooks.

Integrate Your Workflow into Froala HTML Editor Software

Open your React project, create a component called “FroalaComponent.jsx,” and paste the following code to configure Froala Editor:

import React, { useEffect, useState } from 'react';
import 'froala-editor/css/froala_style.min.css';
import 'froala-editor/css/froala_editor.pkgd.min.css';
import FroalaEditorComponent from 'react-froala-wysiwyg';
import 'froala-editor/js/plugins.pkgd.min.js';
import configData from './config.js';

function FroalaComponent() {
    const [tags, setTags] = useState([]);
    const config = {
        filestackOptions: {
            uploadToFilestackOnly: true,
            filestackAPI: configData.filestackAPI,
            pickerOptions: {
              accept: ['image/*'],
              fromSources: ['local_file_system'],
              storeTo: {
                  workflows: ["YourWorkflowIDHere"]
              }
            },
        },
        events: {
            'filestack.uploadedToFilestack': function (response) {
                console.log(response.filesUploaded[0]);
            }
        },
        heightMin: 500,
        width: 1000
    };

    useEffect(() => {
        const filestackScript1 = document.createElement('script');
        filestackScript1.src = 'https://static.filestackapi.com/filestack-js/3.32.0/filestack.min.js';
        filestackScript1.async = true;
        document.body.appendChild(filestackScript1);

        const filestackScript2 = document.createElement('script');
        filestackScript2.src = 'https://static.filestackapi.com/filestack-drag-and-drop-js/1.1.1/filestack-drag-and-drop.min.js';
        filestackScript2.async = true;
        document.body.appendChild(filestackScript2);

        const filestackScript3 = document.createElement('script');
        filestackScript3.src = 'https://static.filestackapi.com/transforms-ui/2.x.x/transforms.umd.min.js';
        filestackScript3.async = true;
        document.body.appendChild(filestackScript3);

        const filestackStylesheet = document.createElement('link');
        filestackStylesheet.rel = 'stylesheet';
        filestackStylesheet.href = 'https://static.filestackapi.com/transforms-ui/2.x.x/transforms.css';
        document.head.appendChild(filestackStylesheet);

        return () => {
            document.body.removeChild(filestackScript1);
            document.body.removeChild(filestackScript2);
            document.body.removeChild(filestackScript3);
            document.head.removeChild(filestackStylesheet);
        };
    }, []);

    return (
        <div>
            <div className="editor">
                <FroalaEditorComponent tag='textarea' config={config} />
            </div>
        </div>
    );
}

export default FroalaComponent;

This is your standard Froala implementation in React. What you should focus on, however, is the “storeTo” option, which contains the workflow ID that we created earlier.

No matter the tasks and conditions you have in your workflow, you only need a single line to call it in your application. Pretty cool, right? Now, you can include this component in your App.js and run the application.

Note: Ensure that you keep all API keys secure on the server (e.g., .env files). Furthermore, always validate webhook signatures to confirm authenticity and integrity.

Seeing the Automated SFW Checker in Action

Firstly, select the Filestack picker icon and upload your image.

An image is checked by Filestack's SFW detection once uploaded.

After uploading an image, go to your browser console and look for the result from the log command:

The image shows the results from the Filestack upload from the HTML editor software.

Take note of the file handle and the filename. You should see the same things when you go to the Beeceptor dashboard.

Moreover, notice how you can see the “workflows” property of the result object. This contains the workflow ID of our set of tasks. Now, the task information should appear on Beeceptor, so let’s check that out:

On Beeceptor, click on the latest request and expand it. In this case, the filename and handle remained the same. Additionally, you can see that there’s a new handle, which emerged from the “store” part of your workflow. Most importantly, you now have the “sfw_result” result from your workflow earlier.

And within it lies the “{data: {“sfw”: true}}” result from the content safety checker. This means that the image from earlier is safe for work. If you chain additional tasks to your workflow, you’ll see more results on the webhook.

Ensure Safe Content in Your HTML Editor Software Today

Automating content safety checks enhances your application’s reliability and trustworthiness. With tools like Filestack and Froala, you can efficiently manage content without much manual intervention.

Now that you’ve built a solid and easy content safety checker into your HTML editor software, you can start experimenting some more! For instance, why not add some tasks like red-eye removal, image tagging, or sentiment analysis into the workflow mix?

Why an HTML Code Writer Is Essential for Learning Management Systems in 2025

A learning management system with an HTML code writer in a futuristic, digital classroom. This represents the state of digital learning today.

Learning management systems (LMS) have moved far beyond being digital filing cabinets with which learners and educators can interact. Artificial intelligence (AI), video lessons, embedded quizzes, seamless file sharing, and real-time collaboration have replaced static PDFs and text-heavy modules. This shift pushes schools and organizations to build content that feels as dynamic as the classroom itself.

At the same time, personalization and accessibility have become central. Learners expect tailored courses that adapt to their progress, while regulators require inclusive design for people with disabilities. Meeting these demands requires tools that make content creation both flexible and consistent.

An HTML code writer, also known as a WYSIWYG HTML editor, plays a critical role here. It allows educators, administrators, and even learners to shape digital lessons in LMS platforms without having to code. By combining simplicity with power, it bridges the gap between traditional teaching and the demands of modern and future e-learning.

Key Takeaways

  • An HTML code writer simplifies LMS content creation.
  • LMS platforms have had several upgrades over the past years, including real-time collaboration and artificial intelligence.
  • Reusable templates in HTML editors speed up course development for educators.
  • Mobile-first support ensures students can learn anywhere.
  • Future trends point towards more AI, as well as VR, AR, and compliance with different accessibility regulations.

The Role of an HTML Code Writer in Modern LMS Platforms

HTML code writers and LMS platforms have always worked side by side since content sharing became the focus of e-learning. Because of an HTML code writer, educators and administrators don’t have to resort to coding when modifying course content. Here are some of what it does to improve these platforms’ quality and effectiveness:

  • Bridging the gap between tech and teaching: Not all teachers or trainers are software developers. An HTML code writer solves this by offering an intuitive editor interface that hides the complexity of coding. With drag-and-drop formatting, media uploads and embedding, and prebuilt structures, it lets them design lessons without writing code.
  • Supporting multimedia integration: Modern learners thrive on variety. Embedding videos, animations, or interactive quizzes creates a richer experience. An HTML code writer streamlines this process by supporting simple media insert options. Instead of copying long embed codes from YouTube or other platforms, educators can insert media directly through the editor. They can also embed such links more easily through editor plugins like Embedly. An HTML code writer also makes managing interactive elements like polls easier through custom editor plugins. These allow educators and learners to insert prebuilt content on the editor in one click. With these tools, content creators can move beyond text to engage students through different learning styles.
  • Ensuring consistency across content: Professional courses need consistent formatting. Without it, an LMS might turn into a distracting mess. An HTML code writer ensures that fonts, headings, colors, and layouts remain uniform. This helps learners focus on the material rather than struggling with design. Standardization also helps administrators. When multiple educators contribute to one platform, templates and shared styles prevent courses from feeling disjointed. For instance, a large business would want all their training materials to have the same experience and look.

Why 2025 Is a Pivotal Year for LMS Technology

An image that contains icons for AI (a digital brain), accessibility (a human extending their arms), and scalability (a target mark).

LMS platforms have gained a lot of traction, especially since remote learning became more widespread because of the 2020 pandemic. And today, they’re still getting the attention of a lot of educators and institutions, and for good reason. With the rise of AI and other advanced technologies and requirements, the potential of LMS platforms has yet again increased.

  • Growing demand for scalability: Remote and hybrid learning are now the norm when it comes to convenient and accessible learning. Companies scale training across continents, while universities reach thousands of online students. As a result, LMS platforms in 2025 must handle larger user bases with stability and speed.
  • The rise of AI and personalization: According to Imed Bouchrika, co-founder of Research.com, artificial intelligence contributes to automation, personalization, and performance assessment in LMS. Students receive suggestions based on their progress, test results, and even study habits. For AI to work well, content needs to have a consistent structure that the system can analyze.
  • Accessibility requirements: Regulations and student expectations demand inclusive design. LMS platforms must support alt text for images, screen reader compatibility, and proper color contrast. This helps ensure that as many people as possible have access to course content through the LMS.

Note: Aside from helping learners with disabilities, accessibility also improves usability for everyone, which in turn helps retain users.

Today, learning management systems should strive to address these three concerns in some way. That said, you don’t have to have an accessible, AI-powered, and scalable LMS to succeed in the years to come. But having some awareness of these trends and user requirements might prove useful in making your LMS an even better educational space for everyone.

What Makes HTML Code Writers Essential for LMS Platforms in 2025?

HTML code writers can greatly differ from one another. However, each of them has the common goal of making learning and educating easier. Here are some of the features that help these HTML editors achieve their LMS goals.

Reusable Templates

Reusable templates cut course creation time. With one click, instructors can insert modules like “lesson with quiz” or case study with video.” On the other hand, learners can insert ready-made answer templates such as integral equations, truth tables, or other course-specific content.

Placeholder text within the templates encourages quick editing without starting from scratch. Through reusable templates and placeholder text, LMS users of any type reduce repetitive work and help ensure consistent structure.

Access to Google Drive and Other Cloud Storage Platforms

Educators and learners often interact with vast resources in Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive. HTML code writers that integrate with these platforms simplify content access. For example, instructors can upload content from or store content in Google Drive without leaving the editor.

An HTML code writer that contains a built-in file management solution with a file picker.

The image above shows an HTML code writer with a built-in file management solution included as a plugin. An instructor can click the icon or button for the file picker interface, in which they can upload files. Afterwards, the instructor can choose Google Drive as an upload source, as shown in the image below.

The same HTML code writer as earlier. This time, the file picker is open, and the Google Drive upload source is selected.

By providing access to various cloud storage providers, LMS platforms can help encourage collaborative resource management and organization.

Code View Capabilities

For technical courses like programming, raw code editing is important. CodeMirror-like integrations allow educators and learners to view, edit, and test snippets directly in the LMS.

This creates a sandbox experience in which learners can practice real-time coding while still within the platform’s structured environment.

Math Editor

Science, math, and technology courses often struggle with digital notation. For example, writing fractions, integrals, or Greek symbols in plain text is clunky. A built-in math editor allows educators and learners to insert clean, professional formulas directly in the editor.

Having an editor that supports mathematical notations and symbols can significantly improve clarity (no more reliance on ‘/’ or ‘\int’). Additionally, this helps prevent misunderstandings in subjects where precision matters.

AI Integration

Of course, this list isn’t complete without artificial intelligence, which is one of, if not the biggest, disruptors in recent years. In LMS platforms, it can suggest grammar fixes, evaluate readability, and even generate practice questions.

Instructors can use AI to ensure that all coursework is correct, error-free, fair, and of good quality. On the other hand, learners can interact with LMS chatbots about a course, study tips, or adaptive assessments. Institutions can also use predictive analysis from AI to help track student performance or course effectiveness.

Note: You should always implement AI as carefully as possible. LMS platforms need to value correctness, learner diligence, and user safety, and implementing AI without considering this might lead to future issues. Let’s discuss this more in another section below.

Support for Mobile-First Learning

Students often access LMS content on mobile devices, as the popularity of hybrid and remote learning increased. As a result, HTML code writers in LMS must have lightweight, responsive designs. This helps ensure that learners can consume course content wherever they are and whatever device they’re using.

Additionally, features like autosaving and offline access help learners preserve progress when internet connection quality drops. By integrating these features into your LMS’ editor, you can cater to the increasing demand for mobile-first and remote-friendly education.

Real-time Collaboration

Learning is often a social activity. HTML code writers with real-time collaboration let educators and learners edit, comment, and review together. Features like @mentions in discussion boards or inline commenting bring an interactive layer to content creation.

Collaboration tools in WYSIWYG HTML editors also help in peer reviews, group projects, and instructor feedback.

HTML code writers have always served as indomitable allies to learning management platforms. In 2025 and in the years to come, it seems as though that statement will still hold true. As LMS platforms evolve, so do HTML editors, helping ensure that both tools work together in meeting the modern demands of digital learning.

The Future of HTML Code Writers in Education

Augmented reality, virtual reality, AI, and other trending features for HTML code writers.

The future is never certain. But based on how technology trends go, you can imagine HTML code writers will still remain relevant in LMS platforms. To help you prepare, or just to set expectations, here are some things that could happen in the following years. Note that the following are just general predictions and may not necessarily reflect what will truly happen in the future.

  • AI-driven personalization could remain central. HTML code writers will most likely continue to integrate intelligent assistants that guide both learners and educators.
  • Collaboration features will stay important, especially in businesses and as blended and group-based learning expands. At the same time, device diversity might push editors to have better compatibility across desktops, tablets, and mobile phones.
  • AR (augmented reality) and VR (virtual reality) for LMS may also connect with HTML code writers. For example, course creators might embed immersive 3D environments or simulations directly into lessons using HTML editors. This could make medical or engineering training more hands-on in a digital space.
  • Accessibility and compliance will remain essential. HTML code writers must evolve to support global standards, ensuring no learner is left behind.
  • Integration with external digital content is already a common feature, and it’ll most likely stay that way in the future. With this, learners could cite sources, and educators can include helpful videos more easily through Embedly or similar editor plugins. It’s important to note that according to a 2024 study, “83% of individuals preferred watching a video when learning something instructional.”

Important Considerations for Any Modern LMS Platform

An image that represents security in LMS platforms.

There’s no doubt that HTML code writers are necessary in digital learning. However, you shouldn’t fully rely on them or their features right away. Before implementing these powerful and helpful tools, review the following considerations:

Features and performance

Having a ton of features usually leads to slower loading times. You can balance this by including only the features and plugins your users need in the HTML code writer. Additionally, having a lightweight editor can significantly improve the user experience.

Data privacy and security

LMS platforms contain sensitive data, such as PII (personally identifiable information). As an LMS provider, you must protect this data from any potential threats or misuse through encryption and hashing. You should also establish a clear privacy policy that explains what data you store and how you use it.

The ethics of AI

Although extremely useful for efficiency and productivity, AI is sometimes misused, abused, or unpredictable. You should ensure that learners make the most of AI without losing their critical thinking skills by limiting its usage. As AI becomes more prevalent, HTML editors may need to combat over-reliance on generated content.

Furthermore, AI for grading or personalized learning might contain bias depending on different factors like past scores or learning styles. Make sure you avoid this by closely monitoring or training your models.

HTML code writer scalability

When it comes to scalability, a modular plugin architecture for HTML code writers is often beneficial. This refers to an editor’s ability to extend functionality by adding and removing plugins, which are independent and self-contained components. This leads to better maintenance and scalability in the long run.

Gamification of learning

If you make learning fun, students (and sometimes, grown professionals) might perform better and participate more. For example, you can add badges for completing lessons or courses, as well as leaderboards for competitive motivation. This is slowly growing as a trend; however, it might also cause frustration or distractions to some people.

Conclusion

An HTML code writer serves as the backbone of effective digital learning in 2025. It can empower educators to create engaging lessons, help institutions scale their platforms, and ensure learners enjoy personalized, accessible experiences.

By simplifying complex processes and enabling innovation, HTML code writers improve learning outcomes and streamline administration. They also prepare education systems for the next wave of technology, from AI to immersive media.

Learning institutions and businesses that embrace these tools today could gain a strong advantage in meeting tomorrow’s learning expectations. So, experiment with different HTML code writer tools and their features. Explore how they can support your LMS and determine which solutions best fit your learners’ and educators’ needs.

A Step-by-Step Guide to Froala WYSIWYG Editor PDF Export

3D illustration showing HTML file being converted to PDF, representing Froala WYSIWYG Editor’s PDF export feature

As a tech-savvy user or entry-level developer, you’re always on the lookout for tools that can streamline your workflow and enhance your productivity. Today, we’re excited to introduce you to the Froala WYSIWYG Editor and its powerful PDF export feature.

Froala is a feature-rich, user-friendly text editor that allows you to create and format content with ease. Whether you’re writing blog posts, drafting technical documentation, or designing marketing materials, Froala’s intuitive interface and robust functionality make it a valuable asset in your content creation arsenal.

In this blog post, we’ll dive deep into the PDF export feature of the Froala WYSIWYG Editor, guiding you step-by-step on how to set it up and leverage it to your advantage.

Key Takeaways:

  • Froala Editor offers a built-in PDF export feature for professional documents.
  • Relies on html2pdf.js library for functionality.
  • Customize PDF output with page size, orientation, margins, and more.
  • CSS page-break rules give you precise control over document layout.
  • Boosts productivity for bloggers, developers, and content teams.


Downloading and Setting Up Froala WYSIWYG Editor

To get started, you’ll need to download the Froala WYSIWYG Editor. You can visit the pricing page and choose the plan that best suits your needs. Whether you’re a solo developer or part of a larger team, Froala offers a range of licensing options to accommodate your requirements. If you want to test the editor first, you can also take advantage of the free trial option.

Once you’ve downloaded and installed the Froala WYSIWYG Editor, it’s time to set it up. The process is straightforward and can be completed in a few simple steps:

  1. Include the necessary CSS and JavaScript files in your HTML document.
  2. Initialize the Froala Editor by adding the appropriate HTML element and JavaScript code.
  3. Customize the editor’s appearance and functionality by configuring the available options.

Here’s an example of how you can set up the Froala WYSIWYG Editor:

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>

<head>
    <title>Froala WYSIWYG Editor</title>
    <!-- Include Froala CSS -->
    <link href="{{editor__download__folder}}/css/froala_editor.pkgd.min.css" rel="stylesheet"
        type="text/css" />
</head>

<body>
    <!-- HTML element where the editor will be initialized -->
    <div id="editor">
        <p>This is the initial content of the editor.</p>
    </div>


    <!-- Include Froala Editor JS files -->
    <script type="text/javascript" src="{{editor__download__folder}}/js/froala_editor.pkgd.min.js"></script>

    <script>
        // Initialize the Froala Editor
        new FroalaEditor('#editor');
    </script>
</body>

</html>

This example demonstrates the basic setup for the Froala WYSIWYG Editor. You can further customize the editor by adding additional configurations to suit your specific needs.

Exploring the PDF Export Feature

Now that you have the Froala WYSIWYG Editor set up, let’s dive into the PDF export feature. This powerful functionality allows you to seamlessly convert your content into a professional-looking PDF document, making it easy to share, print, or archive your work.

Since we are using the packaged version of Froala “froala_editor.pkgd.min.js“, this feature is included by default.

If you’re using the basic version of Froala (froala_editor.min.js), you’ll need to include the Froala PDF export plugin in your project.

<script type="text/javascript" src="{{editor__download__folder}}/js/froala_editor.min.js"></script>
<script type="text/javascript" src="{{editor__download__folder}}/js/plugins/print.min.js"></script>

Make sure to include the “print” plugin in the list of enabled plugins:

new FroalaEditor('#editor', { 
       pluginsEnabled: ['print'],
});
 With the plugin in place, you can now add the PDF export button to your Froala Editor toolbar. Here's an example of how to do that:
new FroalaEditor('#editor', { 
       pluginsEnabled: ['print'],
       toolbarButtons: ['getPDF'],
});

This configuration will add an “Export PDF” button to your Froala Editor toolbar. However, users will still be unable to export the content as PDF documents. That’s because the PDF export feature depends on the html2pdf.jsopen-source library. You’ll need to include this library in your project as well. The “html2pdf.js” script must be included before the Froala scripts.

    <!-- Include js2htm library -->
    <script src="https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/html2pdf.js/0.9.3/html2pdf.bundle.min.js"
        integrity="sha512-YcsIPGdhPK4P/uRW6/sruonlYj+Q7UHWeKfTAkBW+g83NKM+jMJFJ4iAPfSnVp7BKD4dKMHmVSvICUbE/V1sSw=="
        crossorigin="anonymous" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></script>
    <!-- Include Froala Editor JS files -->
    <script type="text/javascript" src="{{editor__download__folder}}/js/froala_editor.min.js"></script>
    <script type="text/javascript" src="{{editor__download__folder}}/js/plugins/print.min.js"></script>

Note that, as mentioned on html2pdf.js site, there have been some issues reported with the latest version of html2pdf.js (v0.10), so it’s recommended to use version 0.9.3 for now.

Exporting Content as PDF

Now that you have the PDF export feature set up, let’s walk through the process of exporting your content as a PDF document.

  1. Add Content to the Froala Editor: Start by adding your desired content to the Froala WYSIWYG Editor. This could be a blog post, a technical guide, or any other type of content you want to export as a PDF.
  2. Click the PDF Export Button: Once you’ve finished editing your content, locate the “PDF Export” button in the Froala Editor toolbar and click it.

That’s it! You’ve successfully exported your Froala WYSIWYG Editor content as a PDF document. This feature is particularly useful when you need to share your work with others, print it, or archive it for future reference.

Export Editor Content to PDF Programmatically

The Froala Editor’s Print plugin provides a toPDF() method that allows you to export the editor’s content to a PDF document programmatically. This can be useful when you want to trigger the PDF export after a specific event, such as when the editor initializes.

Here’s an example of how to export the content to PDF right after the editor is initialized:

        // Initialize the Froala Editor
        new FroalaEditor('#editor', {
            pluginsEnabled: ['print'],
            toolbarButtons: ['getPDF'],
        }, function () {
            this.print.toPDF();


        });

The toPDF() method uses the default Froala PDF export options.

Customizing the PDF Export

If you want to customize the exported PDF, such as setting the orientation to portrait instead of landscape, you can use the html2pdf option provided by the Froala Editor.

The html2pdf option returns a function that gives you access to the html2pdf.js Worker object. With this object, you can trigger any html2pdf methods. Read more about how to use it in the html2pdf documentation.

You can use this object to configure the PDF settings and then export the editor’s content following this format editor.opts.html2pdf().set(configration).from(editor.el).save();.

Here’s an example:

        // Initialize the Froala Editor
        new FroalaEditor('#editor', {
            pluginsEnabled: ['print'],
            toolbarButtons: ['getPDF'],
        }, function () {

            let editor = this;

            editor.opts.html2pdf().set({
                margin: [10, 20],
                html2canvas: { useCORS: !0 },
                filename: 'new name.pdf',
                jsPDF: { unit: 'in', format: 'letter', orientation: 'portrait' }
            }).from(editor.el).save();
        });

In this example, we’re setting the following PDF options:

  • margin: Specifies the PDF margins in points.
  • html2canvas.useCORS: Enables CORS (Cross-Origin Resource Sharing) for the HTML2Canvas library, which is used to capture the editor’s content.
  • filename: Sets the name of the exported PDF file.
  • jsPDF: Configures the PDF document settings, such as the unit, page format, and orientation.

After setting the options, we use the from(editor.el) method to specify the editor element as the content to be converted to PDF, and then call the save() method to generate and download the PDF file.

Remember, setting the configuration incorrectly could result in an empty or incorrectly formatted PDF file, so be cautious when customizing the PDF export.

Adding Page Breaks

The html2pdf.js library automatically adds page breaks based on your CSS styles. You can use the break-before, break-after, and break-inside CSS properties to control where the page breaks should occur.

For example, you can add a page break before a specific element by applying the break-before: always style to it. This ensures that the element starts on a new page when you export the content to PDF.

Additionally, you can add the html2pdf__page-break class to any element, and html2pdf.js will insert a page break after that element. This is a legacy feature, but it can still be useful in some cases.

To summarize, make sure to add the appropriate CSS page break styles to your content. When you export the Froala Editor’s content to PDF, html2pdf.js will automatically insert the page breaks based on your CSS rules, resulting in a well-formatted PDF document.

Troubleshooting Common PDF Export Issues

Even with the correct setup, you may encounter issues when using the PDF export feature in Froala. Here are some common problems and fixes:

  • Blank or Empty PDF Output
    • Cause: Missing or misconfigured html2pdf.js library.
    • Fix: Ensure you’re using version 0.9.3 (not 0.10, which has known issues) and that it’s loaded before Froala scripts.
  • Incorrect Page Breaks
    • Cause: Missing CSS break rules.
    • Fix: Use break-before, break-after, or break-inside CSS properties. For finer control, apply the html2pdf__page-break class to elements.

 

.my-section {
  break-before: always; /* Forces this section to start on a new page */
}
  • Fonts or Images Not Loading
    • Cause: CORS restrictions.
    • Fix: Enable html2canvas: { useCORS: true } in your configuration and ensure external assets allow cross-origin requests.

 

editor.opts.html2pdf().set({
  html2canvas: { useCORS: true }
}).from(editor.el).save();
  • File Name Issues
    • Cause: No filename specified in config.
    • Fix: Add filename: ‘yourfile.pdf’ to the html2pdf().set() options.
  • Large File Sizes
    • Cause: High-resolution images or uncompressed content.
    • Fix: Reduce image size before uploading, or use Filestack transformations to optimize assets before export.

Conclusion

In this blog post, we’ve explored the powerful PDF export feature of the Froala WYSIWYG Editor. By following the step-by-step guide, you now know how to download and set up the Froala Editor, as well as how to leverage the PDF export functionality to streamline your content creation and sharing workflows.

Whether you’re a tech-savvy user or an entry-level developer, the Froala WYSIWYG Editor and its PDF export feature can be a valuable asset in your content creation toolkit. By mastering these tools, your users will be able to create professional-looking documents, enhance your productivity, and deliver high-quality content to their audience.

So, what are you waiting for? Download Froala, try out the PDF export feature, and start creating amazing content today!

Why Froala RTE is A Premier Choice for Content Creation in 2025

Froala rich text editor (RTE)

As the demands on rich text editors (RTEs) continue to grow, organizations and individuals are seeking powerful yet flexible content creation tools that can keep pace with their evolving needs. According to a recent industry report, the rich text editors software market is expected to reach a valuation of $2.5 billion by 2033, reflecting the increasing importance of these tools in today’s digital landscape.

In this dynamic landscape, our Froala RTE stands out as a premier choice for content creators in 2025 and beyond. With its exceptional customization capabilities, mobile-friendly design, and comprehensive content management features, Froala empowers users to elevate their work and stay ahead of the curve.

Key Takeaways:

  • Froala RTE stands out for its exceptional ease of implementation, allowing quick and seamless integration into a wide range of projects and applications.
  • Froala’s robust customization capabilities empower users to tailor the editor’s interface, functionality, and features to their unique needs and workflows.
  • The Froala-Filestack integration provides a comprehensive content management solution, streamlining file uploads, cloud-based storage, and asset organization.
  • Froala RTE offers seamless integration with cutting-edge AI tools like ChatGPT, enabling new collaborative and creative possibilities for content creation.
  • Froala’s transparent, fixed-rate pricing model and enterprise-grade support make it an attractive and affordable choice, especially compared to competitors with less transparent pricing.
  • Overall, Froala RTE’s customization, mobile optimization, content management capabilities, and AI integration make it a premier choice for content creation in 2025 and beyond.

Ease of Implementation

One of the key factors that makes Froala RTE an attractive choice is its ease of implementation. In a recent industry survey, 63% of respondents cited ease of implementation as their top priority when selecting a rich text editor (RTE).

Froala RTE excels in this area, offering a wide range of installation methods that make it simple to set up and integrate the editor into your products and applications. Froala supports over 10 popular technologies, including React, Angular, and Vue, allowing it to be seamlessly incorporated into a diverse array of projects.

The setup process is straightforward and requires only a few steps:

  1. Include the Froala CSS and JavaScript files:
<link href='https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/froala-editor@latest/css/froala_editor.pkgd.min.css' rel='stylesheet' type='text/css' />

<script type='text/javascript' src='https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/froala-editor@latest/js/froala_editor.pkgd.min.js'></script>
  1. Add a DOM element to serve as the editor container:
<div id="example"></div>
  1. Initialize the Froala editor:
var editor = new FroalaEditor('#example');

That’s it! With these simple steps, you can quickly and easily integrate a professional-grade rich text editor into your web application.

Froala’s comprehensive documentation and extensive community support further ensure a smooth onboarding process, allowing developers to seamlessly incorporate the editor into their projects. This ease of implementation makes Froala RTE an excellent choice for organizations looking to enhance their content creation capabilities without the burden of complex integration challenges.

Robust Customization Capabilities

Customization is a critical feature for any rich text editor (RTE). According to a recent industry survey, over 80% of respondents want the ability to customize the toolbar, plugins, and overall appearance of their RTE. Froala RTE excels in this area, providing users with unparalleled control over the editor’s interface and functionality.

Customize the User Interface

With Froala RTE, users have complete control over the editor’s appearance. You can customize everything from the toolbar buttons and icons to the dropdowns, popups, and overall look and feel. This allows you to streamline the content creation experience to match your unique needs and preferences.

Whether you need to strip down the interface for less experienced users or add advanced functionality for power users, Froala’s flexibility ensures the RTE adapts to you, rather than the other way around. By tailoring the editor to your specific workflows and requirements, you can optimize the content creation process and boost productivity.

Extend Functionality with Custom Plugins

Beyond the user interface, Froala RTE also empowers you to customize the editor’s core functionality. The modular plugin architecture makes it easy to develop custom plugins, allowing you to modify existing features, add new capabilities, or integrate with third-party tools and services.

Unlike traditional monolithic RTEs, where everything is tightly coupled, Froala’s modular design gives developers the freedom to build, deploy, and scale custom components independently. This approach brings speed, flexibility, and innovation to the table, ensuring your content creation tools can evolve alongside your needs.

By leveraging Froala’s robust customization capabilities, you can create a tailored RTE that streamlines workflows, increases efficiency, and delivers a truly optimized content creation experience for your users.

Access to the Editor Source Code

For organizations that require the ultimate level of customization and control, Froala offers the “Architect” plan, which provides access to the full source code of the Froala RTE. This gives customers the ability to delve into the core of the editor and make extensive modifications to suit their unique needs.

With the Architect plan, customers can essentially treat the Froala RTE as an in-house developed solution, customizing every aspect of the editor’s functionality, appearance, and integration. This level of access and flexibility is particularly valuable for enterprises, government agencies, and other organizations with complex or specialized content creation requirements.

By owning the Froala RTE source code, customers can:

  • Integrate the editor seamlessly with their existing systems and workflows
  • Develop custom plugins and extensions to add new capabilities
  • Optimize performance and security to meet their specific compliance needs
  • Maintain full control over the editor’s roadmap and future development

The Architect plan empowers customers to truly make the Froala RTE their own, transforming it into a tailored content creation solution that is perfectly aligned with their business goals and user requirements. This unparalleled level of customization and control makes the Architect plan an attractive option for organizations seeking to future-proof their content creation capabilities.

Maintenance and Enterprise Support

Froala RTE offers robust enterprise-level support and maintenance, ensuring your content creation tools stay reliable and up-to-date. With regular updates that add new features, enhancements, and fix bugs, Froala RTE keeps pace with your evolving needs.

This gives content creators peace of mind, knowing their rich text editor will remain a dependable and capable solution. Froala’s extensive documentation and active developer community also provide ample resources for troubleshooting and customization.

Teams can easily get the most out of Froala RTE thanks to this comprehensive support. Instead of worrying about the underlying technology, you can focus your time and energy on creating great content. Froala RTE’s enterprise-grade maintenance and support allows you to future-proof your content creation workflows.

Security and Compliance

Froala RTE places a strong emphasis on security and compliance, ensuring that your users’ data remains protected. One of the key features is robust Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) protection, which guards against malicious code injection.

This security-focused approach allows organizations to meet their data privacy and regulatory requirements without compromising the user experience. By providing a secure rich text editing solution, Froala RTE is particularly well-suited for enterprises, government agencies, and other teams working with sensitive information.

With Froala RTE, you can have peace of mind knowing that your content creation workflows adhere to the latest security standards and compliance guidelines. This makes Froala an ideal choice for organizations that handle confidential data or operate in highly regulated industries.

Transparent and Affordable Pricing

One of the standout features of Froala RTE is its transparent and predictable pricing model. This makes it an attractive option compared to competitors like TinyMCE and CKEditor, which can have hidden fees and unpredictable costs.

Froala’s pricing is straightforward – you pay a  fixed annual fee that covers unlimited editor loads and unlimited end-users. There are no page view limits or overage charges, so you don’t have to worry about your costs spiraling as your usage grows.

This fixed-rate pricing model gives you clarity and control over your budget. You can plan ahead without the risk of surprise bills or hidden fees. Froala’s powerful features and enterprise-grade support make this an excellent value proposition, especially compared to less transparent pricing from other rich text editor providers.

Froala also offers a perpetual licensing option. With this, you make a one-time payment to access Froala updates for one year. After that, you can continue using the last release within that year without any additional fees. This is a great choice for organizations and individuals who want to maximize their investment in a rich text editing solution.

Overall, Froala’s transparent, fixed-rate pricing and perpetual licensing options set it apart in the market. Content creators and developers can adopt Froala RTE with confidence, knowing their content creation costs will be predictable and affordable.

Enterprise Performance

Froala RTE is designed for optimal performance, even in high-intensity applications. Its gzipped core is just 50KB, allowing you to integrate a powerful rich text editor without sacrificing page loading speed. This makes Froala RTE an excellent choice for performance-conscious projects.

One key factor behind Froala’s efficiency is its plugin-based architecture. Users can selectively enable only the features and functionality they require, minimizing the editor’s footprint and improving overall performance. This tailored approach ensures you don’t pay the penalty of unused code.

Moreover, Froala RTE seamlessly handles multiple text editors on the same page without any noticeable performance impact. This is achieved through an intelligent initialization process. The basic editor code is loaded when the page is first accessed, while the remaining functionality is only initialized when the user interacts with the editor.

This “on-demand” loading approach means that whether you have one or ten editors on a page, the user experience remains smooth and responsive, thanks to Froala’s efficient resource management. The editor only loads what’s necessary, when it’s necessary, keeping your application fast and responsive.

By optimizing both its core footprint and initialization, Froala RTE delivers an exceptional rich text editing experience without compromising performance, even in the most demanding applications. This makes Froala an ideal choice for organizations seeking a powerful, yet lightweight, content creation solution.

Unparalleled Mobile Experience

In today’s world, mobile content creation is essential. Froala RTE is designed from the ground up to provide an exceptional mobile experience, allowing users to seamlessly transition between desktop and mobile devices without compromising functionality or efficiency.

Froala’s fully responsive design ensures a consistent, intuitive interface across all devices – from desktops to the latest smartphones and tablets. Whether drafting a blog post on the go or finalizing a presentation on the train, Froala users can maintain their productivity and creative flow without interruption.

One standout feature of Froala RTE is its ability to customize the toolbar for different screen sizes. Using options like toolbarButtons, toolbarButtonsMD, toolbarButtonsSM, and toolbarButtonsXS, you can configure the toolbar buttons that appear on large, medium, small, and extra-small screens. This allows you to optimize the user experience for each device, ensuring critical functionality is always within reach.

new FroalaEditor('div#froala-editor', {
  toolbarButtons: {
    // Toolbar buttons for larger screens
  },
  toolbarButtonsXS: [
    // Toolbar buttons for extra-small screens
  ]
});

This mobile-first approach is particularly valuable in industries where content creation often happens outside the traditional office, such as journalism, marketing, and education. By empowering users to work seamlessly across devices, Froala RTE helps organizations and individuals future-proof their content creation workflows and stay ahead of the curve.

Robust Content Management Capabilities

As the digital landscape evolves, content is becoming increasingly dynamic and complex, with a greater emphasis on multimedia elements, interactive features, and sophisticated formatting. Froala RTE rises to the challenge, offering a comprehensive suite of content management features that empower users to bring their visions to life without having to work around technical limitations.

Froala RTE’s content management capabilities include support for embedded media, advanced tables, and custom styling, providing users with the tools necessary to handle even the most complex content requirements. This comprehensive set of content management features is essential in a world where audiences expect increasingly sophisticated and engaging content experiences.

Froala RTE empowers users to create and publish dynamic, feature-rich content, the editor helps organizations and individuals stand out in an increasingly crowded digital landscape. Whether it’s an interactive product guide, a data-driven infographic, or a visually stunning long-form article, Froala RTE provides the comprehensive content management features to bring these ambitious content projects to life.

Powerful Content Management with Filestack Integration

When it comes to content management we should mention the editor’s seamless integration with Filestack, a leading content management and file upload platform. This powerful combination elevates Froala RTE to the next level, providing users with a comprehensive content creation and management solution.

The Froala-Filestack integration offers a streamlined, end-to-end content workflow. Users can easily upload files from a variety of sources – including local devices, cloud storage, and external websites – directly into the Froala RTE. Filestack’s reliable and lightning-fast file delivery ensures that media assets are quickly available within the editor, boosting productivity and efficiency.

Moreover, Filestack’s cloud-based storage capabilities allow users to securely manage and organize their content assets, ensuring they are easily accessible whenever needed. This tight integration between Froala RTE and Filestack’s content management features empowers users to create, edit, and publish rich, engaging content without having to juggle multiple tools or platforms.

By leveraging the Froala-Filestack integration, content creators can focus on their core tasks, confident that the underlying content management and file handling processes are seamless and efficient. This powerful combination elevates Froala RTE to become a truly comprehensive content creation solution, making it an even more compelling choice for organizations and individuals looking to future-proof their content workflows.

Seamless AI Integration

As the demands on content creators continue to grow, the integration of AI technology is becoming increasingly crucial for rich text editors (RTEs). Froala RTE stands out in this regard, offering seamless integration with cutting-edge AI tools and assistants.

Froala’s flexible architecture allows it to be easily integrated with popular AI platforms like ChatGPT, Anthropic’s Gemini, and DeepSeak. This empowers users to leverage the power of these advanced language models directly within the Froala RTE, transforming it into an “AI-powered” editor.

With these integrations, users can engage in natural language conversations with the AI assistant, asking it to generate, enhance, or expand upon the content they’re working on. The AI can provide suggestions, ideas, and even complete paragraphs or sections, seamlessly integrating with the Froala RTE to deliver a truly collaborative content creation experience.

This AI-powered functionality not only boosts productivity but also introduces new creative possibilities. Users can explore different writing styles, experiment with new approaches, and tap into the AI’s expansive knowledge to elevate their content in ways that were previously unimaginable. By embracing the synergy between Froala RTE and leading-edge AI tools, content creators can future-proof their workflows and stay ahead of the curve in an increasingly competitive digital landscape.

The Froala Advantage

In a rapidly evolving content creation landscape, Froala RTE stands out as a premier choice for users in 2025 and beyond. Froala RTE’s unparalleled customization capabilities, mobile-friendly design, and comprehensive content management tools make it an indispensable asset for organizations and individuals alike.

Froala RTE’s transparent and affordable pricing, with fixed-rate plans that cover unlimited editor loads and users, makes it an excellent value proposition compared to competitors with less transparent pricing models. The editor’s seamless integration with cutting-edge AI tools like ChatGPT further elevates the content creation experience, empowering users to leverage the power of generative AI directly within the Froala RTE.

Froala RTE empowers users to tailor the editor to their specific needs, seamlessly create and edit content on the go, and collaborate effortlessly with team members, helping to future-proof content creation workflows and ensuring that users can stay ahead of the curve.

In a world where content is the lifeblood of modern business and communication, Froala RTE is the essential tool for anyone looking to elevate their content creation capabilities and deliver truly engaging, dynamic, and impactful experiences to their audiences.

Experience the power of Froala RTE for yourself – try it free today.

 

How to Make Your Visual HTML WYSIWYG Editor Smarter with Image Sentiment Analysis

Visual HTML WYSIWYG Editor with Image Sentiment Analysis illustration

Every image has a story to tell, which means that emotion matters in each image upload. For example, let’s say that some moviegoers will have to choose between two horror films. It’s highly likely that they will choose the film with a poster that exhibits more fear and uneasiness.

This is where image sentiment analysis comes in. It unlocks emotional context within visuals to help creators and decision-makers optimize their content for maximum impact. When combined with a visual HTML WYSIWYG editor, it allows end users to easily upload images and receive feedback about the emotions in their images instantly. 

In this tutorial, I’ll show you how to add image sentiment analysis features in your HTML WYSIWYG editor to determine emotion in images.

Key Takeaways

  • Image sentiment is an advanced feature that suits portrait-centric applications
  • Easily implement image sentiment analysis with an intelligent visual editor
  • Scan images from uploads or external sources
  • Chain image sentiment analysis together with other Filestack tasks
  • Some use cases for image sentiment detection include marketing, entertainment, social media, and more

What is Image Sentiment?

Image sentiment is a process that uses machine learning and algorithms like neural networks and deep learning to evaluate an image’s conveyed emotions. For instance, when a user uploads a photo of a person, image sentiment detection can determine whether the person is happy, calm, angry, and so on. 

This process is useful across different fields, such as marketing, user studies, content creation, entertainment, and more. In all these examples, image sentiment analysis can enhance engagement strategies, helping organizations convey their message better and give their audience what they need. 

Now that we know a bit about image sentiment, let’s explore how we can implement it in a WYSIWYG editor.

How to Analyze Image Sentiment Using a Visual HTML WYSIWYG Editor

To start off, we’ll need to create and initialize our Froala editor. Afterwards, we’ll use Filestack’s Image Sentiment API to evaluate any uploaded images. In our setup, Filestack is natively integrated into Froala Editor (v4.3.0 and up). Once we get both the editor and image sentiment detector running, we’ll display the results of the API call in our editor.

Initialize the Visual HTML WYSIWYG Editor

In your HTML file, add the following:

First, include the Froala Editor and Filestack stylesheets inside the <head> tag. These provide the editor’s styling and the Filestack UI components:

<head>
     <!-- Add your other CSS here -->

     <!-- Froala and Filestack stylesheets -->
     <link href="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/froala-editor@latest/css/froala_editor.pkgd.min.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" />
     <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://static.filestackapi.com/transforms-ui/2.x.x/transforms.css" />
</head>

Next, inside the <body>, create a placeholder <div> where the Froala Editor will be initialized:

<body>
     <!-- Your other elements go here -->
     <div id="froala-editor"></div>
     <!-- Your other elements go here -->

After that, include the required JavaScript libraries. These scripts bring in Filestack (file upload, transformations, drag-and-drop), the Froala Editor, and any other JS files you’re using in your project:

<!-- Froala and Filestack JS -->
     <script src="https://static.filestackapi.com/filestack-js/3.32.0/filestack.min.js"></script>
     <script src="https://static.filestackapi.com/filestack-drag-and-drop-js/1.1.1/filestack-drag-and-drop.min.js"></script>
     <script src="https://static.filestackapi.com/transforms-ui/2.x.x/transforms.umd.min.js"></script>
     <script type="text/javascript" src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/froala-editor@latest/js/froala_editor.pkgd.min.js"></script>

Finally, link to your own JavaScript file (index.js), where you’ll initialize Froala and integrate image sentiment analysis:

<!-- Your other JS files go here -->
     <script src="js/index.js"></script>
</body>

See the complete HTML file in this GitHub repository.

The HTML, along with your other elements, styles, and JS, should contain the Froala and Filestack dependencies. Furthermore, this is where you’ll create the element to initialize the editor. 

Obtaining Your Filestack API Key

Before initializing the editor with Filestack, you’ll need an API key. This key authenticates your requests and enables access to Filestack services.

Here’s how to get it:

  1. Sign up for a free Filestack account at filestack.com.
  2. Log in to your dashboard and copy your default API key.
  3. For production apps, you can create separate keys for different projects or environments.
  4. Keep your API key secure. For sensitive use cases (like image sentiment), use policy and signature for additional security.

You’ll replace the placeholder ‘YourFilestackAPIKey’ in the code snippet with this key.

Initialize the Froala editor with Filestack

Once your HTML is ready, go to your index.js (or main JS file) and add the following script.

First, initialize the Froala Editor and specify the target element:

new FroalaEditor('#froala-editor',{

This line attaches the Froala WYSIWYG editor to the <div id=”froala-editor”></div> element in your HTML.

Configure Filestack Options

Next, add Filestack integration details:

filestackOptions: {
        filestackAPI: 'YourFilestackAPIKey',
        uploadToFilestackOnly: true,
        pickerOptions: {
            accept: ['image/*'],
            fromSources: ['local_file_system']
        }
    },

Here:

  • filestackAPI → Replace with your actual Filestack API key.
  • uploadToFilestackOnly → Ensures uploads go directly to Filestack.
  • pickerOptions → Restricts uploads to images and local file system sources.

Add Toolbar Buttons

Then, configure the editor’s toolbar:

toolbarButtons: {
        'moreRich': {
            'buttons': ['openFilePickerImageOnly', 'insertLink', 'insertTable', 'emoticons', 'specialCharacters', 'insertHR'],
            'buttonsVisible': 3
        },

        'moreText': {
            'buttons': ['bold', 'italic', 'underline', 'fontFamily', 'fontSize', 'textColor', 'backgroundColor', 'clearFormatting']
        },

        'moreParagraph': {
            'buttons': ['alignLeft', 'alignCenter', 'formatOLSimple', 'alignRight', 'alignJustify', 'formatOL', 'formatUL', 'paragraphFormat', 'paragraphStyle', 'lineHeight', 'outdent', 'indent', 'quote']
        },

        'moreMisc': {
            'buttons': ['undo', 'redo', 'fullscreen', 'selectAll', 'html', 'help'],
            'align': 'right',
            'buttonsVisible': 2
        }
    },

This block sets up different categories of buttons:

  • Rich media tools (links, tables, emoticons, etc.)
  • Text formatting (bold, italic, colors, etc.)
  • Paragraph options (alignment, lists, spacing)
  • Miscellaneous tools (undo, redo, fullscreen, code view, etc.)

Handle Upload Events

Now, configure event listeners for uploads:

events: {
        'filestack.uploadedToFilestack': function (response) {
            // when a file is uploaded, begin the image sentiment detection process
            performAnalysis(response.filesUploaded[0].handle, this);
        },
        'filestack.uploadFailedToFilestack': function (response) {
            console.log(response);
        },
    },

Here:

  • filestack.uploadedToFilestack → Triggered when an image is uploaded successfully. It calls performAnalysis() for image sentiment analysis.
  • filestack.uploadFailedToFilestack → Logs any upload errors.

Set Editor Dimensions

Finally, configure editor height limits:

heightMin: 500,
    heightMax: 1000
});

This ensures the editor height is between 500px and 1000px, keeping the layout consistent.

In short, this script links Froala with Filestack, sets up custom toolbar options, and triggers the performAnalysis function whenever an image is uploaded. This way, every uploaded image is immediately analyzed for sentiment, and the results are displayed in the editor.

Call the Image Sentiment Analysis API

Now let’s write the logic to analyze uploaded images by calling Filestack’s Image Sentiment API.

First, we’ll create the performAnalysis function. This function constructs the secure API request URL, calls the API, and inserts the sentiment results back into the Froala editor. Append these code snippets to your JS file.

async function performAnalysis(fileHandle, editorInstance) {
    // use the generated policy and signature from your Filestack dashboard
    const policy = 'YourGeneratedPolicy';
    const signature = 'YourGeneratedSignature';
    const imageSentimentURL = `https://cdn.filestackcontent.com/security=p:${policy},s:${signature}/image_sentiment/${fileHandle}`;

    // fetch results from the Image Sentiment API, then insert the result into the editor
    try {
        const result = await scanImage(imageSentimentURL);
        // format the emotions (for display)
        const emotions = formatEmotions(result.emotions);
        editorInstance.html.insert(`<p>Image Sentiment Analysis:</p><ul>${emotions}</ul>`);
        console.log("Image sentiment result inserted into the editor:", result);
    } catch (error) {
        console.error("Error during sentiment analysis:", error);
    }
}

Explanation:

  • We pass the uploaded file’s handle and the editorInstance.
  • The policy and signature (generated in the Filestack dashboard) are required for secure API access.
  • If the API call succeeds, we format the detected emotions and insert them into the editor as a list.

Next, we need a helper function to actually make the API call:

// function that makes the API call
async function scanImage(url) {
    const response = await fetch(url);
    if (!response.ok) {
        throw new Error("Failed to fetch image sentiment results.");
    }

    const data = await response.json();
    return data;
}

Explanation:

  • This function sends a fetch request to the constructed API URL.
  • If the response is OK, it parses the JSON result and returns it.
  • If not, it throws an error to be caught by the performAnalysis function.

This breakdown makes it clear that performAnalysis orchestrates the workflow, while scanImage handles the actual API request.

Now that we can fetch the sentiment results, the final step is to make them more readable. For this, we’ll add a helper function called formatEmotions, which turns the raw JSON into a user-friendly list that can be displayed inside the editor.

Format and Display the Results in the Editor

In the same script, add the following function:

// function for formatting the JSON object of emotions into an HTML list
function formatEmotions(emotions) {
    if (!emotions.hasOwnProperty('HAPPY')) return '<li>No sentiment detected.</li>';

    return Object.entries(emotions)
        .map(([emotion, value]) => `<li>${emotion}: ${(value).toFixed(2)}%</li>`)
        .join('');
}

This function first checks if the JSON result (emotions) has empty values. If it doesn’t, it returns that no sentiment was detected in the image. 

Otherwise, it returns a list that contains the keys (emotions) and values (in percentage and rounded up to two decimal points). 

See the complete index.js file in this GitHub repository.

After this, you now have a working image sentiment analysis feature in your application. But we’re not quite done yet. 

Let’s run the application and check the results. Here I uploaded an image of a person who appears to be confused.

The visual HTML WYSIWYG editor with an uploaded image of a man scratching his head. In the WYSIWYG editor, it was determined by Filestack's image sentiment detector that the primary emotion of the person in the image is "confused" (99.27%).

After uploading the image, Filestack determined that the person in the image displays 99.27% confusion, which checks out. After checking the console, here’s what I saw:

The browser console showing the result of the Image Sentiment API call from Filestack. Here, it shows that the image displays 99.27% confusion.

This is the unformatted version of the result. Now, let’s try uploading a picture of a person smiling:

A photo of a person smiling is uploaded into the visual HTML WYSIWYG editor for image sentiment analysis. This resulted in a "HAPPY: 100%" evaluation.

Filestack’s Image Sentiment Detection feature correctly determined that the overall sentiment of the image is 100% happy. But what if the image has no person at all? Let’s try uploading a picture of a landscape:

A photo containing a mountain. Here, there was no emotion detected because the image doesn't contain any person.

Here, we can see that the image has no sentiment or emotions since it doesn’t contain a portrait of anybody. 

Now, you’re free to experiment with Filestack’s image sentiment features. Note that you can also do other things with it. For instance, you can use it in your Filestack Workflows with other tasks, use it on images with external URLs, and use it with storage aliases.

Also, you can explore more in the comprehensive documentation below:

Filestack Documentation

Froala Documentation

Wrapping up: Enhance Your Visual HTML WYSIWYG Editor with Image Sentiment Features

By integrating image sentiment analysis into your visual HTML WYSIWYG editor, you add a layer of intelligence and user engagement to your content-centric apps. This feature not only streamlines workflows for developers but also provides meaningful insights into visually conveyed emotions and helps you connect more with your users. 

So, take advantage of this powerful combination to create smarter tools that cater to a wide variety of creative needs.

Get your Filestack API here for free.

How to Add Virus Detection Capabilities in Your HTML Editor Software

A shield with the "WYSIWYG" text displayed, representing how HTML editor software can help protect against security threats through virus detection capabilities.

Today, HTML editor software goes beyond creating clean code or supporting rich text capabilities. It has transitioned into a gateway where users can introduce files, scripts, and external resources into a system. Without proper safeguards, these entry points turn into opportunities for attackers.

Malicious scripts hidden in HTML, infected file uploads disguised as harmless images, or embedded links are potential threats. These attacks are subtle yet powerful enough to compromise entire websites, spread malware, or even steal sensitive user information. With the rise of these vulnerabilities, protecting your infrastructure and users is a top priority.

Thankfully, some of the best HTML editors come with virus and malware detection software. These transform an HTML editor from a simple content tool into a safer environment. For businesses, developers, and content creators alike, this functionality is essential for preserving trust.

In this article, you’ll discover common HTML editor software security risks and some of the benefits that virus detection brings. Additionally, you’ll learn how to implement this using a file management tool from within the editor. Lastly, you’ll see some useful tips that could help you secure your HTML editors further.

Key Takeaways

  • HTML editor software is a frequent entry point for malware due to file uploads and embedded scripts.
  • Virus detection capabilities protect both end-users and organizations from hidden threats.
  • Cross-site scripting (XSS) and disguised file uploads are two of the most common attack vectors.
  • You can use Filestack’s virus detection feature, embedded into your HTML editor, to scan file uploads for any potential threats.
  • Regular updates, SSL/TLS connections, and penetration testing help strengthen long-term protection.

Understanding Security Risks in HTML Editors

HTML editors handle a variety of content types, which makes them prime targets for attackers.

Cross-site scripting (XSS) is one of the most common risks for HTML editor software. It involves embedding malicious JavaScript through a web application to a different end user. When unsuspecting users view the content, the script executes, potentially stealing cookies, session tokens, and sensitive information in the browser.

A simple explanation of how XSS works.

HTML editors allow users to upload their own files, which led attackers to exploit file uploads. For instance, an attacker might disguise an executable file (.exe) as an image or PDF, slipping it past filters. Once it reaches the server, the malicious file could then spread malware across the server or end-user machines.

External resources, such as scripts or iframes from unsafe domains, also present risks. These can redirect users to phishing pages or inject malware into otherwise trusted websites.

The impact of these common security risks is wide-ranging. For example, these could lead to small-scale site defacement, which hinders UX and even endangers your users. These could also cause large-scale data breaches that can damage brand reputation and create legal liability.

Why Virus Detection Matters in HTML Editor Software

Building virus detection directly into HTML editor software addresses these threats before they spread.

Firstly, it protects end-users by preventing them from unintentionally executing harmful code. For example, if an employee accidentally pastes scripts from untrusted sources into a company knowledge base, virus scanning can catch it before publication.

Virus detection can also shield businesses from the costly consequences of a compromised system. These can range from customer distrust to regulatory fines under GDPR, HIPAA, or other regulations. By ensuring that only sanitized, secure content enters the system, organizations also strengthen compliance while preserving their reputation.

Finally, virus detection creates a safer collaborative environment. Teams can focus on editing, formatting, and publishing without worrying about hidden threats lurking in their content.

Core Features of Virus Detection in HTML Editors

Effective virus protection inside HTML editor software relies on multiple layers of defense.

  • File upload scanning helps ensure that images, PDFs, or documents don’t contain hidden malware from entering shared content libraries.
  • Script validation checks embedded JavaScript, inline events, or external iframes for suspicious behavior. For example, an editor could block inline onload events that might trigger attacks.
  • Real-time monitoring continuously scans content for threats, flagging issues as soon as they occur rather than after files reach the server.
  • Quarantine & alerts isolate harmful files and notify administrators or security immediately. This ensures fast remediation without disrupting normal content workflows.

Any of these can greatly contribute to your infrastructure’s security, but you can combine these together for better effect. For example, you can integrate quarantine and alerts into file upload scanning to automatically isolate potentially infected files.

Technical Approaches to Implement Virus Detection

There are several ways to integrate virus detection into HTML editor software, each with strengths and trade-offs.

Integration with Antivirus Engines

This is the most direct approach, as this involves using ready-made tools. For example, you can use ClamAV, VirusTotal API, or other proprietary SDKs to scan files before storing them. These APIs act as external security services, which can return a “clean” or “infected” result.

Sandboxing & Heuristic Analysis

A sandbox with some viruses inside, signifying the sandboxing process, which contains suspicious files to observe their behaviors, in servers.

This provides advanced protection by executing suspicious files in a controlled environment (sandbox), analyzing behavior instead of signatures. For example, a file that tries to open unexpected network connections would result in a “malicious” flag. As a result, this method helps identify even new and unknown threats. Think of sandboxing like a safe play area for testing suspicious files.

Heuristic analysis uses rules and algorithms to predict whether a file is malicious based on its structure, instructions, or resemblance. For example, if a program has obfuscated code, tries to self-modify, or calls suspicious APIs, heuristics might flag it even before execution.

Signature-based Scanning vs. Behavior-based Detection

Signature-based scanning matches files against known malware fingerprints. It’s fast, but it’s limited by zero-day threats. By contrast, behavior-based detection identifies anomalies in how a file or script acts. A robust system often combines both methods.

Note that behavior-based detection is different from sandboxing and heuristics in that it watches live or real-time behavior of the file on a system. In contrast, sandboxing and heuristics occur in simulations or predictions (pre-check instead of live).

Content Sanitization

This approach helps ensure that only clean or safe HTML survives by stripping out unsafe HTML, JS, and inline events. Tools like DOMPurify or OWASP HTML Sanitizer can help keep your website safe from XSS attacks.

Note: Sanitization is not just a backup measure. You should include it as a default safeguard even if antivirus scanning is in place. Even better, you can opt to use distraction-free HTML editor software that has built-in XSS protection.

Note: Each of these approaches comes with its own limitations or challenges, such as cost or scalability. It’s important to balance these according to your needs, but in general, security is always a good investment.

Step-by-Step Guide to Adding Virus Detection in HTML Editor Software

Building security into your HTML editor follows a structured process.

1. Define Security Requirements

Decide which content types need scanning: file uploads, embedded HTML (or scripts), or external resources. In most cases, you’ll need to protect against vulnerabilities for all three. In this example, we’ll focus more on protecting against malicious file uploads through Filestack’s virus detection feature.

To get started, ensure that you have a Filestack account with the Virus Detection feature active. You should also have access to Filestack Workflows, which lets you automate file processing and chain tasks together. 

Furthermore, you’ll need Filestack’s Webhooks. This allows you to add endpoints to which Filestack will send the result of the virus detection task. This guide also uses Beeceptor, which creates a mock endpoint for webhook or API simulation.

Lastly, you’ll need Froala’s v4.3 or higher, as it natively contains Filestack in the editor.

2. Integrate File Upload Security

We want the application to work so that it doesn’t store suspicious or malicious uploads. This also means that we’ll store safe files normally. To do this, log into your Filestack account through the Dev Portal.

After logging in, click the “Workflows” tab from the menu and click “Create New.” After naming your workflow, click the plus button, and from the “Intelligence” tab, choose “virus_detection.” This creates a new virus detection task in your workflow.

Filestack Workflow's different features/processes. The virus_detection one is highlighted.

Afterwards, create another task by searching for “virus_detection” and adding a new condition through a button above. Set the path to “infected,” the condition to “eq,” and the value to “false.” This makes the workflow store the file if there are no viruses present (the infected field is set to false).

You could also use the same logic to create a condition for removing infected files (the infected field is set to true).

Next, open Beeceptor and create a mock endpoint or server. Go back to Filestack’s dashboard, click “Webhooks” under the Configuration tab, and add the URL of your endpoint. Don’t close your Beeceptor tab yet (if you’re using it), since you’ll revisit this after uploading an image.

Once that’s settled, go to your JavaScript file and paste the following code. Make sure that you have an element in your DOM that has the “#froala-editor” identifier.

new FroalaEditor('#froala-editor',{
    filestackOptions: {
        filestackAPI: 'YourAPIKey',
        uploadToFilestackOnly: true,
        pickerOptions: {
            fromSources: ['local_file_system'],
            storeTo: {
                workflows: ["yourWorkflowID"]
            }
        }
    },
    toolbarButtons: {
        'moreRich': {
            'buttons': ['openFilePickerImageOnly', 'openFilePicker', 'insertLink', 'insertTable', 'emoticons', 'specialCharacters', 'insertHR'],
            'buttonsVisible': 3
        },

        'moreText': {
            'buttons': ['bold', 'italic', 'underline', 'fontFamily', 'fontSize', 'textColor', 'backgroundColor', 'clearFormatting']
        },

        'moreParagraph': {
            'buttons': ['alignLeft', 'alignCenter', 'formatOLSimple', 'alignRight', 'alignJustify', 'formatOL', 'formatUL', 'paragraphFormat', 'paragraphStyle', 'lineHeight', 'outdent', 'indent', 'quote']
        },
        'moreMisc': {
            'buttons': ['undo', 'redo', 'fullscreen', 'selectAll', 'html', 'help'],
            'align': 'right',
            'buttonsVisible': 2
        }
    },
    events: {
        'filestack.uploadedToFilestack': function (response) {
            console.log(response.filesUploaded[0]);
        },
        'filestack.uploadFailedToFilestack': function (response) {
            console.log(response);
        },
    },
    heightMin: 500,
    heightMax: 1000
});

This code configures Froala Editor as well as the natively integrated Filestack features. Update the fields with your actual API key and Filestack Workflow ID. You can also change, add, or remove different features and plugins here, since Froala follows the standard modular architecture in HTML editors.

3. Run the Application

Using a browser, run your application. Afterwards, click the Filestack icon to upload a file.

An image of an orange cat is uploaded into the editor through Filestack.

Should the file contain any viruses, the virus detection workflow will remove it or not store it. Otherwise, it will store it normally. This example shows the upload of a harmless picture of a cat. Thus, the workflow should allow the storing of this image.

The uploaded image is now on the HTML editor software.

After the upload, the file appears on the editor. This tells you that the file is safe and doesn’t contain any viruses or malware. If you open the browser console, you’ll also see the following file metadata from the uploaded file:

The result of the file upload from within the HTML editor software. From this image, one can imply that the file is safe because of its "Stored" status.

This shows the file’s name, handle, path, and other information. More importantly, we can see that its status is “Stored,” which means that it’s a safe and valid file. From here, you can implement other security measures as well as file processing features (e.g., content safety, image tagging).

Now, go back to your Beeceptor webhook endpoint (or your actual endpoint). You should see a request from Filestack, which may look similar to the following image:

The Filestack request from Workflows to Beeceptor's mock endpoint. This shows the data in a JSON format.

From the Filestack request, you’ll notice the “virus_detection” workflow result, which contains  “infected” and “infections_list” properties. Since the “infected” property is false and the list of infections is empty, the file doesn’t contain any viruses.

Best Practices for Secure HTML Editor Development

Adding virus detection is powerful, but you should maintain it with best practices. Here are some effective and common tips to further secure your application.

  • Keep antivirus signatures up-to-date so your system recognizes the latest threats.
  • Limit accepted file types to reduce risk. Allow only images, PDFs, safe document formats, or only the file formats that you need.
  • Use SSL/TLS encryption for secure communication with antivirus APIs.
  • Sandbox the HTML editor from the underlying operating system to contain and isolate potential exploits.
  • Educate end-users with prompts and warnings about safe file handling. At the same time, check the file sizes, file types, and other metadata of all uploads.
  • Enable real-time threat alerts for both users and administrators.
  • Run regular penetration tests to validate that your defenses hold up against evolving threats.

Note: Even the most advanced scanning system won’t stop every possible threat. Combine virus detection, sanitization, user training, and other methods to create a layered security strategy.

Conclusion

In HTML editor software, you can’t think of security as an afterthought. With users constantly uploading files, pasting external code, and embedding links, actions can turn into possible entry points for malware. Thus, virus detection is vital to secure HTML editors.

By integrating virus detection, sanitization, and real-time monitoring, editors evolve from simple text tools into secure environments that protect both businesses and end-users. For teams building, customizing, or integrating HTML editors, it’s clear that secure editing is better editing.

Looking to enhance your HTML editor with security features? Explore integration-ready tools and start building a safer editing experience.

Optimizing Vue Applications for HTML Code Writers: Initializing Froala Editor on Click

Optimizing Vue Applications for HTML Code Writers

The Froala Vue WYSIWYG Editor is a powerful tool that allows developers to easily incorporate a rich text editing experience into their Vue.js applications. With its user-friendly interface and extensive customization options, the Froala html code writer provides a seamless editing experience for users.

We have covered the integration process of Froala and Vue before. However, in some applications, developers may need to initialize the Froala Vue WYSIWYG Editor by clicking on a certain element. By manually initializing the editor on click, developers can control when the editor appears on the page. This helps optimize your application load speed especially if you have more than one editor on the page.

In this article, we will guide you through the process of initializing the Froala Vue WYSIWYG Editor on click. We will cover the necessary prerequisites, step-by-step instructions, and customization options to help you make the most out of this powerful editing tool.

By the end of this guide, you will have a solid understanding of how to set up and initialize the editor on click. So let’s dive in and explore the benefits and importance of on-click initialization for the Froala Vue WYSIWYG Editor.

Froala Editor
Froala Editor

 

prerequisites

We assume you have a working knowledge of:

  • JavaScript (including some of the newer, ES2015 features)
  • Vue 3
  • How to use the terminal/command line
  • Node and npm

Create a simple Vue project.

To create a new Vue.js project, run the following commands.

npm install -g @vue/cli

vue create my-froala-vue-app

The above commands will install the Vue CLI globally on your machine and then create a new Vue project called “my-froala-vue-app”.

Install the Froala WYSIWYG Editor package.

Next, you need to install the Froala WYSIWYG Editor package. To do this, navigate to your project directory and run the following command:

cd my-froala-vue-app

npm install vue-froala-wysiwyg

This will install the Froala WYSIWYG Editor package and its dependencies into your project.

Import the Froala WYSIWYG Editor Component

To use the Froala WYSIWYG Editor in your Vue application, you need to import the component. Copy the following code into your “main.js” file.

import { createApp } from "vue";
import App from "./App.vue";

//Import Froala Editor plugins
import "froala-editor/js/plugins.pkgd.min.js";

// Import Froala Editor css files.
import "froala-editor/css/froala_editor.pkgd.min.css";
import "froala-editor/css/froala_style.min.css";

// Import Froala Editor component
import VueFroala from "vue-froala-wysiwyg";

const app = createApp(App);

app.use(VueFroala);
app.mount("#app");

This code imports the VueFroala component from the `vue-froala-wysiwyg` package and registers it. This allows you to use the Froala WYSIWYG Editor component in your Vue components.

Initialize the Froala Vue WYSIWYG Editor on Click

We will add the following code to the “app.vue” file.

<template>
  <div id="app">
    <h1>Vue adapter for the Froala WYSIWYG editor</h1>

    <div class="sample">
      <h2>Sample 4: Manual Initialization</h2>
      <button class="manual" v-on:click="createEditor()" v-if="!showEditor">
        Initialize Editor
      </button>
      <button v-on:click="destroyEditor()" v-if="showEditor">
        Close Editor
      </button>
      <button v-on:click="deleteAll()" v-if="showEditor">Delete All</button>
      <froala
        id="sample5"
        :onManualControllerReady="initialize"
        v-model:value="sample3Text"
      >
        <template v-slot>
          <div>
            Check out the
            <a href="https://www.froala.com/wysiwyg-editor">Froala Editor</a>
          </div>
        </template>
      </froala>
    </div>
  </div>
</template>

<script>
export default {
  name: "app",
  data() {
    return {
      // Sample 4
      sample3Text: null,
      initControls: null,
      showEditor: false,
      deleteAll: null,
      destroyEditor: () => {
        this.initControls.destroy();
        this.showEditor = false;
      },
      createEditor: () => {
        this.initControls.initialize();
        this.showEditor = true;
      },
      initialize: (initControls) => {
        this.initControls = initControls;
        this.deleteAll = () => {
          this.initControls.getEditor().html.set("");
          this.initControls.getEditor().undo.reset();
          this.initControls.getEditor().undo.saveStep();
        };
      },
    };
  },
  created() {},
};
</script>

<style>
#app {
  font-family: "Avenir", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;
  -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;
  -moz-osx-font-smoothing: grayscale;
  color: #2c3e50;
  margin-top: 60px;
}
body {
  padding: 20px;
}

.sample {
  padding-bottom: 50px;
  margin-left: 30px;
  border-top: 1px solid lightgray;
}

.manual {
  margin-bottom: 20px;
}

.button {
  margin-left: 5px;
}
</style>

Let’s break down the code step by step:

The code above defines three buttons: one for initializing the editor when it is not loaded on the page, and the other two buttons appear when the editor is shown. One button is for destroying the editor, and the other is used to clear the editor’s contents.

<h2>Sample 4: Manual Initialization</h2>
<button class="manual" v-on:click="createEditor()" v-if="!showEditor">
  Initialize Editor
</button>
<button v-on:click="destroyEditor()" v-if="showEditor">
 Close Editor
</button>
<button v-on:click="deleteAll()" v-if="showEditor">Delete All</button>

The showEditor is a data property that determines whether the editor is currently shown or not. It is initially set to false. The createEditor method is called when the “Initialize Editor” button is clicked, and it sets showEditor to true and initializes the editor. The destroyEditor method is called when the “Close Editor” button is clicked, and it destroys the editor and sets showEditor back to false. The deleteAll method is called when the “Delete All” button is clicked, and it clears the editor contents.

Our “app.vue” code also includes the Froala Vue component. It has an id of sample5 and a v-model binding to the sample3Text data property. This :onManualControllerReady is used to bind the initialize method to the Froala editor’s manual controller. This allows us to access the editor’s methods and perform actions such as clearing the editor’s contents.

      <froala
        id="sample5"
        :onManualControllerReady="initialize"
        v-model:value="sample3Text"
      >

The initialize method is called when the editor is initialized, and it receives the initControls object as a parameter. Developers can obtain instances of the FroalaEditor object by using the getEditor() method of the initControls object. This allows them to easily access and utilize any Froala API method.

<script>
export default {
  name: "app",
  data() {
    return {
      // Sample 4
      sample3Text: null,
      initControls: null,
      showEditor: false,
      deleteAll: null,
      destroyEditor: () => {
        this.initControls.destroy();
        this.showEditor = false;
      },
      createEditor: () => {
        this.initControls.initialize();
        this.showEditor = true;
      },
      initialize: (initControls) => {
        this.initControls = initControls;
        this.deleteAll = () => {
          this.initControls.getEditor().html.set("");
          this.initControls.getEditor().undo.reset();
          this.initControls.getEditor().undo.saveStep();
        };
      },
    };
  },
  created() {},
};
</script>

Finally, we have a `template` block inside the Froala component where we can add additional HTML content. In this example, we have simple text and a link to the Froala Editor website.

  <template v-slot>
    <div>
      Check out the
      <a href="https://www.froala.com/wysiwyg-editor">Froala Editor</a>
    </div>
  </template>

That’s it! You have now created a simple Vue project with the Froala html code writer integrated. You can now run your Vue project and see the Froala Editor in action.

Run the Vue App

To run the Vue app and see the Froala Vue WYSIWYG Editor in action, navigate to your project directory and run the following command:

npm run serve

This will start the development server at http://localhost:8080

The benefits of loading Froala on click

Loading the Froala Vue WYSIWYG editor on click offers several benefits for developers. It helps improve the initial loading time of the webpage. By deferring the loading of the editor until it is actually needed, developers can ensure that their web pages load quickly and efficiently. This can lead to a better user experience, as visitors won’t have to wait for the editor to load if they don’t plan on using it.

Additionally, loading the Froala editor on click allows developers to save resources and optimize performance. Since the editor is only loaded when necessary, it doesn’t consume unnecessary memory or processing power. This can help improve the overall performance of the webpage and prevent any unnecessary strain on the user’s device.

Moreover, loading the Froala editor on click provides a more seamless and intuitive user experience. Instead of having the editor visible at all times, it only appears when the user explicitly chooses to use it. This allows for a cleaner and less cluttered interface, making it easier for users to focus on the task at hand.

Conclusion

The Froala WYSIWYG Editor is a powerful tool for creating rich text content in web applications. In this tutorial, we learned how to integrate the Froala Editor with a Vue.js project and initialize it on click. This approach offers numerous benefits in terms of performance, user experience, and resource optimization.

Now that you have learned how to integrate and initialize the Froala Editor on click, why not give it a try in your own Vue.js projects? With its user-friendly interface and extensive customization options, the Froala Editor offers a seamless editing experience for your users. Experience the power of the Froala Editor today and enhance the content creation capabilities of your web applications.

Get started with the Froala Vue WYSIWYG Editor now and unleash the full potential of your web applications!

Embedding Emotion: Emoji Integration with Froala Editor

Emoji Integration with Froala Editor

Emojis have evolved from a niche Japanese communication tool to a global, universal language that transcends linguistic and cultural barriers. When strategically incorporated, these expressive icons can enhance professional communication by clarifying tone, conveying emotional nuance, and improving engagement.

The Froala Editor’s Emoticons plugin provides a robust and customizable solution for seamlessly integrating these emotive elements into web applications. By leveraging this powerful plugin, developers can create more engaging, human-centered digital experiences that resonate with their audience.

Dive into the origins of emoji, explore their cultural impact, and discover how the Froala Emoticons plugin can elevate your web content to new heights of expressiveness and connection.

Key Takeaways

  • Emojis have evolved from a niche Japanese communication tool to a global, universal language that transcends linguistic and cultural barriers.
  • Strategically used emojis can enhance professional communication by clarifying tone, conveying emotional nuance, and improving engagement.
  • The Froala Editor’s Emoticons plugin provides a robust and customizable solution for seamlessly integrating expressive emojis into web applications.
  • By leveraging the Emoticons plugin, developers can create more engaging, human-centered digital experiences that resonate with their audience.

Origins of Emoji

The story of emoji begins in Japan during the late 1990s, a time when digital communication was rapidly evolving. Shigetaka Kurita, working for NTT DoCoMo, a Japanese mobile phone operator, created the first set of 176 emoji in 1999. These simple 12×12 pixel images were designed to enhance mobile communication, providing a way to convey emotions and context that text alone couldn’t capture.

Originally, these icons were a solution to a specific problem: how to make digital communication more nuanced and expressive on the limited screen space of early mobile phones. Kurita drew inspiration from manga, kanji characters, and international symbols, creating a visual language that could transcend traditional text-based messaging.

Technical Evolution

The real breakthrough came with Unicode standardization. In 2010, Unicode began officially encoding emoji, transforming them from a Japanese mobile phone novelty to a global communication tool. This standardization meant that an emoji sent from an iPhone in New York could be correctly displayed on an Android device in Tokyo.

The Unicode Consortium now manages emoji development, with new characters added annually. What started as 176 icons has exploded into hundreds of diverse emoji representing people, objects, activities, and complex emotions. Each new release reflects ongoing efforts to increase representation and cultural inclusivity.

Cultural Impact

Emojis have fundamentally transformed how we communicate digitally. They provide emotional nuance impossible in plain text, allowing users to convey tone, humor, and sentiment with a single character. A thumbs-up, a heart, or a crying face can communicate volumes more efficiently than paragraphs of text.

More significantly, emojis have become a quasi-universal language. They transcend linguistic barriers, enabling communication across cultures and languages. A smile is a smile, regardless of whether you speak English, Mandarin, or Arabic.

Emoji in Professional Communication: Enhancing Content and Engagement

Contrary to early assumptions, emoji have found significant utility in professional communication, particularly in emails. Far from being unprofessional, strategically used emoji can enhance message clarity, emotional intelligence, and engagement.

In email communication, emoji serve several critical functions:

  1. Tone Clarification: In text-based communication, tone is notoriously difficult to convey. An emoji can instantly soften a directive, express gratitude, or add warmth to an otherwise clinical message. A simple 👍 can confirm understanding more effectively than a terse “OK.”
  2. Emotional Nuancing: Emoji allow senders to communicate emotional subtext that might be lost in plain text. A 😊 can transform a routine communication into a more personable interaction, building rapport in professional relationships.
  3. Cross-Cultural Communication: In global business environments, emoji can bridge communication gaps, providing emotional context that might be lost in translation or across different communication styles.
  4. Engagement Metrics: Research has shown that emails and messages with carefully selected emoji have higher open and response rates, particularly among younger professionals.

Practical Examples

  • A thank-you email with a 🙏 feels more genuine than a formulaic message.
  • A project update with a 🚀 suggests enthusiasm and progress.
  • A gentle reminder with a 😊 feels less confrontational than a stern text.

However, emoji use requires cultural sensitivity and contextual awareness. The key is moderation and appropriateness to the professional environment.

The Modern Challenge of Emoji Integration

As emoji have become a fundamental part of digital communication, web developers and content creators face a critical challenge: seamlessly integrating these expressive icons into their content platforms. The Froala Editor emerges as a powerful solution to this challenge, offering sophisticated emoji integration that goes beyond simple icon insertion.

Froala Emoticons Plugin: An Overview

The Froala Emoticons plugin represents a sophisticated approach to emoji integration, providing developers and content creators with a robust toolset for adding and customizing emoji within web applications.

Key Features

  • Comprehensive emoji library
  • Customizable emoji sets
  • Easy integration with web applications
  • Responsive design compatibility
  • Multiple insertion methods

Froala emoji plugin

Installation and Setup of Emoticons Plugin

Plugin Inclusion

The Emoticons plugin is included with the full Froala editor package (`.pkgd`). Custom implementations require manual addition of two files:

  • JavaScript: /js/plugins/emoticons.min.js
  • Stylesheet: /css/plugins/emoticons.min.css

Enabling the Emoticons Plugin

To enable the Emoticons plugin, include emoticons in the pluginsEnabled array when customizing the editor’s enabled plugins.

new FroalaEditor('#editor', { 
       pluginsEnabled: ['emoticons', 'fontFamily', 'image', 'link', 'video']
    });

Adding Toolbar Button

To add an Emoticons button when customizing the editor’s toolbar, include emoticons in your toolbar configuration.

new FroalaEditor('#editor', {
    toolbarButtons: ['emoticons', 'bold', 'italic', 'insertLink']
});

The Emoticons Plugin Configuration

Clicking the Emoticons button on the editor toolbar opens a popup containing all available emoticons. This popup can be customized using the following options:

emoticonsSet Option

This configuration allows you to customize the emoji groups displayed in the popup.

This option is an array of objects. Each object represents an emoticon group that has the following properties:

  • id: Unique identifier for the emoji group
  • name: A name or title of the emoticons group. It will appear to the users when they hover over the group icon.
  • code: Unicode for the group’s representative emoji
  • emoticons : An array of objects, each representing an emoticon in the group. Each object contains the emoticon’s code and description. For instance, the Grinning face emoticon is represented as { code: "1f600", desc: "Grinning face" }
new FroalaEditor('div#froala-editor', {
    toolbarButtons: ['bold', 'italic', 'emoticons'],
    emoticonsSet: [{
      id: 'people',
      name: 'Smileys & People',
      code: '1f600',
      emoticons: [
        { code: '1f600', desc: 'Grinning face' },
        { code: '1f601', desc: 'Grinning face with smiling eyes' },
        { code: '1f602', desc: 'Face with tears of joy' },
        { code: '1f603', desc: 'Smiling face with open mouth' },
        { code: '1f604', desc: 'Smiling face with open mouth and smiling eyes' },
        { code: '1f605', desc: 'Smiling face with open mouth and cold sweat' },
        { code: '1f606', desc: 'Smiling face with open mouth and tightly-closed eyes' },
        { code: '1f607', desc: 'Smiling face with halo' }
      ]
    }, {
    'id': 'nature',
    'name': 'Animals & Nature',
    'code': '1F435',
    'emoticons': [
      { code: '1F435', desc: 'Monkey Face' },
      { code: '1F412', desc: 'Monkey' },
      { code: '1F436', desc: 'Dog Face' },
      { code: '1F415', desc: 'Dog' },
      { code: '1F429', desc: 'Poodle' },
      { code: '1F43A', desc: 'Wolf Face' },
      { code: '1F431', desc: 'Cat Face' },
      { code: '1F408', desc: 'Cat' },
      { code: '1F42F', desc: 'Tiger Face' },
      { code: '1F405', desc: 'Tiger' },
      { code: '1F406', desc: 'Leopard' },
      { code: '1F434', desc: 'Horse Face' },
      { code: '1F40E', desc: 'Horse' },
      { code: '1F42E', desc: 'Cow Face' },
      { code: '1F402', desc: 'Ox' },
      { code: '1F403', desc: 'Water Buffalo' },
      ]
    }]
  })

emoticonsUseImage Option

The editor uses EmojiOne SVG images to represent the emoticon by default, but can be configured to use Unicode text instead by setting emoticonsUseImage to false.

new FroalaEditor('div#froala-editor', {
    toolbarButtons: ['bold', 'italic', 'emoticons'],
    emoticonsUseImage: false,
 })

emoticons.insert Method

The plugin also provides a method for programmatically inserting emoticons into the editor, with the following parameters:

  • `code`: The Unicode code point of the emoticon to insert.
  • `image`: Image to be inserted when the emoticonsUseImage option is enabled.
var editor = new FroalaEditor('.selector', {}, function () {
  // Call the method inside the initialized event.
  editor.emoticons.insert("&#x1f600;", "https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/emojione/2.0.1/assets/svg/1f601.svg");
})

Frequently Asked Questions About Emoji and Froala Editor

What is the Froala Emoticons plugin?

The Froala Emoticons plugin is a feature that allows developers to easily integrate and customize emojis used in the editor. It allows users to easily insert and manage emojis within the content created by Froala Editor.

Are emojis professional in business communication?

When used strategically and sparingly, emoji can enhance communication by adding emotional nuance and building rapport, especially in digital and global business environments.

Can I customize the emoji set in Froala?

Yes, you can create custom emoji sets using the emoticonsSet configuration option, allowing you to define specific groups and icons.

Does the Emoticons plugin impact website performance?

The plugin is designed to be lightweight and has minimal performance overhead when properly implemented.

Is the Froala Emoticons plugin cross-browser compatible?

Yes, the plugin is designed to work consistently across modern browsers, including Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge.

What’s the future of emoji in web communication?

Emojis are increasingly becoming a universal language, with advanced AI and AR technologies likely to create more sophisticated and contextual emoji integration.

Conclusion

The Froala Editor’s Emoticons plugin represents more than just a technical solution—it’s a bridge between expressive communication and sophisticated web design, enabling developers to create more engaging, human-centered digital experiences.

Take the first step towards more compelling content – explore the Froala Editor’s Emoticons plugin and its comprehensive features and customization options today. Empower your users to communicate with greater emotional depth and connection, and watch as your digital experiences come alive with the power of expressive emojis.

6 Essential HTML Code Writer Plugins for Enhanced Editing Experience

A few puzzle pieces floating on top of an HTML code writer, symbolizing the plugins that improve the users' editing experience.

Wherever content is, HTML code writers follow. These tools, also known as WYSIWYG HTML editors, let users craft web-based content and see the result in real time. Using an HTML code writer, users can make blog posts, create webpages, share content, and more without necessarily writing code.

Plugins are extensions or add-ons that enhance the capabilities of an HTML editor. These plugins help make implementing usually complex editor features faster, cleaner, and more maintainable for developers. For end users, such as authors or marketers, they make editing less intimidating by automating technical steps behind the scenes.

By integrating the right HTML editor plugins, you can achieve cleaner code, better performance, and improved scalability, while delighting users with amazing features. This guide explores six essential plugins for HTML code writers, highlighting how each can improve your and your users’ workflow. So, before you explore solutions or build your own editor, read on below to learn about some of today’s best editor plugins.

Key Takeaways

  • Plugins enhance speed, accuracy, and maintainability in developing HTML code writer experiences.
  • Syntax highlighting, code view, code beautification, and auto-completion improve code readability and reduce errors in HTML editors.
  • AI plugins significantly boost efficiency in both coding and writing.
  • Custom rich text editor plugins let teams tailor functionality to project needs.
  • Some built-in editors allow both custom plugins and various ready-to-use ones.

1. Syntax Highlighting in HTML Code Writers

HTML code writers are just as helpful for developer end users as they are for marketers and content creators. They help developers collaborate on, share, and edit entire codebases (think GitHub’s editor).

The best HTML code writers support syntax highlighting, which assigns different colors and styles to HTML elements, attributes, and text. For example, tags might appear in blue, attributes in red, and text in black. This color-coding makes spotting patterns, locating specific elements, and understanding structure easier at a glance.

Syntax highlighting helps developers catch errors quickly. If a user forgets to close <div> tags, the code’s color pattern will look “broken,” alerting them to potential problems. This works similarly to traditional code editors but works right in the browser without requiring heavy IDEs or complex setups.

This means that marketers, designers, content managers, and developers can make safe, accurate HTML edits without having deep coding expertise.

By providing immediate visual feedback, syntax highlighting reduces the learning curve and improves collaboration among teams. Hence, having an editor that supports syntax highlighting plugins can significantly boost productivity for both your developers and users.

Tip: If the WYSIWYG HTML editor allows it, customize the UI so that the colors don’t cause eye strain. Some editors also allow you to choose themes that help reduce cognitive load.

2. Code View for HTML Editors

An demonstration of an HTML code writer's code view plugin. In the image, the editor's code view arranges the elements in an organized manner, with syntax highlighting in place.

Code view plugins, also known as HTML live preview, allow users to switch from a visual HTML editor to raw HTML and back. This is essential for when users need to tweak something that the visual interface can’t handle precisely. For example, if users need to test inline styles, edit alt attributes, or add custom scripts, they need code view.

A code view plugin also enables users to promote transparency by letting them see the underlying HTML. It reveals how formatting decisions in the WYSIWYG view translate into actual code, making catching unnecessary tags or overly complex structures easier.

For mixed-skill teams, having an editor with a code view plugin offers versatility. Advanced users can make direct changes to the HTML, while beginners can stay in the WYSIWYG view and benefit from clean output. This is why in content management systems (CMS), users can opt for manual coding, using a WYSIWYG interface, or both.

3. HTML Code Beautification

An HTML code beautification plugin enables WYSIWYG editors to display code in a cleaner, more aesthetic manner. It does so by organizing HTML with consistent indentation, line breaks, and spacing. This improves readability, especially in long documents with nested elements.

Additionally, a consistent format from a code beautifier plugin makes collaboration easier. When every team member works with the same style, there’s less friction in understanding each other’s code. This becomes even more important in larger projects, where dozens of people may touch the same codebase.

Beautified code is also easier to debug. Misaligned or compressed code makes locating missing brackets or misnested tags easier. With a clean structure from a code beautification plugin, you help avoid these issues and make maintenance easier.

4. Auto-Completion and Tag Suggestions

Modern editing tools would never feel the same without auto-completion and tag suggestions. Auto-completion, like the ones in traditional code editors and even communication tools, predicts what users type in real time. This is invaluable for developer end users and content creators alike.

For example, a developer could switch into code view and start typing <p>, and the plugin can instantly add the closing </p>. It can also suggest attributes like class=”” or alt=”” for elements, saving time and reducing typos.

By handling repetitive typing, auto-completion lets developers focus on layout and structure rather than memorizing every HTML rule. This reduces errors like forgetting to close a tag or misnaming an element.

When paired with syntax highlighting, auto-completion plugins create a faster, smoother workflow. Some code view plugins even come with both syntax highlighting and auto-completion in one bundle.

For content creators, marketers, and other users, auto-completion is also possible through the use of AI or machine learning (ML). As the user types, the editor can suggest possible words depending on the context of the content. For example, Gmail uses ML in their Smart Compose feature to help users draft emails easily or faster.

5. Embedded AI Tools for HTML Editing

An AI co-writer that represents embedded AI in HTML editing.

AI has done a great deal of improvements for HTML code editors. For instance, AI-enhanced HTML editor plugins can detect and suggest improvements to the editor’s content as users type. This convenience, efficiency, and innovation has made AI one of the must‑have features in an HTML code writer today.

Developers can use an AI-powered editor to get useful insights on their code. The in-editor AI can suggest best practices, such as replacing <b> tags with semantic <strong> ones for better SEO and accessibility.

Some AI tools can predict potential issues before deployment, like most CMS do. For example, they can flag missing alt text in images, suggest more descriptive link text, or identify unused CSS classes. This proactive approach prevents costly fixes later on.

AI also boosts productivity by automating repetitive edits. Imagine the tedium of updating the same attribute across hundreds of elements. AI can do it in seconds, resulting in a cleaner, more accessible, and more maintainable HTML.

For writers of blog articles, social media posts, and other content, AI helps improve readability, grammar, and syntax while speeding up the writing process. No matter the field of content creation, AI has turned into a versatile assistant that bridges the gap between technical accuracy and creative expression.

By integrating an AI plugin into HTML code writers, teams reduce manual effort and enable an efficient HTML code‑writing workflow. Granted, not all editors contain a built-in AI assistant. Thankfully, some editors allow you to create and customize your own plugins, including AI-powered ones.

Note: To promote content quality and originality, clarify that users should use AI only to generate ideas and improve, enhance, and correct content. Furthermore, you should make it clear to users that not everything that AI generates is correct or updated.

6. Custom Plugins for Ready-Made HTML Code Writers

The best HTML code writers let developers create and customize their own plugins. Custom plugins extend the functionality of editors to match your users’ exact workflow. For example, LMS (learning management systems) might use a plugin that inserts pre-styled quiz templates directly into a lesson page.

Custom plugins also give your editor and platform better scalability. As your project grows, you can add or remove plugins to keep your editor lightweight and relevant. This adaptability ensures you’re not overloaded with unused features.

An image of a plug and a pencil side by side, symbolizing plugin customization.

Some prebuilt editing solutions can also save hours of development time while offering plenty of features and plugin customization. Instead of writing new tools from scratch, teams can use existing editors as a foundation, customizing them only as needed. Let’s quickly explore some popular ones in the next section.

Popular Examples of HTML Editors & Plugins for 2025

Several modern HTML editors support some or most of these plugins. Currently, some of the most popular editors include Froala, TinyMCE, and CKEditor. Here’s what makes each one stand out:

Froala Editor

Froala’s refined WYSIWYG editor is lightweight, feature-rich, intuitive, and easy to customize. It contains features that go beyond simple rich text, such as file management, SEO-ready content, and Markdown, among many others. In terms of plugins, it has:

  • Code view
  • Syntax highlighting
  • Code beautification
  • Embedded AI
  • Plugin customization
  • Embedly (embedding any content from the web to the editor)
  • File and media management
  • FontAwesome for icons
  • Markdown
  • Spelling and grammar checker

TinyMCE

TinyMCE is a popular solution, especially in CMS, that offers a free editor with basic features and advanced features from paid plans. Its features include both basic and advanced formatting options, plugins and customization options, and themes. Its plugins include:

  • Code view
  • Syntax highlighting
  • Dark or light mode display
  • Embedded AI
  • Table of contents
  • Plugin customization
  • Image editing
  • Insert date/time
  • Markdown
  • Spelling and grammar checker

CKEditor

CKEditor is a flexible and modern editor that emphasizes structured content editing and robust customization options. Like Froala and TinyMCE, its modular architecture and extensive plugin ecosystem allow developers to tailor it based on their needs. Here are some of its plugins:

  • Code blocks
  • Syntax highlighting
  • Div container manager
  • List block
  • YouTube plugin
  • AI assistant
  • Block quotes
  • Image editing
  • Markdown
  • Word count

Each of these platforms balances performance, customization, and ease of use differently. Ultimately, the best choice depends on your team’s workflow, project scale, and technical expertise, along with your users’ needs.

Conclusion

An HTML code writer becomes exponentially more powerful when you pair it with the right plugins. From auto-completion to AI-driven optimization, each feature works toward producing clean, efficient, and scalable code and content.

Choosing the optimal plugins reduces errors, speeds up repetitive tasks, and bridges the skill gap between technical and non-technical contributors. They also help maintain a consistent code or writing style, which is critical for long-term collaboration. It’s safe to expect that in this year and the next ones, we’ll see more innovative plugins like AI-powered real-time collaboration, smart templates, and more.

In the end, selecting the right set of plugins isn’t about having the most features. Instead, it’s more about having the right features for you and your users’ workflow. So, carefully discern your project requirements, choose between a built-in or from-scratch editor, and select the plugins that make the most sense for your use case.

Top 8 Best WYSIWYG HTML Editor Features for Mobile-First Content Creation

A mobile phone with some windows with WYSIWYG editors open. This represents how people use the best WYSIWYG HTML to improve mobile-first experiences.

Ideal mobile-first, content-centric web experiences often stem from using the best WYSIWYG HTML editors. Short for “what you see is what you get,” these tools let you create and format content visually without needing to write HTML. Think of them like word processors but for web content, such as blog posts, code repositories, or social media comments.

Mobile devices currently account for over 60% of global web traffic as of 2025. As a result, mobile-first content creation has shifted from an afterthought to a priority. Content needs to load fast, look consistent, and stay editable even on phones in spotty internet connections.

This article outlines eight features that separate the best WYSIWYG HTML editor from others when it comes to mobile-first experiences. By the end, you should have an idea of which features will help you and users work smarter and faster.

Key Takeaways

  • A mobile-first visual HTML editor should prioritize touch-friendly and responsive design.
  • Mobile-friendly media handling is essential for modern content workflows.
  • Offline editing prevents productivity loss during network drops.
  • Markdown support speeds up formatting on small screens, especially on communication platforms or sites.
  • Built-in spelling and grammar checks improve quality control.

Responsive Editing Interface

A responsive HTML editor automatically adapts to the size and orientation of a user’s device. For mobile-first content creation, this ensures your users can make quick edits on a phone without feeling cramped.

A responsive editor that is rendered on a desktop browser screen. It contains 11 primary buttons, some of which have submenus.

A responsive editor on a desktop browser screen.

When choosing the right editor or building your own, always ensure that its interface scales accordingly across different devices.

The same responsive editor on a smaller screen size. In the editor, some of the buttons that were previously visible are now collapsed since there's less space.

The same responsive editor on a smaller mobile browser screen.

Responsive editing interfaces usually possess the following characteristics:

  • Touch-Friendly Controls: A mobile-friendly editor should allow users to smoothly navigate through its toolbar and content with ease. No button should appear too big or too small.
  • Fluid Layout Adjustments: Whether in portrait or landscape mode, the editor should rearrange toolbars, buttons, and text areas for optimal use. For example, a responsive editor with plenty of features can hide or collapse less important buttons on smaller screen sizes. This helps the editor stay easy to navigate for mobile users.
  • Consistent Editing Experience across Devices: No matter the device type or screen size, the editor should feel familiar in every environment. Nothing should appear too bare or excessive. The user should always have the ability to easily carry out their tasks on desktop, tablet, and smartphone.

Lightweight and Fast Loading

It’s no secret that speed is a necessity in mobile contexts. The best WYSIWYG HTML editor should have a small bundle size and load fast. This way, your users can more reliably share or edit content even when they’re on the go.

By using a lightweight editor, you’ll reduce lag on mobile networks and resource usage on the device. For instance, optimized editors that compress assets and minimize external requests perform better on slower connections. Furthermore, editors that have clean code (i.e., fewer unnecessary tags and unused lines) load much faster than bloated ones.

When it comes to resource usage, a lightweight HTML editor should consume less RAM and CPU. Heavy editors might overheat devices and drain the battery faster, which is a dealbreaker for mobile content creators. This is also especially important for mobile devices, which usually have lower RAM compared to desktop computers.

Plugins, which greatly affect WYSIWYG editor customization, are another contributing factor to editor performance. The more plugins your editor has, the heavier it will be. However, by choosing a modular plugin architecture, you help ensure that your editor stays lean and efficient.

A modular plugin architecture allows developers to add and remove features depending on their use case. This means that you’ll only show the users exactly what they need. For example, for image-focused use cases, you can keep just basic formatting and uploads while dropping emoticons, code view, etc.

Easy Media Management on Mobile

Rich content often needs images, videos, and audio, especially in learning management systems (LMS), blogs, forums, and social media platforms. However, HTML editors must make this process as painless and convenient as possible for mobile users. 

Thus, having an editor that can handle both basic and advanced file management features easily can greatly benefit your users. Simultaneously, this helps developers focus more on building your application’s core features instead of working on tedious file management capabilities.

A person sending and editing an image using a WYSIWYG HTML editor.

To help achieve a mobile-ready media management process within your editor, consider the following:

  • Upload through different means: A mobile-friendly visual HTML editor should let users upload directly from their gallery, camera, or integrated services like Google Drive and Dropbox. Furthermore, it should let you store users’ media files across different storage solutions (physical server, cloud-based storage like S3, etc.).
  • Mobile-Friendly File Browsers and UI: Instead of cluttered directories, a compact, scrollable file picker with thumbnails helps users select the right asset quickly. The file picker must appear clean and intuitive both on the editor’s toolbar and when the user opens it.
  • Auto-Optimized Media: Editors that allow you to automatically compress, resize, or convert files can help keep file sizes small without sacrificing quality. Additionally, consider having an editor that allows next-generation formats like WEBP for better compression, whether lossy or lossless.
  • Advanced image handling features: Should your users’ workflow require it, look for features that go beyond usual file uploads. For instance, in social media apps, you can implement filters, cropping, overlays, and even NSFW (not safe for work) detection. For document-heavy platforms, consider optical character recognition (OCR) to detect text from images.

Offline Editing and Autosaving Capabilities

No content creator, blog author, or general user wants to have unstable connections when editing or sharing content. The best WYSIWYG HTML editors allow users to keep working even when the internet drops for a bit.

First, such editors allow users to draft content even without an internet connection. By adding an “offline mode,” users keep editing until they’re finished, which is critical for travel, events, or remote areas. You can accomplish this by implementing local save and sync capabilities.

When a user interacts with the editor, you can capture its current state and store it on the user’s device. If the connection is stable, or once the device regains internet connection, the web app synchronizes the editor’s current state to that of your server. Otherwise, the user can keep editing until the connection comes back, similar to a Google Docs experience.

By having offline editing and autosaving features, an HTML editor ensures that no work is lost. This also keeps users in the creative zone without the frustration of seeing their work vanish after a network hiccup.

Real-Time Editing for Mobile Teams

Collaboration is no longer just for office desktops and internal networks. Distributed teams need it on various devices, including mobile, as well. This provides significant convenience by allowing users to work on a document, article, or codebase at the same time.

By implementing real-time collaborative editing on your WYSIWYG HTML editor, users on all platforms, especially on mobile, can:

  • Edit the same document and see updates instantly, character by character.
  • “@mention” teammates to draw attention to a specific paragraph or issue, speeding up review cycles or task tracking. You can even implement push notifications for when a user mentions a teammate.
  • Track edits, revert changes, or audit contributions through a version control system. This is crucial for team accountability.

Markdown and Emoticons Support

A person using their phone. Emojis, as well as symbols used in Markdown, which are key features in the best WYSIWYG HTML editors for mobile-first web apps, appear.

Sometimes, the fastest way to format is with shorthand text commands. This most commonly appears on communication platforms (e.g., Discord), forums (e.g., Reddit), or social media apps.

Markdown lets users wrap text in symbols like “**bold**” or “# Heading” to format it without clicking toolbar buttons. This is perfect for mobile devices where screen size is limited and where users might prefer typing over clicking.

Emoticons, on the other hand, add personality and tone to mobile-first communications, especially for social media content. You’ll notice that wherever you go on the internet, as long as the site deals with content, emoticons are present.

From social media reactions to simple messages and even some formal setups, users have widely adopted the use of emoticons. In turn, they express themselves better and easier.

Spelling and Grammar Checking

Let’s face it, we’ve all had typos before. And to add to that, a mobile keyboard is prone to typographical errors. An editor with built-in checks prevents embarrassing mistakes for your users while potentially improving content.

HTML editors with real-time spelling and grammar checking underline errors as users type. This is especially useful for mobile-based email drafting, LMS content, or client communications. Combine this with embedded AI, and you can even help users improve their content on the go.

Accessibility and RTL Support

Most modern apps and tools now ensure that they can serve most or all users, regardless of ability or language. This helps ensure that all users can experience the full benefits of their platforms without any barriers. So, they built accessibility support as well as RTL (right-to-left) features.

For example, visually impaired users rely on screen readers on their mobile devices. Designing your app to include mobile screen reader support helps these users navigate and contribute content.

Additionally, you should consider implementing keyboard navigation compatibility. This is essential for tablet users who connect external keyboards.

Finally, right-to-left (RTL) support allows users to create content naturally in languages like Arabic or Hebrew without breaking the layout.

Conclusion

Mobile-first content creation goes beyond merely shrinking a desktop editor to fit a phone screen. The best WYSIWYG HTML editor blends speed, accessibility, and flexibility to keep users productive wherever they are. Additionally, it can turn into a strategic tool that bridges the gap between creative intent and technical execution.

Each feature you’ve discovered, from responsiveness to autosaving and real-time collaboration, serves a distinct role in enhancing mobile content creation.

So, when you start finding an HTML editor for your platform or building your own, look back at this article. By prioritizing these eight features, you’ll allow users to edit more efficiently while delivering better experiences to your mobile audience. If you’re wondering how popular editors implement these features, explore Froala’s interface and see how it handles the mobile experience.

The Developer’s Ultimate Guide to Froala’s Find and Replace Plugin

In the world of web development and text editing, efficiency is key. Whether you’re managing large documents or simply trying to clean up text, having a robust find and replace functionality can save countless hours of manual editing. Enter Froala’s Find and Replace Plugin – a powerful tool designed to streamline text manipulation and enhance user productivity.

This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know about this essential plugin. We’ll explore:

  • How the Find and Replace plugin operates
  • Step-by-step installation and setup instructions
  • A detailed breakdown of the plugin’s API options and methods
  • Practical use cases and implementation strategies

By the end of this article, you’ll have a complete understanding of how to leverage Froala’s Find and Replace Plugin to transform your text editing workflow.

Key Takeaways

  • Froala Find and replace plugin allowing user to perform comprehensive text search and replacement functionality
  • The plugin supports case-sensitive and whole word matching
  • The plugin has a flexible configuration and customization

How the Find and Replace Works

Froala’s Find and Replace plugin offers a user-friendly interface for searching and modifying text within the editor. Users can access the search and replace popup in two ways:

  • Through the editor toolbar
  • By using the keyboard shortcut (CTRL + F)

Search and Replace Popup Features

The popup provides comprehensive search capabilities, including:

  • Search term input field
  • Replacement word input field
  • Optional match case sensitivity
  • Option to match whole words only

Available Actions

Users can choose from three primary actions:

  1. Find: Locate occurrences of the search term
  2. Replace: Swap a single matched instance
  3. Replace All: Substitute all matching instances

Workflow

Initially, only the “Find” button is active. When you click “Find”, the plugin displays the number of matching occurrences and activates the replacement field and buttons. This allows you to to replace the current match or all matches.

Find and Replace plugin in action

This intuitive design enables efficient text editing with minimal effort.

Installation and Setup of Froala Find and Replace Plugin

Plugin Inclusion

If you’re using the full Froala editor package (`.pkgd`), the Find and Replace plugin is automatically included. For custom implementations, you’ll need to manually add two files:

  • JavaScript: /js/plugins/find_and_replace.min.js
  • Stylesheet: /css/plugins/find_and_replace.min.css

Plugin Configuration

Enabling the Plugin

If you’re customizing the editor’s enabled plugins, include findReplace in the pluginsEnabled array to activate the Find and Replace plugin

new FroalaEditor('#editor', { 
       pluginsEnabled: ['findReplace', 'fontFamily', 'image', 'link', 'video']
 });

Adding Toolbar Button

If you’re customizing the editor’s toolbar buttons and want to display the Find and Replace button, add findReplaceButton to your toolbar configuration:

new FroalaEditor('#editor', {
    toolbarButtons: ['findReplaceButton', 'bold', 'italic', 'insertLink']
});

If you are customizing the toolbar buttons for different screen sizes, add findReplaceButton to the used configuration:

  • toolbarButtonsMD (Medium screens)
  • toolbarButtonsSM (Small screens)
  • toolbarButtonsXS (Extra small screens)

By default, these inherit the buttons from toolbarButtons.

The Find and Replace Plugin Configuration

Froala’s Find and Replace plugin provides flexible configuration options, methods, and events that allow developers to customize the search experience.

Plugin Options

The plugin offers three key configuration settings:

  1. Case Sensitivity:
    • Set enableMatchCase: true to make case-sensitive search the default behavior.
  2. Word Matching:
    • Set enableMatchWholeWord: true to match entire words by default.
  3. Automatic Popup Display:
    • Set showFindAndReplace: true to display the Find and Replace popup when the editor initializes.

These options give developers granular control over the search and replace functionality, enabling a more tailored text editing experience.

Plugin Events

Froala’s Find and Replace plugin provides four key events that give developers precise control over text replacement workflows:

1. findandreplace.beforeClose()

Triggered before the Find and Replace popup closes, allowing for any necessary cleanup or validation.

2. findandreplace.beforeOnReplace()

Fires before a replacement occurs, enabling developers to:

  • Validate replacements
  • Implement custom validation logic
  • Prevent replacements if needed

3. findandreplace.onReplace([{ oldValue, newValue }])

Occurs after a single text replacement, providing:

  • The original text (oldValue)
  • The replacement text (newValue)

Useful for:

  • Tracking changes
  • Logging modifications
  • Triggering additional actions

4. findandreplace.onReplaceAll([{ oldValue, newValue }])

Triggered after replacing all matching instances, with similar details to onReplace().

new FroalaEditor('.selector', {
  events: {
    'findandreplace.beforeClose': function () {
      // this is the editor instance.
      console.log(this);
    },
    'findandreplace.beforeOnReplace': function () {
      // Do something here.
      // this is the editor instance.
      console.log(this);
    },
    'findandreplace.onReplace': function (textArray) {
      // Do something here.
      // this is the editor instance.
      console.log(this);
    },
    'findandreplace.onReplaceAll': function (textArray) {
      // Do something here.
      // this is the editor instance.
      console.log(this);
    }
  }
});

These events offer powerful hooks for customizing the Find and Replace plugin’s behavior, enabling developers to create more intelligent and interactive text editing experiences.

Plugin Methods

Froala’s Find and Replace plugin offers a comprehensive set of methods to programmatically control search and replacement functionality:

Search and Match Methods

findReplace.findMatches(searchText)

Locate and highlight all instances of a specific text. Use this when you want to identify all occurrences of a keyword in a document

findReplace.findNextMatch(index)

Navigate to the next matching instance. Allowing to systematically review search results

  • Example: editor.findReplace.findNextMatch(2) moves to the third match

findReplace.findPreviousMatch(index)

Navigate to the previous matching instance in a circular manner. Allowing to Backtrack through search results

  • Example: editor.findReplace.findPreviousMatch(1) moves to the previous match

Replacement Methods

findReplace.replaceMatch(replaceText)

Replace the current matched text. Use it if you want to selectively update specific instances

  • Example: editor.findReplace.replaceMatch("updated term")

findReplace.replaceMatches(replaceText)

Replace all matching instances. Use it to perform bulk text updates

  • Example: editor.findReplace.replaceMatches("new text")

Information and Control Methods

findReplace.getMatchesCount()

Retrieve total number of matches. This helpful to understand search result scope

  • Example: let matchCount = editor.findReplace.getMatchesCount()

findReplace.getCurrentMatch()

Get text of the current match. Use it when you want to inspect current search result

  • Example: let currentText = editor.findReplace.getCurrentMatch()

findReplace.getCurrentMatchIndex()

Get index of current match. Use it to track position in search results

  • Example: let currentIndex = editor.findReplace.getCurrentMatchIndex()

findReplace.showPopup()

Manually display Find and Replace interface. Use it to programmatically trigger search functionality

  • Example: editor.findReplace.showPopup()

findReplace.hidePopup()

Programmatically close Find and Replace popup

  • Example: editor.findReplace.hidePopup()

Each method provides granular control over the Find and Replace functionality, enabling developers to create sophisticated text editing experiences.

Practical Use Cases

1. Large-Scale Documentation Management

Scenario: Technical writers managing extensive documentation repositories

  • Example: Replacing an outdated product name across multiple documents
  • Leverage case sensitivity and whole word matching for precision

2. Internationalization and Localization

Translating and standardizing text across multilingual content

3. Content Compliance and Style Guide Enforcement

Ensuring consistent language and branding across organizational documents

Advanced Implementation Techniques

Programmatic Search and Replace Workflow

// Example: Systematic document review process
function reviewDocument(editor, searchTerms) {
    searchTerms.forEach(term => {
        const matches = editor.findReplace.findMatches(term);
        if (matches.length > 0) {
            // Trigger review workflow
            openReviewModal(matches);
        }
    });
}

By understanding these practical use cases, developers can leverage Froala’s Find and Replace plugin to create more intelligent, efficient, and robust text editing experiences.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Is the Find and Replace plugin included in all Froala Editor versions?

The plugin is automatically included in the full Froala editor package (.pkgd). For custom implementations, you’ll need to manually include the JavaScript and CSS files.

Can I track or log text replacements?

Yes, use event handlers like:

  • findandreplace.onReplace()
  • findandreplace.onReplaceAll()

These provide details about the replaced text and allow for custom logging or tracking.

How can I add custom validation before text replacement?

Use the findandreplace.beforeOnReplace() event to implement custom validation logic:

editor.events.on('findandreplace.beforeOnReplace', function(oldValue, newValue) {
    // Custom validation logic
    if (containsSensitiveInformation(oldValue)) {
        return false; // Prevent replacement
    }
    return true;
});

Which browsers support the Froala Find and Replace plugin?

The plugin is compatible with all modern browsers, including:

  • Google Chrome
  • Mozilla Firefox
  • Safari
  • Microsoft Edge
  • Opera

Compatibility is ensured across desktop and mobile platforms.

Is the Find and Replace plugin available in all Froala plans?

Yes, the Find and Replace plugin is available across all Froala licensing plans.

Where can I get additional support?

Conclusion

Froala’s Find and Replace plugin represents a powerful solution for developers and content creators seeking efficient text manipulation. By providing intuitive search capabilities, flexible configuration options, and robust API methods, the plugin transforms text editing from a manual, time-consuming process to a streamlined, programmatic experience.

As web content continues to evolve, tools like Froala’s Find and Replace plugin will remain critical in helping writers maintain accuracy, consistency, and efficiency in their text editing workflows.

Ready to Transform Your Text Editing?

Don’t just read about efficiency—experience it. Froala offers a free trial that lets you explore the Find and Replace plugin and the entire editor ecosystem. Whether you’re a solo developer, part of a team, or managing large-scale documentation, there’s no better time to upgrade your text editing workflow.

Try Froala Editor for Free →

How HTML Editor Software Helps Improve SEO and Structured Content

An HTML editor software with the word "SEO" written over it.

It’s difficult to imagine a world where HTML editor software doesn’t exist. After all, since the 1990s, every content-focused website or platform has relied on an HTML text editor online. These tools, also known as WYSIWYG HTML editors, give developers and non-technical users visual interfaces to create and format content.

Instead of coding every part of a website, developers and professionals can use intuitive buttons, drag-and-drop functionality, and more. Moreover, HTML editor software shapes how content renders, affecting how search engines crawl, index, and rank your pages. They do this by offering clean HTML output, semantic structures, and built-in formatting tools that influence visibility.

A clean HTML editor for writing can play a bigger role in SEO (search engine optimization) and structured content than most realize. In this guide, you’ll discover why and how, along with some helpful tips for SEO.

Key Takeaways

  • Semantic HTML makes content crawlable, accessible, and more maintainable.
  • Proper heading hierarchy improves navigation and SEO readability.
  • Responsive and light editors produce faster, mobile-ready pages.
  • Alt text and other context providers play a huge role in image SEO and accessibility.
  • Try monitoring performance, integrating AI, and aiming for accessibility to continually maintain and improve SEO.

Why Is Content Structure Important for SEO?

Well-structured content serves as a quick way for users to locate and digest information. This in turn increases engagement and reduces bounce rate. If users take too long finding the features they need, they might think poorly of the platform, potentially causing them to leave.

When users stay longer and interact more with the site (clicks), search engines could reward your content with higher rankings. Search engines rely on markup, including titles, headings, and sections, to understand context. This can assist crawlers in browsing through content accurately and determining content relevance.

HTML editor software that enforces semantic structure turns content into SEO-ready pages by default, without extra editing effort.

Note: Bounce rate refers to the measure of the percentage of website visitors who view one page and immediately leave after. Higher bounce rates usually imply poor UI/UX (e.g., difficulty finding features, unoptimized page). On the other hand, better engagement and UI/UX lead to lower bounce rates.

Note: A clean structure can even pave the way for featured snippets, which appear at the very top of search results. This is because it can help search engines understand and extract information efficiently, including hierarchy, organization, and directness.

1. Clean, Semantic HTML Markup

An example of a layout that uses semantic HTML. The layout contains a header, a nav sidebar, a section, an article, and a footer. If you were to use the traditional-styled HTML, you'd be having quite the number of nested div elements.

If you’re using semantic HTML tags like <header>, <article>, and <section> in your viewport, then you’re on the right track. These tags provide additional context for web crawlers (e.g., <figure> clearly implies image or self-contained content; <div> does not). Using semantic HTML helps bots and accessibility tools interpret content hierarchy, making pages more readable for both machines and humans.

Modern WYSIWYG HTML editors and HTML formatter tools automatically generate semantic tags based on how a user formats content. This preserves clean HTML output and avoids div tags and inline styles.

As a result, content using semantic HTML reads better in search indexes and supports long-term maintainability, especially when reused.

2. Rich and Structured Snippets

High-quality HTML editor software often includes customizable or built-in plugins that let users create unique, structured web components or snippets. For example, you can create a plugin that generates an instance of product ratings or FAQ boxes.

Structured snippets improve click-through rates and help your listing stand out among competitors. Editors that support these capabilities reduce the need for manual markup or developer intervention, making SEO more accessible to professionals.

Note: Click-through rate (CTR) refers to the percentage of users who click on a link or element after seeing it on a webpage or search result. It gauges the quality of website content and advertisements, and higher CTRs indicate better relevance and engagement.

3. Title and Heading Hierarchy Enforcement

Users might unintentionally misuse headings, like placing multiple <h1> tags or skipping heading levels. This could confuse web crawlers and harm content clarity. Good HTML editor software enforces heading rules, ensuring a single <h1> per document and logical progression (<h1> => <h2>, etc.).

Some editors can even flag these issues in real time, guiding users to correct mistakes before saving or publishing content. For example, WordPress’ editor usually warns you if you’re using multiple <h1> tags or unclear heading progression. This consistency improves accessibility and helps search engines map your content structure accurately.

4. Image Alt Text and SEO Metadata Handling

Image alt text is critical for accessibility and image-based SEO. Alt text, or “alternate text,” refers to a substitute for images that clearly describes their meaning and context. They make web content accessible to people who use assistive tools like screen readers.

Visual HTML editors prompt users to input alt text when embedding media, making compliance with standards like WCAG easy. Some editors even integrate AI to generate alt descriptions automatically by analyzing image content and context. This significantly reduces manual metadata workload while improving content accuracy and accessibility.

5. Responsiveness and Performance Optimization

A stack of rectangles which get progressively larger, signifying responsiveness in website layout design.

Highly capable HTML editor software produces lightweight, responsive markup by minimizing inline styles and redundant tags. This streamlined code output then reduces render-blocking, improving page load times and mobile performance.

Many responsive HTML editors also include built-in support for fluid images and viewport-aware formatting. This helps ensure that content displays well across devices without manual adjustments. That way, content creators and developers can focus on their work without having to worry about responsiveness.

Responsive and fast content (and editors) tends to help websites score higher in performance audits. In turn, this makes pages faster to load and reduces bounce rates, especially on mobile browsers.

Note: Render-blocking occurs when imported scripts, stylesheets, and HTML block or delay the browser from rendering content when the page loads. Because of this, users will have to wait longer before they can interact with the elements, leading to poor UX. Thus, having a lighter editor with a smaller bundle size can help reduce render-blocking.

6. Minimizing Content Errors and Broken HTML

Editors with built-in validation prevent syntax errors like unclosed tags or malformed code from copy-paste actions. This ensures browsers render the page correctly and web crawlers can index it without issues. Consistent code reduces layout anomalies and avoids indexing warm traps like blank characters or stray span elements.

In the end, less manual cleanup means teams spend less time debugging formatting problems and more time on content quality.

Important Considerations for SEO

Even the best HTML editor software needs oversight to help improve SEO performance. Here are some things you can do:

Monitor Performance

Use tools like Google Lighthouse, PageSpeed Insights, or WebPageTest to check Core Web Vitals on pages with embedded editor content.

Note: Google’s Core Web Vitals assess the UX of a website by measuring perceived load speed, responsiveness, and visual stability. This plays a crucial role in SEO, and scoring high in these aspects usually leads to better page visibility.

Embed AI to Refine Content SEO

Some editors integrate AI tools that suggest keywords, refine headings, or propose better alt text. This makes SEO optimization an iterative, embedded part of content creation. By embedding an AI assistant in the editor, teams can fine-tune structure and relevance as they create content.

Keep Accessibility in Mind

The accessibility logo

Accessible markup helps those who use assistive technologies, making your platform more inclusive while boosting SEO. Ensure that your HTML editor supports ARIA attributes, keyboard navigation, and contrast options. Accessible content reduces bounce rates and signals search engines that your site meets usability standards.

Conclusion

SEO isn’t just about keywords. It’s also about clean, logical structure and accessibility. At the end of the day, your goal should gravitate towards providing great value to both humans and web crawlers. Robust HTML editor software enables users to craft SEO-friendly content naturally.

These powerful HTML editing tools help enforce structure, provide context, and prevent errors while maintaining clean HTML output. Moreover, they help users boost their productivity whether they’re writing blogs, creating LMS content, or simply crafting emails.

If you want real-world examples of HTML editor software in action, explore live playgrounds or documentation that demonstrates semantic HTML. Selecting a WYSIWYG HTML editor that supports these SEO fundamentals is a strategic move. Will you carry it out to help your pages and content rise in the ranks?

6 Trends That Make up the Best WYSIWYG HTML Editors

An editor interface with some upward arrows in front, representing emerging trends in the best WYSIWYG HTML editors.

WYSIWYG HTML editors, short for “what you see is what you get,” allow users to create and format web content. They differ from basic text editors in that they show users how the final form of the content will look. For example, you can insert links, italicize text, or embed images without ever touching a line of code.

These editors bridge the gap between content creators and developers, helping teams produce rich, styled content directly within web platforms. But recently the best of these editors are offering a lot more than simple formatting. They’re now capable of supporting AI, media workflows, accessibility standards, and even real-time collaboration.

In this article, you’ll discover six major trends that define what makes the best WYSIWYG HTML editor today. From modular architecture to clean HTML output, each trend points towards a more efficient, inclusive, and scalable editing experience. Let’s get started!

Key Takeaways

  • WYSIWYG HTML editors allow users to create and format content visually without writing code.
  • AI-powered editors now support content creation with autocomplete, grammar checking, and formatting suggestions, among others.
  • Modular plugin architectures let developers load only necessary features, improving performance and extensibility.
  • Native media and file management integrations streamline workflows for image-heavy  content.
  • Aligning with these trends can help ensure that your editor remains usable and modern while delighting your users.

1. AI-Assisted Content Creation and Formatting

Artificial intelligence (AI) is steadily reshaping how users interact with content editors. Instead of relying solely on manual input and formatting, users now benefit from smart features that help generate, refine, and organize content. The best WYSIWYG HTML editors incorporate features that suggest headings, improve paragraph structure, and generate paragraphs based on a prompt.

But just how important is the AI trend for content creation in the coming years? To answer that, here are some findings from the 2024 State of Marketing AI Report by the Marketing AI Institute:

  • 78% of their responders believe that AI will automate more than 25% of their marketing tasks in 3 years.
  • As of 2024, 51% of marketers have started adopting and running AI.
  • When it comes to AI’s benefits, most respondents are most excited about how it helps them boost productivity and efficiency.

Here are the most common ways HTML editors leverage AI:

Intelligent Autocomplete

AI-powered autocomplete goes beyond simple word prediction. It understands context and can suggest entire phrases or even sentence completions based on what the user is writing. This can help speed up content creation and even coding while ensuring consistency, especially for repeated structures.

Grammar and Spell Checks

Syntax and semantics matter, especially for blog posts and professional environments. The best WYSIWYG HTML editors make use of AI to help users proofread their work’s correctness as they type. This way, users don’t have to rely on external spellcheckers. Moreover, AI-powered checkers can suggest better wordings, improve content structure, and even change the tone based on intent.

Alt Text Generation

Alt text, or the text that takes an image’s place if it’s not viewable, matters more than people might think. Both accessibility and SEO benefit significantly from proper alt text for images. WYSIWYG editors can use AI to generate meaningful alt text by detecting and analyzing the content and context of images. This ensures better compliance with accessibility standards like WCAG while improving search engine visibility, which you’ll explore more later.

Text Summarization

If you’re an active user of social media, forums, or messaging platforms, chances are you’ve already encountered AI in HTML editors. Modern applications use this feature for content previews, meta descriptions, building group chat summaries, and more without manual rewriting.

An AI assistant robot hovering over a text-heavy screen, representing AI cowriters and proofreaders.

Real-Time Refinement

Advanced editors often leverage AI to offer continuous content improvement suggestions as the user types. This AI “co-writer” assistant adjusts sentence clarity, eliminates redundant phrases, and reformats content into proper structure. In turn, this real-time feedback streamlines editing, reduces post-writing cleanup, and polishes the final draft of the content.

AI transforms the WYSIWYG editor from a passive tool into an active writing (or coding) partner. Because of its ability to help users write better, faster, and more confidently, it’s sure to stay as a trendy feature. However, it’s best to use it thoughtfully as a helpful supplement to your user’s content creation process rather than a replacement for careful content creation.

2. Modular Plugin Architectures for Customization

Not every user needs the same editor features, and the best WYSIWYG HTML editors acknowledge this through modular plugin architectures. Instead of bundling every feature into the core product, modern editors allow developers to load only the components they need. This results in both improved performance (lighter bundles help the application load faster) and maintainability.

For example, if your users only need text formatting and media embedding, you don’t have to include tables or Markdown. These features, however, remain available as plugins that developers can integrate once the need arises later on. This gives developers more control over the UI and UX based on their users’ needs.

Additionally, this trend improves developers’ workflows. Since plugins communicate via APIs and have abstracted methods, developers will have an easier time building or integrating features. 

Whether for chart builders or “find and replace” features in your editor, plugins enable innovation without bloating the application. This makes plugins ideal tools to speed up your web apps without sacrificing functionality.

Modular architectures also make integrating WYSIWYG editors in modern frameworks like Angular and React much more manageable. Because you can load these editors as components and configure them via APIs, you can easily slot them in without complex workarounds.

Because modern applications aim for performance and scalability, plugin-based architecture will remain popular for HTML editors.

3. Native Integration with File and Media Management

Content creation isn’t limited to words, as teams often work with images, PDFs, videos, and design assets. As a result, the best WYSIWYG HTML editors now support native file management integrations. These include built-in upload features, cloud storage support (e.g., Google Drive), and internal asset libraries.

Additionally, in-editor file management solutions offer advanced features, such as filters, overlays/watermarks, and even SFW (safe for work) checking. These features can help blogs, internal tools, or learning management systems (LMS) accelerate their users’ workflow right within the editor.

A demo of a natively integrated file management solution in an HTML editor. In the editor, an uploaded image of a business card has its text extracted using the solution's OCR capabilities.

An example of an in-editor native file management solution, which performs an Optical Character Recognition (OCR) task after upload

Native file management also eliminates the need for external dependencies, which can introduce friction, especially in collaborative or enterprise environments. When the editor already comes with a full media experience, productivity improves and users stay focused within a single interface.

Although very few visual HTML editors currently offer native file management, this capability is quickly turning into a differentiator. As teams demand faster, more unified content workflows, editors that streamline both text and media handling gain a clear edge.

4. Accessibility-First Features

Accessibility is just as important as the UI, and it’s a standard expectation for any web-based tool. The best JavaScript WYSIWYG editors embed accessibility compliance deep into their foundations. For instance, they should follow initiatives such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) to ensure all users, including those with disabilities, can access content.

Key accessibility features include keyboard navigation, which allows users to move through the editor and toolbar without a mouse. Additionally, inline HTML editors implement ARIA labels (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) to provide context for assistive technologies like screen readers. This ensures that buttons, inputs, and content are clear to users who rely on these tools.

What sets great editors apart is how seamlessly these features work. The best ones should contain keyboard shortcuts, allow alt text editing, run well in high contrast mode, and so on. This proactive approach to accessibility makes content more inclusive while helping meet legal compliance requirements.

Although not directly contributing to SEO, accessibility significantly helps by improving UX and making content more understandable for search engines. Since UX is a priority for engines like Google, accessible sites can indirectly lead to better SEO eventually. Because of its importance in both SEO and inclusivity, accessible editors will most likely continue to stay trending.

Tip: Want to test your editor’s accessibility compliance? W3’s Web Accessibility Initiative lists some accessibility evaluation tools that you can use. These tools give you information such as a score and the number of failed checks according to WCAG.

If you need a quick way to measure accessibility, you can also try Google Lighthouse. It will score your site (the closer to 100, the better) and offer suggestions (e.g., add image alt text). From there, you can follow the advice from these tools to bolster your accessibility score.

5. Structured and Clean HTML Output

Behind every WYSIWYG editor is one crucial output: HTML. However, not all HTML is equal; for example, older editors often generate bloated, deeply nested tags and unnecessary elements. These can weigh down the page, harm SEO, and make long-term content maintenance difficult.

Modern editors, on the other hand, aim for semantic HTML, which refers to using the right tags for the right content. For example, use “<h1>” for main headings, “<article>” for independent content, and “<figure>” for images and other self-contained elements. This is in contrast to using generic tags such as “<div>” for everything.

Clean HTML is easier for search engines to crawl, and it improves accessibility and ensures better performance across devices. Since this checks out at least two trends on this list, having structured HTML goes a long way.

Structured code is especially important for content management systems (CMS), where users may repurpose, syndicate, or dynamically render articles. Editors that generate readable and standardized HTML reduce the chances of formatting errors or broken pages. Over time, this helps keep your content ecosystem lean, organized, and adaptable.

6. Enhanced User Experience with Real-Time Collaboration

A screen showing a platform with several people working on a project. Each person has an avatar and designated color in the application.

Since 2020, remote and distributed teams have become the norm, and demand for real-time collaboration within content editors has surged. Just think about platforms like Google Docs, Trello, or Canva, and how they helped users streamline work through real-time collaboration. Today’s editors offer similar features, where multiple users can edit one document, add comments, and track changes concurrently.

This functionality transforms the editor from a solitary tool into a collaborative content platform, further enhancing the user experience. Instead of exchanging files and links many times to collaborate on content, users can use just one editor simultaneously. Whether it’s marketing copy, internal documentation, or LMS content, teams can work together more efficiently without versioning issues or endless email chains.

This trend signals a shift that WYSIWYG editors are not only about presentation but also about collaborative productivity.

Conclusion

The best WYSIWYG HTML editors are far more than rich text fields nowadays. They’re intelligent, modular, accessible, and fast tools that empower users to create high-quality content without touching code. The trends that shape them, as discussed in this article, are now the new baseline.

If you’re evaluating a new editor for your web app, CMS, LMS, or internal tool, use these trends as a guide. They should help you choose a solution that’s both user-focused and modern. And if you’re building an editor yourself, these trends are where you should invest your attention.

As user expectations continue to rise, so must the capabilities of the tools we build. And this is especially true for a modern WYSIWYG editor.

10 BEST Front-End Development Tools (2025)

3D illustration of charts, code editors, and upload icons representing essential frontend development tools for building modern web applications

In 2025, the right frontend development tools can make all the difference between a smooth, efficient workflow and frustrating project delays. From crafting intuitive user interfaces to integrating complex features, these tools empower developers to work faster, smarter, and more creatively.

After days of research and hands-on testing, we’ve compiled the 10 best frontend development tools to help you build modern, high-performing web applications. This guide covers their key features, examples, pros, and cons—so you can choose the tools that fit your project’s needs and stay ahead in today’s fast-paced web development landscape.

While this list focuses on our top picks for 2025, many developers also rely on popular frameworks and languages such as JavaScript, React, Angular, Vue, Node, Bootstrap, Python, Ruby, and PHP to power their front-end projects.

Why We Picked These Frontend Development Tools

With hundreds of frontend development tools available, we focused on selecting those that strike the best balance between functionality, usability, and industry relevance in 2025. Each tool on this list meets at least one of the following criteria:

  • Proven Track Record – Widely used and trusted by the developer community.
  • Feature-Rich – Offers unique capabilities that streamline and enhance the development workflow.
  • Cross-Platform Support – Works seamlessly across different browsers, devices, and operating systems.
  • Ease of Integration – Can be quickly implemented in real-world projects without steep learning curves.
  • Performance & Reliability – Delivers consistent results, even at scale, with minimal downtime or bugs.

We also factored in developer feedback, documentation quality, and cost-effectiveness to ensure these recommendations help you build better, faster, and more maintainable web applications.

#1 – Filestack

Filestack File Uploader home page

Working on File Handling

Filestack is a front-end development tool for file uploading and integration. 

This software allows developers to upload, transform, and deliver files across platforms, using an API and cloud-based infrastructure. 

Filestack works on the process of uploading images, videos, and documents. It enhances your application’s functionality.

Features:

  • File Handling: Filestack makes file handling comprehensible by providing infrastructure, allowing developers to work across platforms.
  • AI Capabilities: The Filestack’s image intelligence suite, powered by artificial intelligence, performs tasks such as object detection on your images.
  • Optimized Delivery: Filestack’s CDN stands out as a tool for amplifying file delivery speeds. It ensures content distribution, making it an optimal solution for file delivery.

Example:

When I tested Filestack on a sample e-commerce project, I was able to process and deliver high-resolution product images in under a second using their CDN — a noticeable boost compared to my previous setup.

Pros:

  • Filestack supports different file types and formats, making it a versatile solution for file- needs.
  • Developers benefit from Filestack’s user-friendly APIs and straightforward integration process, saving time in implementation.

Cons:

  • The free version does not provide the capability to upload to Azure.

# 2 – Froala

Froala WYSIWYG HTML text editor home page

Elevating the Text Editing Level

Froala is a front-end WYSIWYG HTML text editor. It allows the developers to have a feature-rich and customizable editing experience. 

Its WYSIWYG editor simplifies content creation, offering an integration process. 

Froala has plugin options that enhance your application’s text-editing capabilities, ensuring a polished and professional look.

Features:

  • Code Quality: Froala provides code that exhibits flexibility and testability. This type of code is characterized by efficiency to coding standards.
  • Intuitive Design: Froala boasts a design that aids in creating visually appealing user interfaces. The tool facilitates the customization of aspects of the rich text editor.
  • Plugin Options: With over 30 pre-built plugins, Froala allows users to amplify their editor with additional functionalities. These plugins cover features, from emoticons to change trackers, providing users with the flexibility to meet their specific preferences.

Example:

During testing, I added the Froala editor to a React app in under 10 minutes. The live preview and inline editing features saved me hours of back-and-forth formatting.

Pros:

  • Froala’s editor is equipped with a comprehensive set of features, including image editing, tables, and document integration.
  • The intuitive interface of the editor contributes to a positive user experience, making it accessible for both beginners and experienced developers.

Cons:

  • The Free trial is limited and shows a watermark.

#3 – Node Package Manager

Home page of Node Package Manager website- A package manager for JavaScript

Distribution code modules

NPM (Node Package Manager) is a package manager for JavaScript that facilitates the management of reusable code modules. 

Developers use NPM to effortlessly install and manage third-party packages and libraries needed for their projects.

NPM excels in resolving dependencies efficiently, ensuring that the right versions of packages are installed and that potential conflicts are minimized.

Features:

  • Version Control: NPM enables developers to specify the versions of packages to ensure consistency across different environments.
  • Script Execution: Developers can define and run custom scripts through NPM, streamlining various project-related tasks.
  • Registry Support: The centralized NPMregistry hosts an extensive collection of packages, allowing developers to discover a wide range of functionalities.

Example:

While building a dashboard project, I pulled in charting and authentication packages using NPM in less than 2 minutes, avoiding the usual dependency conflicts that used to slow me down.

Pros:

  • NPM boasts a vast and active ecosystem, providing developers with a plethora of pre-built solutions and libraries.
  • The straightforward commands of NPM make it user-friendly, simplifying the process of installing, updating, and removing packages.

Cons:

  • While NPM has security features, it’s essential for developers to remain vigilant about security vulnerabilities within the packages.

#4 – FusionCharts

FusionCharts homepage- Data Visualization Refined

Data Visualization Redefined

FusionCharts stands out as a front-end tool for data visualization. It offers a wide range of charts and graphs. 

Developers can use them to create interactive and engaging data representations with ease. 

FusionCharts empowers developers to convey information. They can create simple line charts or complex heat maps that increase the user experience.

Features:

  • Chart Library: FusionCharts offers an extensive library of charts and graphs, providing developers with an array of options for visualizing data interactively.
  • Data Integration: FusionCharts supports real-time data updates, allowing developers to create dynamic charts that reflect the latest information, making it suitable for applications requiring live data representation.
  • Customization: Developers have the flexibility to customize the behavior of charts, ensuring alignment with the application’s design and specific visualization needs.

Example:

I integrated FusionCharts into a sales analytics tool, and seeing live sales data update on a heatmap without any lag was impressive — clients responded well to the clarity it brought.

Pros:

  • FusionCharts certifies compatibility with various browsers, ensuring consistent performance and visual appeal across different platforms.
  • It provides detailed documentation, facilitating an easier learning curve for developers looking to harness the potential of the tool.

Cons:

  • FusionCharts offers a free version, but it comes with limitations.

#5 – GitHub

GitHub homepage - Collaboration Control Platform

Collaboration Control Platform

GitHub is a web-based platform that facilitates collaborative software development through version control and hosting.

It employs Git for version control, allowing developers to track changes, manage different versions of their code, and collaborate with others.

GitHub provides an interactive environment for developers to collaborate on projects. Features like pull requests, issues, and discussions enhance communication.

Features:

  • Repository Hosting: GitHub serves as a centralized repository hosting platform, making it easy to share codebases.
  • Collaboration Tools: Robust collaboration tools, including pull requests and issues, streamline communication and project management.
  • Continuous Integration: GitHub integrates with various CI/CD tools, enabling automated testing and deployment workflows.

Example:

While working on a team project, we merged over 40 pull requests in a week without a single versioning issue — GitHub’s branch protection rules were a lifesaver.

Pros:

  • It is a hub for open-source development, fostering collaboration and knowledge-sharing within a vast community.
  • GitHub’s features, such as pull requests and issue tracking, enhance team collaboration and project management.

Cons:

  • GitHub environment may have a high learning curve, particularly for those new to version control systems.

#6 – UltraEdit

Homepage of UltraEdit - Speeding up the Text Editing

Speeding up the Text Editing

UltraEdit is a text editor for front-end developers who demand efficient design.

With advanced editing features, syntax highlighting, and multi-caret editing, UltraEdit accelerates coding workflows. 

UltraEdit provides a seamless environment for creating and modifying code. It works well for HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and other languages.

Features:

  • Editing Capabilities: UltraEdit provides different text editing features, including syntax highlighting for various programming languages, column/block mode editing, and search/replace regular expressions.
  • Multi-Platform Support: It offers cross-platform compatibility, allowing users to switch the same project between Windows, macOS, and Linux.
  • File Comparison: UltraEdit includes tools for synchronizing files, making it easier for users to identify and merge changes in different versions.

Example:

Editing a 250MB log file in UltraEdit was smooth and lag-free — something most text editors struggled with in my tests.

Pros:

  • UltraEdit allows users to customize the interface, keyboard shortcuts, and themes to suit their preferences and workflow, enhancing productivity.
  • The application comes with advanced search and replace functionality, supporting regular expressions and providing options across multiple files and directories efficiently.

Cons:

  • Due to its extensive capabilities, UltraEdit may have a steeper learning curve for new users.

#7 – Exchange Rates API

Exchange Rates API website - Real-time Currency Exchange Data

Real-time Currency Exchange Data

Exchange Rates API, from APILayer, is a front-end development tool that integrates real-time currency exchange data. 

With its simple API, developers can incorporate live exchange rates into their applications. 

Whether you’re building a finance app or an e-commerce platform, it ensures your users always have accurate and up-to-date currency conversion information.

Features:

  • Real-Time: Exchange Rates API provides up-to-date exchange rates for a range of currencies, allowing developers to integrate conversion functionality into their applications.
  • Historical: Users can access historical exchange rate data, which is valuable for financial analysis, reporting, and understanding trends over time.
  • Integration: The API is designed for easy integration into applications, with documentation and support for various programming languages, making it accessible for developers.

Example:

I tested the API by pulling exchange rates for 10 currencies in real time — responses consistently came back in under 200ms, keeping my finance app responsive.

Pros:

  • Exchange Rates API offers a free tier with limited usage, allowing developers to test the service in their projects without incurring immediate costs.
  • The API supports a broad range of currencies, providing comprehensive coverage for global financial transactions and making it suitable for applications with diverse users.

Cons:

  • Users should be aware of the update frequency and assess whether it aligns with their application’s requirements.

#8 – Figma

Figma homepage - Collaborative Interface Design Tool

Collaborative Interface Design Tool

Figma is a cloud-based design tool that revolutionizes the way teams collaborate on interface design, covering both the Design and Collaboration phases.

It provides a versatile platform for designing user interfaces, wireframes, and prototypes collaboratively in real-time.

Figma stands out with its collaborative features, allowing multiple team members to work simultaneously on the same design, fostering real-time feedback and iteration.

Features:

  • Real-Time Collaboration: Figma’s cloud-based nature enables seamless real-time collaboration, making it easy for designers to work together.
  • Prototyping: The tool supports the creation of interactive prototypes, facilitating user experience testing and validation.
  • Design Components: Figma allows the creation and reuse of design components, ensuring consistency across different screens and projects.

Example:

While designing a multi-page UI in Figma with two other teammates, we made edits in real time and resolved layout issues on the spot, cutting our review process in half.

Pros:

  • Figma is accessible through web browsers, making it easy for designers to work on different operating systems without compatibility issues.
  • It keeps track of version history, allowing designers to revert to previous iterations if needed.

Cons:

  • Figma’s cloud-based nature means that a stable internet connection is crucial for uninterrupted work, which may be a limitation in certain scenarios.

#9 – Weatherstack

Weatherstack website - Weather Data Integration Simpler

Weather Data Integration Simpler

Weatherstack has emerged as a key tool for front-end developers. They use it to integrate weather data. 

With its powerful APILayer, Weatherstack provides accurate and real-time weather information. 

Whether you’re developing a travel app or a weather-centric platform, Weatherstack ensures that your users will stay informed about current and forecasted weather conditions.

Features:

  • Real-Time: Weatherstack provides real-time weather data, including current conditions, forecasts, and historical information worldwide.
  • API Integration: It offers an API that allows developers to integrate weather data into their applications, websites, or services, enabling them to display accurate and up-to-date weather information to users.
  • Global: Weatherstack covers a wide range of locations globally, making it suitable for applications with an international base. Users can retrieve weather information for various regions.

Example:

In testing, I added Weatherstack to a travel site and was able to display live weather updates for 20 cities without any noticeable performance slowdown.

Pros:

  • One of the key advantages is the accuracy and reliability of the weather data provided by Weatherstack, making it a dependable choice for apps that require precise information.
  • The API is designed for easy integration and provides comprehensive documentation, making it user-friendly for developers who want to quickly incorporate data into projects.

Cons:

  • Integration with an external weather API like Weatherstack means your application’s weather-related functionalities are dependent on the availability and performance of that service.

#10 – Elements

Elements - Web Templates Marketplace

Web Templates Marketplace

Elements by Envato is a web templates marketplace offering a vast collection of ready-made templates for websites. Its role spans the Discovery and Customization phases.

Users can customize selected templates to suit their specific needs, accelerating the development process by providing a solid foundation.

Elements provides a diverse range of web templates for developers and designers to discover and explore for their projects.

Features:

  • Wide Template Variety: Elements offers a broad selection of templates, including site templates, to cater to different industries and design preferences.
  • Royalty-Free Assets: Users gain access to a wealth of royalty-free assets, such as images and graphics, enhancing the visual appeal of their projects.
  • Regular Updates: The marketplace regularly updates its collection, ensuring that users have access to modern and up-to-date design options.

Example:

Using Elements, I found a portfolio template that matched my client’s needs exactly — we customized it in a day instead of building from scratch, saving at least a week.

Pros:

  • Elements significantly reduces development time by providing pre-designed templates that can be easily customized.
  • Compared to hiring a designer or spending extensive time on custom design, Elements provides a cost-effective solution.

Cons:

  • While templates are versatile, there might be limitations in fully expressing unique brand identities or highly specific design requirements. Customization might be necessary.

Summarize the best frontend development tools

Let’s see the summary of the tools we discussed in this article.

Tool Name Main Purpose Key Features Pros Cons
Filestack File Handling and Integration – File handling infrastructure

– AI capabilities (object detection)

– Optimized delivery (CDN)

– Supports diverse file formats

– User-friendly APIs for easy integration

– Free version lacks Azure upload support
Froala WYSIWYG Text Editing – High code quality

– Intuitive design

– 30+ plugin options

– Comprehensive editing features

– User-friendly interface for beginners and experts

– Free trial has a watermark
Node Package Manager (NPM) JavaScript Package Management – Version control

– Script execution

– Extensive registry support

– Vast ecosystem with pre-built libraries

– Simplifies package management tasks

– Security vulnerabilities within packages require vigilance
FusionCharts Data Visualization – Extensive chart library

– Real-time data integration

– Customization

– Compatible across browsers

– Detailed documentation for easy learning

– Free version has limitations
GitHub Version Control and Collaboration – Repository hosting

– Collaboration tools (pull requests, issues)

– CI/CD integration

– Ideal for open-source collaboration

– Enhances teamwork and project management

– High learning curve for beginners
UltraEdit Advanced Text Editing – Syntax highlighting

– Multi-platform support

– File comparison

– Customizable interface and themes

– Advanced search and replace across files

– Steeper learning curve for new users
Exchange Rates API Real-Time Currency Exchange Data – Real-time currency updates

– Historical data access

– Easy integration

– Free tier available

– Supports multiple currencies globally

– Update frequency may not meet all application needs
Figma Interface Design and Collaboration – Real-time collaboration

– Interactive prototyping

– Design components

– Cross-platform compatibility

– Tracks version history for easy iteration

– Requires a stable internet connection
Weatherstack Weather Data Integration – Real-time weather updates

– API for easy integration

– Global coverage

– Accurate, reliable weather data

– Developer-friendly documentation

– Functionality relies on external API availability
Elements (Envato) Ready-Made Web Templates Marketplace – Wide template variety

– Royalty-free assets

– Regular updates

– Speeds up development time

– Cost-effective compared to custom design

– May limit unique branding needs; extensive customization could be required

Conclusion

As we navigate the ever-evolving front-end development landscape, these tools will be indispensable assets for developers in 2025. 

Whether focused on file handling, text editing, data visualization, or data integration, incorporating these tools into your workflow will elevate the quality of your front-end development projects. 

Stay ahead of the curve. Empower your development journey with these top front-end development tools in 2025.

FAQs

What defines a Front End Web Development Tool?

A Front End Web Development Tool is a software application designed to assist developers in creating visually appealing website layouts effortlessly. 

It expedites the web development process by offering drag-and-drop elements and various built-in features to construct an aesthetically pleasing website layout. 

If you’re seeking additional tools to streamline your software development process, explore our comprehensive list of recommended tools.

What factors should be considered when selecting a front-end tool?

When choosing a front-end development software, it is advisable to consider these factors:

  • Price: Evaluate the cost associated with the tool.
  • Customizations: Assess the availability of themes and options.
  • Usability: Consider the tool’s user-friendliness and stability.
  • Functionalities: Explore the range of tools offered by the software.
  • Usability: Evaluate how easy it is to use the tool.
  • Language Support: Verify if the tool supports multiple programming languages.
  • Built-in Debugger: Assess whether the tool includes built-in debugger support.

Support: Ensure compatibility with various browsers, devices, and operating systems.

How to Optimize the Load Time of Your Rich Text Editor

A toolbox in front of an application with a rich text editor. This represents how editors with robust features sometimes slow down websites, thus prompting the need to optimize rich text editor load time.

A rich text editor (RTE) is at the core of every web application where content creation happens. From blogs to forums and productivity tools, RTEs allow users to create and format content without needing to understand HTML. However, the convenience and functionality of RTEs often come with a performance cost.

Many rich text editors come with heavy JavaScript bundles, plugins, and assets that significantly affect page load time. Waiting for an editor to initialize disrupts workflow and undermines the user experience, no matter how good everything else is. This is more critical on slower devices or unstable network connections.

Because of the importance and issues of RTEs, developers must learn to optimize rich text editor load time. This way, users will have an unhindered experience while getting all the robust features they need to produce content. In this guide, you’ll learn about different strategies you can adopt to keep your rich text editor light and powerful.

Key Takeaways

  • A bloated rich text editor negatively impacts user experience and SEO performance.
  • Minimize initial payload by bundling and tree-shaking JS and CSS files.
  • Lazy load non-essential features like tables or plugins to boost initialization speed.
  • Limit plugin use to what’s necessary and load optional features only when triggered.
  • Continuously monitor performance with tools like Lighthouse and Chrome DevTools.

Why Load Time Matters for Your Rich Text Editor

A slow-loading RTE frustrates users and impacts critical performance metrics. Here are some reasons for always inspecting the performance of your rich text editor.

RTE Load Times Directly Impact UX

When a rich text editor takes too long to load, users might perceive the platform as sluggish or unpolished. This can prove especially disruptive in content-focused environments, such as blogging platforms, messaging apps, or collaborative tools. If an editor interface lags or freezes during loading, users may abandon their workflow or leave the application entirely.

Often, slow load times result from large script files, stylesheets, excessive plugin dependencies, or poor asset delivery practices. To optimize rich text editor load time is to make the editor feel like a seamless, native part of the interface.

Performance Affects Page SEO

Search engines consider load speed as a part of their ranking criteria. A slow-loading RTE can drag down your page’s overall performance, especially if it’s part of the main content rendering path. Core Web Vitals, such as Largest Contentful Paint, may worsen if the editor delays page interactivity.

A screen with the words "SEO" being dragged down by chains, representing how performance (or lack thereof) affects SEO.

Websites where the RTE lives directly on the homepage or blog post editor suffer more from slow editor loads. Even if the rest of your site runs well, a single bloated component like an RTE can reduce your page’s SEO score. On the other hand, a lightweight rich text editor can help protect or boost your site’s visibility in search results.

Note: Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) is one of Google’s Core Web Vitals that measures the time it takes for the viewport’s largest content element to render. Typically, LCP considers image, video, or other block-level container elements. For a good user experience, websites and applications should have an LCP of less than or equal to 2.5 seconds.

Google Emphasizes Page Speed as a Ranking Factor

Google’s algorithm updates in recent years have placed increasing importance on how quickly a page loads. The inclusion of the Core Web Vitals as ranking signals highlights how user-centric performance now plays a direct role in search visibility. 

Even though Google doesn’t specifically penalize slow editors, delayed RTE interaction can increase bounce rates and lower average session duration. These are metrics that Google watches closely. Moreover, on mobile devices or in unstable environments, a slow-loading RTE can have an even more negative impact.

Optimizing your RTE ultimately contributes to meeting Google’s expectations for speed and usability. In turn, this improves both performance and organic visibility.

Note: Bounce rate refers to the percentage of visitors who leave the site after viewing only one page without interacting with any content.

To help you optimize rich text editor load time effectively, the following sections walk you through nine essential strategies.

1. Minimize RTE’s Initial Payload

When a rich text editor loads, it brings in JavaScript, CSS, fonts, icons, and sometimes embedded media or third-party integrations. This collection is called the initial payload, or the required files for the editor to start becoming interactive.

Reducing this payload is the first step in improving load time. Use module bundlers like Webpack or Rollup to combine and compress scripts. These tools also support tree-shaking, which removes dead or unused code automatically, trimming more unnecessary bytes from your bundles.

Two books of different thickness. The thicker one is labeled "Full Bundle," representing heavy and slow code bundles. The thinner one is labeled "Compressed," which stands for the minified and well-bundled RTE assets.

You can also evaluate your build for third-party dependencies. If a plugin or feature pulls in a large dependency, consider lighter (i.e., minified) alternatives or native JS solutions.

Note: Tree-shaking refers to a code optimization technique that removes unused code from the final bundle. For example, bundlers like Webpack can analyze the code and determine which is essential and which is unused. Unused code mustn’t have any other effects on the rest of the application (e.g., remove the code and nothing changes). Think of tree-shaking like decluttering your closet. Only keep what you need!

2. Lazy Load Non-Essential RTE Components

Lazy loading refers to the technique where your application only fetches certain elements of the page when needed. Developers often use this technique for images and other heavy or large content. Thankfully, you can also lazy load rich text editors and their components.

For instance, you can delay loading the entire JS and CSS assets of an RTE until the user actually needs them. To do this, dynamically import statements in JavaScript or use deferred loading mechanisms provided by frameworks like React (React.lazy). This approach significantly improves First Contentful Paint (FCP) and reduces time to interactivity.

3. Use Efficient Rendering Methods

Rendering inefficiencies can throttle your editor’s speed even after it loads. RTEs that constantly re-render the DOM with every keystroke or event can quickly turn sluggish.

Modern frameworks like React, Vue, or Svelte use a virtual DOM to track changes more efficiently. Instead of re-rendering everything, they update only the parts of the interface that actually have changes. This improves performance, especially when dealing with long documents or frequent user input.

4. Optimize Plugin and Feature Usage

Sometimes, developers tend to enable all available RTE plugins to accommodate every feature that users might want. However, this common trap can bloat the RTE, cause it to load slowly, and overwhelm both the interface and users. Instead, focus on what the user exactly needs and enable only the plugins or features that support those.

Start by auditing which RTE features are truly necessary. For example, if your users rarely embed YouTube videos, you don’t have to preload that plugin. Moreover, in chat groups or more casual forums, you don’t have to always include a spelling and grammar checker.

A UPS with several unplugged cords, signifying plugin optimization and a modular architecture.

You can also consider loading plugins on demand. Different users, for instance, can have access to different toolsets, keeping the editor lean for most users.

5. Compress and Optimize Media Assets

Rich text editors often allow image, audio, or video embedding; however, large files can break performance. You should always compress media assets before rendering them in the editor. For images, you can use file size reduction tools like ImageOptim or TinyPNG or convert them to the modern WebP format.

For videos, consider transcoding to streaming-friendly formats like HLS or MP4 or video compression. Furthermore, always set file size limits for user uploads in both the editor’s config and your backend’s validation layer.

6. Cache Resources and Enable Browser Caching

Caching allows your users’ browsers to store static assets (e.g., scripts, stylesheets, and icons). This is so they don’t have to download them again on every visit, providing smoother experiences for repeat visitors. To enable this, implement proper HTTP cache headers on your server or CDN:

Cache-Control: public, max-age=31536000, immutable

This tells the browser to store the file for a year and treat it as unchanging. For hashed filenames, this is safe and effective. 

For dynamic RTEs, consider service workers to cache more complex assets intelligently. Browser caching significantly improves repeated load times and overall speed.

7. Optimize the Server for RTEs

Not all performance improvements happen in the browser. On the server side, ensure you serve assets over HTTP/2, which supports multiplexing and prioritization. This makes asset delivery faster.

Use a Content Delivery Network (CDN) like AWS or Fastly to serve static assets from locations near your users. This reduces latency, improves server performance (i.e., lightening the server’s load), and speeds up loading, especially for global audiences.

For dynamic content (e.g., autosaves or collaborative editing), use efficient APIs and lightweight response payloads to keep communication fast and responsive.

8. Minimize Reflows and Repaints

When you make changes to the layout of a page, the browser performs a reflow or repaint. The layout changes include resizing elements, changing font sizes, or modifying spacing (e.g., padding). These are expensive operations that can block browser rendering.

In RTEs, text and reformatting updates happen in real time. Thus, minimizing layout thrashing is essential.

To accomplish this, use CSS transitions instead of JavaScript animations whenever possible. Batch DOM updates using requestAnimationFrame or frameworks that handle batching automatically. Moreover, avoid inline style changes that trigger recalculations during typing or formatting.

9. Monitor RTE Performance Continuously

This image shows an example of Google Lighthouse's Core Web Vitals audit. Here, you'll determine your LCP, FCP, and other useful metrics that will help you optimize rich text editor load time.

An example of Google Lighthouse’s Core Web Vitals assessment

Optimization is more of a continual and recurring process. Implement RTE performance monitoring regularly using tools like

  • Google Lighthouse for diagnostics and improvement suggestions.
  • Chrome DevTools Performance tab for understanding runtime bottlenecks.
  • WebPageTest for real-world page load behavior from different locations.

Track metrics like Google’s Core Web Vitals to help fine-tune your strategy and adapt to trends and best practices. Regular health checks on your website’s (and RTE’s) performance can help identify bottlenecks and make room for improvements over time.

Conclusion

A fast-loading rich text editor is essential for smooth content creation and a strong overall site performance. By reducing the initial payload, lazy-loading non-critical features, evaluating plugin usage, and following the techniques in this guide, you can significantly improve your rich text editor load time.

If you want to skip most of the heavy lifting, editors like Froala come with these optimizations out of the box. Froala’s modular plugin architecture, efficient rendering engine, and lightweight footprint (50 KB core) deliver speed without compromising functionality. To see this in action, explore Froala’s documentation or try a live demo to see how a modern, optimized editor should perform.

Enhancing User Experience in Web Apps with Online JavaScript Editors

3D illustration of a modern user interface panel symbolizing an online JavaScript editor used for improving user experience in web applications.

Making user-friendly and appealing websites is crucial for developers. They use helpful tools and technology to achieve this goal. Online JavaScript editors are commonly used in Angular applications to streamline the development process and improve content editing capabilities within web apps. 

Websites change a lot, and making them look and work perfectly is a big deal. Developers rely on an Online JavaScript Editor to meet this demand.

Enhancing UX with Froala
Enhancing UX with Froala

To continue this trend, let’s explore the strategies to enhance user experience in web apps and how an Online JavaScript Editor can help in this regard.

Strategies to Enhance User Experience in Web Apps 

Creating a positive user experience in web apps is crucial for engaging visitors and promoting satisfaction. Employing effective strategies can significantly enhance the usability of your platform.

Let’s explore some of them below. 

1. Create Intuitive and Consistent User interfaces

Create a design that’s not complicated. Make sure buttons and menus are where people expect them. When users visit your web app, they should quickly understand how to use it. Consistency in colors, fonts, and layouts throughout the app will make navigation a breeze.

2. Optimize Your Site Speed

Waiting for web pages to load is frustrating. If your web app is slow, people might leave. To avoid this, optimize your website’s performance by following Google’s Core Web Vitals — a set of metrics focused on user experience, including load time, interactivity, and visual stability.

Compress images, use efficient coding, and consider content delivery networks (CDNs) to speed up load times. A fast website keeps users happy and engaged.

3. Ensure Mobile Responsiveness

Because of this, many people use their phones to browse the internet. Ensure your web app looks good and functions well on different devices, especially smartphones and tablets. According to Statista, mobile devices accounted for over 58% of global website traffic in 2023, highlighting the importance of responsive design. 

Responsive design adjusts the layout to fit various screen sizes, providing a good experience for users, regardless of the device they’re using.

4. Ensure Strategic Content Categorization

When users visit your web app, they should find what they need without confusion. Organize content logically, use clear headings, and provide a search function if possible. A well-organized structure helps users navigate effortlessly, leading to better comprehension and a positive experience.

5. Integrate Robust Editors

Integrating rich text editors, such as Froala, enhances the editing experience within your web app. Such editors offer features like easy text formatting, real-time collaboration, and extensive customization options. Users can create and edit content effortlessly, from adjusting text to adding multimedia elements and designing layouts that work on any screen.

The Role of Froala in Angular Applications

Angular is great for building fast, seamless web experiences. When paired with Froala, it becomes even more powerful. Froala integrates smoothly into Angular apps, offering a customizable rich text editing experience. Here’s how this combo benefits developers and users alike:

1. Visually Appealing Interfaces

Froala’s clean interface and design flexibility help developers create attractive layouts. A polished UI keeps users engaged and contributes to a positive experience—something backed by Nielsen Norman Group’s usability heuristics on aesthetic design.

2. Interactive Features Users Love

From media embeds and drag-and-drop to responsive content blocks, Froala supports dynamic interactions. This makes web apps not just functional, but fun and intuitive to use.

3. Easy Content Creation & Management

Froala offers built-in tools for text styling, multimedia embedding, and layout formatting. Its intuitive dashboard means even non-technical users can create rich content without help.

4. Better User Engagement  

With Froala, content is optimized for readability, responsiveness, and interactivity. Users can format documents, collaborate, and create content that adapts across screens—all within one editor.

What Real Users Say

While features and performance metrics are important, nothing speaks louder than real-world user experiences. Developers and content teams across industries rely on Froala to streamline content editing and enhance their web apps. Here’s what some verified users have shared about their hands-on experience with the Froala Online JavaScript Editor:

“Exceptional Editor with Unparalleled Support” – Cesar Alonso R., August 2024

Using Froala Editor has significantly streamlined content creation and formatting for academic platforms at the Autonomous University of Ciudad Juárez. Cesar highlights Froala’s seamless Microsoft Word integration and exceptional customer support as standout features. While minor formatting issues can occur when pasting large content blocks, the overall impact on efficiency and collaboration has been highly positive.

Read the full review on G2: G2 Review – Froala Editor

“One of the Best WYSIWYG Editors” – Android D., June 2025

This software engineer praises Froala Editor’s lightweight build, modern UI, and developer-friendly integration. The editor supports various SDKs and offers powerful features like table and video editing, rich documentation, and smooth Microsoft Word content handling. Despite occasional formatting issues with large content blocks, Froala provides a fast, intuitive experience that simplifies rich content formatting across applications.

Read the full review on G2: G2 Review – Froala Editor

“My Experience Using Froala for My Portfolio Website Content” – Manish Kumar S., April 2025

Manish, a student partner working on a client’s website, highlighted how Froala’s fast third-party integration and intuitive interface helped him quickly build a structured UI with rich content features. He found the platform versatile for tasks ranging from documentation to social media and file management. While he suggests better feature categorization, he continues to enjoy using Froala for its comprehensive capabilities.

Read the full review on G2: G2 Review – Froala Editor

Implementation of Froala in JavaScript

The implementation of Froala in JavaScript involves integrating the Froala Online JavaScript Editor into web applications using JavaScript. This code sets up a simple Froala Editor on a web page.

<html>
  <head>
      <meta charset="utf-8">
      <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, height=device-height, initial-scale=1.0, maximum-scale=1.0" />
      <link href='https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/froala-editor@latest/css/froala_editor.pkgd.min.css' rel='stylesheet' type='text/css' />
  </head>
  <body>
      <div id="example"></div>
      <script type='text/javascript' src='https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/froala-editor@latest/js/froala_editor.pkgd.min.js'></script> 
      <script>
var editor = new FroalaEditor('#example');
      </script>
  </body>
</html>

Explore our full documentation for in-depth guidance.

Emerging Trends in Online JavaScript Editing

As content demands evolve, so do the tools we use to build and refine digital experiences. Online JavaScript editors are increasingly incorporating AI-powered features that transform how developers and writers interact with text.

Some of the key emerging trends include:

  • AI-assisted writing and formatting: Editors are beginning to support smart grammar and style corrections, ensuring cleaner content output without relying solely on manual review. 
  • Predictive content suggestions: Much like how search engines suggest queries, advanced editors can now anticipate and recommend phrasing, structure, or terminology based on intent and context. 
  • Voice-to-text integration: Speech recognition features are making their way into web editors, improving accessibility and offering faster content entry options for users with different needs or preferences. 
  • Accessibility checks in real time: Tools are starting to flag accessibility issues—such as missing alt text, low contrast ratios, or improper heading structures—while users write, helping developers meet compliance standards early in the content creation process. 

These innovations are shaping a future where writing tools not only respond to user input but also proactively assist in improving content quality and accessibility.

Further Reading:

Conclusion

Creating a great user experience is at the heart of every successful web app. Online JavaScript editors like Froala—especially when used with Angular—streamline content creation and help build interactive, responsive, and accessible web interfaces.

With smart strategies like intuitive UI, fast load times, responsive design, and structured content, developers can ensure their web apps truly resonate with users. And as tools like Froala evolve with AI-driven features, the future of content editing is not just efficient—it’s intelligent.

Ready to Build Better Web Apps?

Whether you’re a developer building your next Angular app or a content creator improving the editing experience, Froala can simplify and elevate your workflow.

Why not try it for yourself?

Start your free trial of Froala Editor today and experience how a powerful online JavaScript editor can transform your web apps.

Have thoughts or favorite tools? Let us know in the comments!

Building Robust Software with Froala HTML Editor: Understanding Its Modular Architecture

3D illustration of modular architecture showing interconnected software components, representing how Froala HTML Editor uses modular architecture to build robust and scalable software systems.

Imagine building a house using Lego bricks. Each brick has its own shape and function, but when connected, they form walls, rooms, and entire structures. Now, imagine being able to swap out one section—like the kitchen—without tearing down the whole house. That’s the power of modular architecture in software development.

In programming, modular architecture works the same way. It’s a smart, flexible method of building software by breaking it down into small, self-contained pieces—called modules or plugins—that work independently but fit together perfectly. This makes the software more robust, scalable, and easier to maintain.

Unlike traditional monolithic systems, where everything is bundled into one tightly connected structure, modular systems give developers the freedom to build, deploy, and scale parts independently. This approach brings speed, flexibility, and innovation to the table.

One tool that beautifully demonstrates this architecture is the Froala HTML Editor. As a powerful React WYSIWYG editor, Froala showcases how modular design can create a lightweight yet extensible editing experience.

So, are you ready to dive into the world of modular architecture and explore how Froala brings this concept to life? Let’s begin this exciting journey together.

Froala Modular Architecture

Key Components of Modular Architecture

The success of a modular architecture heavily relies on its key components. These components play a crucial role in creating a system that is flexible, maintainable, and scalable. In this section, we will explore the main components of modular architecture and understand their significance in the overall design.

Module: 

A module is a self-contained unit of code that encapsulates a specific functionality or a set of related functionalities. It acts as a building block within a modular architecture. Modules are designed to be independent and reusable, allowing developers to easily add, remove, or replace them without affecting the rest of the system. By dividing the codebase into modular units, it becomes easier to manage and maintain the software.

Interface: 

An interface defines a contract or a set of rules that determine how different modules can interact with each other. It serves as a communication channel between modules, enabling them to exchange data and invoke each other’s functionalities. By using interfaces, modules can interact with one another without having to know the specific implementations behind them. This promotes loose coupling and allows for better flexibility and extensibility.

Dependency Injection: 

Dependency injection is a design pattern used in modular architecture to manage the dependencies between modules. It involves injecting the required dependencies into a module from an external source, rather than the module creating the dependencies itself. This approach decouples modules from their dependencies and allows for easier testing, as dependencies can be easily mocked or replaced. Dependency injection also promotes reusability, as modules can be easily reused in different contexts by providing different implementations of their dependencies.

Loose Coupling: 

Loose coupling refers to the degree of dependency between modules in a modular architecture. In a loosely coupled system, modules are designed to have minimal knowledge of each other’s internal workings. They interact through well-defined interfaces and have limited dependencies on each other. This reduces the impact of changes in one module on the rest of the system, making it easier to modify, replace, or update individual modules without affecting the entire application. Loose coupling promotes flexibility, maintainability, and scalability in modular architectures.

By understanding and leveraging these key components of modular architecture, developers can build software systems that are modular, reusable, and easy to maintain.

Advantages of Modular Architecture

Let’s dive in and explore the advantages of modular architecture.

  1. Increased code reusability and maintainability:
    • Modular architecture promotes the development of reusable modules, which can be easily integrated into different projects. This reduces redundant code and improves code maintainability.
    • By separating functionality into distinct modules, developers can modify or update specific modules without affecting the entire system. This makes maintenance and bug fixes more efficient.
  2. Improved scalability and flexibility:
    • Modular architecture allows for the addition or removal of modules without impacting the entire system. This enables developers to scale their applications by adding new features or modifying existing ones without disrupting the overall structure.
    • With modular architecture, it becomes easier to adapt to changing requirements or integrate with external systems. Developers can replace or upgrade modules independently, ensuring the system remains flexible and adaptable.
  3. Ease of testing and debugging:
    • Modular architecture enables isolated testing of individual modules, making it easier to identify and fix issues. Testing can be focused on specific modules, reducing the scope and complexity of test cases.
    • By decoupling modules through well-defined interfaces, it becomes simpler to mock or stub dependencies during testing. This improves testability and helps uncover bugs early in the development process.
  4. Enhanced collaboration among developers:
    • The modular architecture facilitates collaborative development by enabling teams to work on different modules simultaneously. This allows for parallel development and reduces dependencies between developers.
    • With well-defined interfaces and clear module boundaries, teams can establish contracts and communicate effectively. Changes to one module can be implemented without affecting others, minimizing conflicts and enhancing collaboration.

Case Study: Froala Rich Text Editor as an Example of Modular Architecture

Froala, a rich text editor, demonstrates the benefits of modular architecture in practice. Froala utilizes a modular architecture by separating its various features into distinct modules called plugins. Froala has over 35 plugins to choose from, each providing a specific functionality such as image editing, table creation, and code highlighting.

Here is the complete list of Froala plugins:

This modular approach allows Froala to easily add or remove features, maintain code cleanliness, and improve overall system performance. For example, if you don’t plan on using the editor in Fullscreen mode, you can disable the Fullscreen plugin and instead of using the “froala.pkgd” files, include only the necessary JavaScript and stylesheet files for the core editor and used plugins in your application. This will reduce the app’s size and improve your app’s loading speed.

<!-- the editor core files -->
<link href="node_modules/froala-editor/css/froala_editor.min.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" />
<script type="text/javascript" src="node_modules/froala-editor/js/froala_editor.min.js"></script>

<!-- the Align plugin script -->
<script type="text/javascript" src="node_modules/froala-editor/js/plugins/align.min.js"></script>

<!-- the Char Counter Plugin files -->
<link href="node_modules/froala-editor/css/plugins/char_counter.min.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" />
<script type="text/javascript" src="node_modules/froala-editor/js/plugins/char_counter.min.js"></script>

Instead of

<!-- the editor pkgd files which loads all the editor plugins -->
<link href="node_modules/froala-editor/css/froala_editor.pkgd.min.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" />
<script type="text/javascript" src="node_modules/froala-editor/js/froala_editor.pkgd.min.js"></script>

The modular architecture of Froala allows you to selectively load included plugins in the editor using the pluginsEnabled API option.

new FroalaEditor('.selector', {

  pluginsEnabled: ['align']

});

By leveraging modular architecture, Froala gains the advantages of increased code reusability, maintainability, scalability, flexibility, ease of testing, debugging, and enhanced collaboration.

Froala Custom Plugins

The modular architecture of Froala allows developers to create their own plugins and add them to the editor. This customization feature enables developers to extend the functionality of Froala according to their specific needs.

Creating a custom plugin involves defining the plugin’s functionality, integrating it with the Froala editor, and implementing any necessary UI components or behavior. Once the custom plugin is created, it can be added to the editor by including its JavaScript and stylesheet files in the application and adding its name to the pluginsEnabled API option.

The Froala custom plugin uses the following structure.

(function (FroalaEditor) {
  // Add an option for your plugin.
  FroalaEditor.DEFAULTS = Object.assign(FroalaEditor.DEFAULTS, {
    myOption: false
  });

  // Define the plugin.
  // The editor parameter is the current instance.
  FroalaEditor.PLUGINS.myPlugin = function (editor) {
    // Private variable visible only inside the plugin scope.
    var private_var = 'My awesome plugin';

    // Private method that is visible only inside plugin scope.
    function _privateMethod () {
      console.log (private_var);
    }

    // Public method that is visible in the instance scope.
    function publicMethod () {
      console.log (_privateMethod());
    }

    // The start point for your plugin.
    function _init () {
      // You can access any option from documentation or your custom options.
      console.log (editor.opts.myOption)

      // Call any method from documentation.
      // editor.methodName(params);

      // You can listen to any event from documentation.
      // editor.events.add('contentChanged', function (params) {});
    }

    // Expose public methods. If _init is not public then the plugin won't be initialized.
    // Public method can be accessed through the editor API:
    // editor.myPlugin.publicMethod();
    return {
      _init: _init,
      publicMethod: publicMethod
    }
  }
})(FroalaEditor);

Froala’s modular architecture makes it easy to add and manage custom plugins alongside the existing plugins. This flexibility allows developers to tailor the editor to their requirements and build unique editing experiences.

Modular Architecture in Action: Beyond Froala

While Froala is a standout example, many leading software systems use modular architecture to boost performance, scalability, and maintainability. Here are two real-world examples that demonstrate its power:

Example 1: WordPress

WordPress, one of the world’s most popular CMS platforms, thrives because of its modular plugin system. Each plugin adds a specific feature—SEO optimization, contact forms, caching, or eCommerce (like WooCommerce)—without altering the core system. This allows developers to customize and extend functionality without touching the core code, ensuring easier maintenance, updates, and reduced chances of breaking the system.

Benefit: Users can build anything from a personal blog to a full-fledged online store using modular extensions—no major rewrites required.

Example 2: Microservices in Netflix

Netflix uses a microservices-based modular architecture to handle millions of global users daily. Instead of a single massive application, Netflix breaks functionality down into services like user authentication, movie recommendations, and playback. Each microservice is independently deployable, scalable, and replaceable.

Benefit: Teams can update or scale individual parts (e.g., recommendation engine) without affecting the rest of the platform—ensuring high availability and agility.

Modular vs. Monolithic Architecture: A Quick Comparison

To better understand why modular architecture is gaining popularity, it’s helpful to compare it directly with the traditional monolithic approach. The table below highlights the key differences between the two, making it clear how modular design offers flexibility, scalability, and ease of maintenance in modern software development.

Feature / Aspect Modular Architecture Monolithic Architecture
Structure Composed of independent modules or plugins Single, unified codebase
Development Modules can be developed and maintained separately Requires coordination across the entire system
Scalability Easily scalable—scale only the modules needed Scaling often requires duplicating the whole application
Deployment Modules can be deployed independently The full application must be deployed even for small changes
Flexibility High—modules can be swapped or updated without affecting others Low—tight coupling between components
Learning Curve Easier to understand per module Steeper due to the size and complexity of the system
Example Froala, WordPress, Netflix (via microservices) Traditional ERP systems, early-stage enterprise apps

Conclusion

Modular architecture allows developers to focus on individual modules, enabling faster development, easier testing, and seamless integration. This approach also promotes code reusability, reducing redundancy and improving overall efficiency, leading to more robust software systems.

The case of Froala further exemplifies how modular architecture can be successfully implemented to achieve these benefits. Froala’s modular architecture allows for easy addition and removal of features, improving code cleanliness and system performance. By selectively including plugins, the size and loading speed of the app can be optimized. The core editor and used plugin files can be included in the application, rather than the bundled files, to achieve this. The modular architecture also enables the enabling of specific plugins using the `pluginsEnabled` API option. This architecture provides advantages such as code reusability, maintainability, scalability, flexibility, and enhanced collaboration.

Create your own plugin now.

Introducing Advanced Find and Replace in Froala | A Better WYSIWYG Editor

I recently built a demo to show off what’s new in Froala editor 4.6. In fact, if you’ve seen the video I published, you’ll know we’re tackling a big challenge with our new advanced find and replace in a WYSIWYG editor. This is because professional content workflows often demand more precision than standard browser tools can offer.

For that reason, I’m excited to give you a behind-the-scenes look at how I built the demo. In this post, I’ll walk you through how this new plugin offers a significant upgrade for complex tasks. Ultimately, it gives developers fine-grained control over text manipulation.

Key Takeaways

  • Enhancing a Familiar Tool: This isn’t about replacing standard search, but rather enhancing it with the precision needed for professional editing, like case sensitivity and whole-word matching.
  • Full Programmatic Control: The new plugin gives developers complete control through a rich API. This allows you to find, navigate, and replace text programmatically.
  • Dynamic Configuration: You can also configure the plugin on initialization. This lets you set default behaviors to match your application’s needs.
  • Event-Driven Architecture: Additionally, the plugin fires events before and after actions. This allows you to hook in your own custom logic, like showing a confirmation dialog or saving the document.
  • Precision for Professional Work: The plugin makes it possible to perform delicate operations. These are crucial for brand consistency, technical accuracy, and legal documents.

Why Your Web App Needs an Efficient Text Correction Tool

For most day-to-day tasks, standard find and replace is perfect. However, when you’re working with complex documents inside a rich text editor, the stakes are higher. For a developer or content manager, for instance, the integrity of the document is everything.

Consequently, an efficient text correction tool for web apps becomes essential when users need to perform very specific tasks. A simple search, for example, can’t differentiate between a standalone word and one that’s part of another. This limitation can lead to costly errors in legal documents, technical manuals, or branded content. Indeed, these are the real-world scenarios that inspired us to build a smarter, more capable find and replace tool.

Streamline Your Content Editing Workflow

To show how the Froala 4.6 find and replace feature works, I built an interactive demo which you can run yourself by checking this github repo. Specifically, it has a control panel to test every method and an editor pre-filled with text. This setup lets you see the immediate result of every action. As a result, it clearly demonstrates how you can streamline your content editing workflow.

A good tool should adapt to your needs. The Find & Replace plugin is certainly configurable from the start.

const editorConfig = {
    heightMin: 400,
    pluginsEnabled: ['findReplace'],
    toolbarButtons: [
        ['findReplaceButton', 'bold', 'italic', 'underline', 'strikeThrough']
    ],
    // Plugin-specific configurations
    enableMatchCase: false,
    enableMatchWholeWord: false,
    showFindAndReplace: false,
    ...config
};

editor = new FroalaEditor('#froala-editor', editorConfig);

In the demo, you can toggle key options and re-initialize the editor to see their effect. In other words, this shows how you can set up the plugin’s default behavior to perfectly match what your application needs.

Practical Use Cases for Find and Replace

Beyond simple corrections, a powerful find and replace also opens up new possibilities for content management.

  • Bulk Text Replacement for Branding: Imagine your company rebrands a product. Using a rich text editor with bulk text replacement, you can update the old name to the new one across hundreds of articles. This can all be done in a single operation, thereby ensuring brand consistency.
  • Standardizing Terminology: In technical or legal documents, consistent terminology is critical. Therefore, you can enforce standards by replacing variations of a term with the official one.
  • Correcting Recurring Typos: Furthermore, if you discover a common typo that appears dozens of times in a long document, you can fix every instance at once with precision.
  • Updating Placeholders: Finally, for teams that use templates, find and replace can quickly populate placeholder text. For example, you can fill in [Client Name] or [Date] with the correct information.

How to Use Find and Replace in Froala

The core of the plugin is its API. For instance, methods like findMatches(), replaceMatch(), and getMatchesCount() give you the necessary hooks. You can then build your own custom interface around the plugin’s logic. In short, this is perfect for developers looking for a javascript editor find and replace all solution.

Moreover, a truly flexible tool also tells you when it’s performing tasks. The plugin fires several events that you can listen for to run your own code:

  • findandreplace.beforeClose
  • findandreplace.beforeOnReplace
  • findandreplace.onReplace
  • findandreplace.onReplaceAll

For example, you could use the beforeOnReplace event to show a custom confirmation message. Alternatively, you could use onReplaceAll to automatically save the document. Ultimately, this approach turns the plugin from a simple feature into a fully extensible part of your application. For a complete guide, you can also check out the official Find and Replace documentation.

Putting the Power in Your Hands

Our goal with this new plugin wasn’t to reinvent the wheel, but rather to give it precision steering. Specifically, we’ve built upon the familiar concept of find and replace. This gives developers the robust, controllable API they need to handle sophisticated text manipulation with confidence. Since this has been a long-requested feature, I’m excited that we can finally offer a solution that is both powerful and easy to integrate.

To learn more about this and other new features, you can read our latest release blog post. In the meantime, I encourage you to play with the demo, explore the code, and see how you can bring this new level of control to your own projects.

Froala 4.6.0: New Table Editing Features, React 19 Compatibility, and Find & Replace Plugin

Froala Editor 4.6 is here, and it’s packed with exciting new features that will elevate your content creation workflow. From advanced table editing capabilities to React 19 compatibility and the official release of the Find & Replace plugin, this update is a important for developers and content creators alike.

Read on to discover the fantastic improvements that will elevate your content creation workflow.

Key Takeaways

  • Total Table and Cell Customization
  • Stable and Powerful Find & Replace
  • Full React 19 Compatibility
  • Enhanced Workflow and Accessibility
  • New Developer Customization Options

4.6 release with table improvements and React 19 support

What’s New

Find & Replace Graduates from Beta

The Find & Replace plugin is now an official, stable feature. This powerful tool gives developers and content creators a seamless way to search for and modify text across an entire document.

Key Benefits

  • Efficient Editing: Quickly locate and replace text throughout your document
  • Comprehensive Search: Support for case-sensitive and case-insensitive searches
  • Flexible Replacement: Replace single or multiple occurrences of text
  • Intuitive User Interface: Simple and clean design that integrates smoothly with the Froala Editor

Use Cases

  • Content Editing: Streamline large document modifications
  • Localization: Easily replace text during translation processes
  • Compliance and Consistency: Ensure uniform terminology across documents

Important Notes

  • Compatible with all major browsers
  • Works across different content types (rich text, markdown)
  • Minimal performance overhead
  • Fully customizable to match your application’s design

Upgrade to Froala Editor 4.6 to experience the full power of the Find & Replace plugin and enhance your content editing workflow.

React 19 Compatibility; Integrate with the Latest Ecosystem

Froala Editor’s React SDK is now fully updated to support React 19. This ensures you can leverage the latest features and performance improvements in your modern React applications.

Key Benefits of React 19 Support

  • Future-Proofing: Immediate compatibility with the latest React version
  • Performance Improvements: Leverage new rendering optimizations in React 19
  • Enhanced Developer Experience: Smooth integration with modern React applications
  • Zero-Configuration Setup: Plug-and-play support for React 19 projects

What Developers Can Expect

  • Full compatibility with React 19’s new features and APIs
  • Maintained backward compatibility with previous React versions
  • Optimized rendering and component lifecycle management
  • Seamless integration with existing Froala Editor React implementations

Our React SDK continues to provide a robust, flexible solution for developers looking to integrate a powerful rich text editor into their React applications. Whether you’re building complex web applications or simple content management systems, Froala Editor’s React implementation ensures a smooth, efficient editing experience.

Upgrade now and stay ahead of the curve with Froala Editor’s latest React SDK update!

Introducing Advanced Table Properties

Froala Editor 4.6 completely transforms table editing. We are introducing two major upgrades; the Table Properties modal and the Cell Properties popup, giving you complete mastery over every aspect of your tables.

Table Properties Modal: Complete Customization at Your Fingertips

When users click the new “Table Properties” button in the table toolbar, a modal window opens, revealing a suite of advanced customization options:

Background Color

  • Select a background color for the entire table
  • Uses a color picker with full RGB and hex support
  • Applies color uniformly across all table cells.

Border Customization

  • Border Color: Choose a specific color for table borders
  • Border Width: Adjust border thickness (1-10px recommended)
  • Border Style: Select from multiple options:
    • Solid
    • Dotted
    • Dashed
    • Double
    • And more!

Dimensions and Sizing

  • Set table width and height using:
    • Pixels (px)
    • Percentages (%)
  • Maintains table responsiveness across different screen sizes

Table Alignment

  • Align table within the content area:
    • Left
    • Center
    • Right

Alternate Rows

  • Enable/disable alternating row colors
  • Improve table readability with visual separation
  • Perfect for data-heavy tables and complex layouts

Table Properties

Table Properties opened

Customizable Table Defaults: Enhanced Configuration Options

Froala Editor 4.6 introduces a comprehensive set of new configuration options that provide developers with granular control over default table properties during table insertion. These new configurations allow for precise customization of table appearance and behavior right from the initialization.

New Configuration Options

  • Table Alignment: Define the default alignment of newly inserted tables with a single configuration option.
  • Table Dimensions: Easily set a default height for new tables to maintain consistent layout.
  • Color Customization: Control the initial appearance of tables with hex color configurations.
  • Border Styling: Customize border properties to match your design requirements.
new FroalaEditor('.selector', {

  tableDefaultAlign: 'left',

  tableDefaultHeight: '200px',

  tableDefaultBGColor: '#000000',

  tableDefaultBorderColor: '#000000',

  tableDefaultBorderWidth: '2px',

  tableDefaultBorderStyle: 'dashed',

});

New Table Properties Methods

We’ve also introduced two new methods to programmatically manage table properties:

  • Show Table Properties: Programmatically open the table properties popup.
  • Hide Table Properties: Programmatically close the table properties popup.
new FroalaEditor('.selector', {
  events: {
    'table.inserted': function (table) {
      // Do something here.
      // this is the editor instance.
      console.log(this);
      this.table.showTableProperties();
    }
  }
});

Key Benefits

  • Comprehensive Customization: One-stop solution for table styling
  • User-Friendly Interface: Intuitive modal with clear options
  • Flexible Design: Supports various styling needs
  • Intelligent Validation: Prevents incorrect input
  • Responsive Styling: Maintains layout across devices
  • Developer Control: Precise management of table insertion properties
  • Intuitive API: Simple, straightforward configuration options and methods

Developer and User Experience

The new Table Properties feature represents our commitment to providing powerful, yet easy-to-use editing tools. Whether you’re creating documentation, reports, or complex data presentations, these enhanced table editing capabilities will streamline your workflow.

Introducing Advanced Table Cell Properties

We didn’t just improve table editing – we revolutionized it. The new Table Cell Properties provide users with unprecedented control over individual table cell styling and layout.

Cell Properties Toolbar Button

When one or multiple table cells are selected, a new “Cell Properties” button appears in the table toolbar. This button offers instant access to a powerful customization popup that consolidates multiple cell editing functionalities into one convenient location.

Cell Properties Popup: Comprehensive Cell Customization

The Cell Properties popup provides granular control over selected table cells, offering four key customization areas:

Background Color

  • Utilize the integrated color picker to select custom background colors.
  • Full RGB and hex color support
  • Apply colors to single or multiple selected cells

Padding Control

  • Set internal cell spacing with precision
  • Support for both pixel (px) and percentage (%) measurements
  • Adjust top, right, bottom, and left padding independently
  • Ensure optimal content layout and readability

Dimensions Configuration

  • Customize cell width and height
  • Flexibility to use pixels (px) or percentages (%)
  • Automatic pixel (px) conversion for numeric inputs
  • Maintain responsive design across different screen sizes.

Alignment Options

  • Horizontal alignment controls
  • Vertical alignment settings
  • Ensure content is perfectly positioned within each cell.

Table cell Properties

Table cell Properties opened

Key Benefits

  • Unified Interface: All cell properties in one convenient popup
  • Precise Customization: Granular control over cell styling
  • Flexible Measurements: Support for pixels and percentages
  • Intuitive Design: Simple, user-friendly interaction
  • Consistent User Experience: Streamlined cell editing workflow

Developer and User Experience

We introduced a new showCellPropertiesPopup() method that allows developers to programmatically display cell properties popups.

The new Table Cell Properties feature represents our commitment to providing powerful, yet intuitive editing tools. Whether you’re creating complex data tables, reports, or documentation, these enhanced cell editing capabilities will significantly improve your content creation workflow.

Enhanced Keyboard Interaction With Selected Table

In Froala Editor 4.6, we’ve significantly improved keyboard interaction when an entire table is selected, addressing previous limitations and providing a more intuitive, predictable editing experience.

Our latest update ensures that when a table is fully selected, all standard keyboard actions now function seamlessly and logically. Such as: Ensures smooth cursor movement while navigating with arrow keys.

Key Benefits

  • Improved User Experience: Eliminates frustrating interaction limitations
  • Intuitive Editing: Keyboard actions now behave predictably
  • Reduced Friction: Streamlines table editing and management
  • Consistent Interaction: Aligns with user expectations across different editing scenarios

Developer and User Impact

These keyboard interaction improvements represent our commitment to creating a more responsive, user-friendly rich text editing experience. By addressing these nuanced interaction challenges, we’ve made table editing more intuitive and efficient.

Enhanced Accessibility

In our latest release, we’ve implemented targeted accessibility improvements based on direct user feedback:

  • Enhanced Form Controls: Implemented aria-label attributes on checkbox fields to improve screen reader comprehension
  • Dynamic State Representation: Added aria-expanded attribute to accurately communicate expand/collapse states
  • Improved Visual Focus:
    • Introduced background color styles for hover and active states in image dropdowns.
    • Implemented clear focus indication for list dropdowns during keyboard navigation.
  • Keyboard Navigation Optimization:
    • Enabled seamless Tab key navigation within color palette popups
    • Ensured smooth focus transitions between interactive elements
  • Screen Reader Support:
    • Added aria-pressed attributes to tab buttons in specialized popups (Emoticons, Special Characters, Font Awesome)
    • Refined aria-pressed state management for popup trigger buttons

These refinements demonstrate our ongoing commitment to creating an accessible, user-friendly editing environment that meets diverse user needs.

Much More…

We have addressed various issues reported by our users to enhance the overall performance and stability of Froala Editor. These include:

  • Resolved the issue in MS Edge where suggested text does not get replaced correctly on autocorrect.
  • Modified the list creation logic to ensure that if the current line or selected lines have styles applied, those styles are preserved in the list content.
  • Resolved the issue in the Android WebView where when the character limit is set to N, and when typed over N characters, it exceeds the character limit.

Please find the complete changelog list here.

How Can I Update?

Don’t miss out on the benefits of the latest Froala WYSIWYG Editor 4.6 release. Update today and experience the enhanced editing features and improvements.

If you are using a plain JavaScript library or other framework, check the get started page to know how to download the latest Froala Editor release and how to include it in your project based on your preferred method.

If you are using a plain JavaScript library or other framework, follow the table below to learn how to download the latest Froala Editor release and include it in your project based on your preferred method.

Method How to download Include in your project
CDN
<!-- Include Editor stylesheet-->
<link href="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/[email protected]/css/froala_editor.pkgd.min.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" />

<!-- Include Editor JavaScript file-->
<script type="text/javascript" src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/[email protected]/js/froala_editor.pkgd.min.js"></script>
CDN (Always the latest version)
<!-- Include Editor stylesheet-->
<link href="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/froala-editor@latest/css/froala_editor.pkgd.min.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" />

<!-- Include Editor JavaScript file-->
<script type="text/javascript" src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/froala-editor@latest/js/froala_editor.pkgd.min.js"></script>
NPM
npm install froala-editor
<!--

Replace the {download-folder-path} in the following example with the path to the folder containing the stylesheet file e.g.

../css/froala_editor.pkgd.min.js

-->

<link href="{download-folder-path}/froala_editor.pkgd.min.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" />

<!--

Replace the {download-folder-path} with the path to the folder containing the JS file e.g.

../js/froala_editor.pkgd.min.js

-->

<script type="text/javascript" src="{download-folder-path}/froala_editor.pkgd.min.js"></script>
bower
bower install froala-wysiwyg-editor
NO Package Manager Download Froala WYSIWYG Editor files using the download form here.
Integrated with a Framework Select your preferred framework from 17 different popular frameworks.
Other options Check here for other options for using Froala WYSIWYG Editor in your project.

For Froala Editor Version 2 Users:

Follow this migration guide for step-by-step instructions on upgrading from version 2.

Try The Latest Froala Editor

Explore a variety of examples that demonstrate the functionality of the Froala HTML Editor.

Support and Feedback

We are dedicated to always offering the best possible experience for all our users. We believe this release, meant to enhance Typescript support, is a stepping stone towards that commitment. We encourage you to try this improved Typescript support and give us your valuable feedback. Your input is crucial for delivering continuous enhancement and meeting your evolving needs. Thank you for being a valuable part of our vibrant and growing community.
We would like to hear what you think of the latest release! Join us on our GitHub Community to chat with our product manager, developers, and other members of the Froala team.

Change Log

Get Started

  • You can download and start using Froala in less than five minutes following our get-started guide.

Technical Questions