Maximizing Efficiency: A Complete Guide to Using React CKEditor

CKEditor is a popular WYSIWYG editor that can be integrated into various web applications. It provides a rich text editor component that can be used in a React application. This editor component for React, known as ckeditor5 react, is the official React component for CKEditor 5. It is a powerful tool that allows users to create and edit content in a user-friendly way.

Installation and Setup of CKEditor in a React Project

To start using CKEditor in your React project, you need to install it first. The following command npm install --save @ckeditor/ckeditor5-react @ckeditor/ckeditor5-build-classic will install the necessary dependencies. This command installs both the CKEditor 5 build and the React component provided by CKEditor.

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1npm install --save @ckeditor/ckeditor5-react @ckeditor/ckeditor5-build-classic
2

After installing the necessary packages, you can import CKEditor into your React component using the import statement.

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1import CKEditor from '@ckeditor/ckeditor5-react';
2import ClassicEditor from '@ckeditor/ckeditor5-build-classic';
3

Creating a React App with CKEditor

You can use the create-react-app command to create a React app with CKEditor. This command creates a new React application with all the necessary files and dependencies. After creating the React app, you can integrate CKEditor into your application.

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1npx create-react-app my-app
2cd my-app
3npm install --save @ckeditor/ckeditor5-react @ckeditor/ckeditor5-build-classic
4

In your React component, you can use the CKEditor component and pass the ClassicEditor as a configuration option.

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1import React, { Component } from 'react';
2import CKEditor from '@ckeditor/ckeditor5-react';
3import ClassicEditor from '@ckeditor/ckeditor5-build-classic';
4
5class App extends Component {
6    render() {
7        return (
8            <div className="App">
9                <CKEditor
10                    editor={ ClassicEditor }
11                    data="<p>Hello from CKEditor 5!</p>"
12                    onInit={ editor => {
13                        // You can store the "editor" and use when it is needed.
14                        console.log( 'Editor is ready to use!', editor );
15                    } }
16                    onChange={ ( event, editor ) => {
17                        const data = editor.getData();
18                        console.log( { event, editor, data } );
19                    } }
20                    onBlur={ ( event, editor ) => {
21                        console.log( 'Blur.', editor );
22                    } }
23                    onFocus={ ( event, editor ) => {
24                        console.log( 'Focus.', editor );
25                    } }
26                />
27            </div>
28        );
29    }
30}
31
32export default App;
33

Understanding the Rich Text Editor Component in React

The rich text editor component in React, provided by CKEditor, is a powerful tool that allows users to create and edit content in a user-friendly way. This component provides various features, such as text formatting, image insertion, and link creation. The CKEditor component in React is highly customizable and can be configured to suit the needs of your application.

Implementing CKEditor CKEditor5 React in Your Project

To implement CKEditor CKEditor5 React in your project, you need to import the CKEditor component and the ClassicEditor from the CKEditor package. The CKEditor component is a wrapper around the ClassicEditor, providing rich text editing functionality.

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1import CKEditor from '@ckeditor/ckeditor5-react';
2import ClassicEditor from '@ckeditor/ckeditor5-build-classic';
3

You can then use the CKEditor component in your React component, passing the ClassicEditor as a prop to the CKEditor component. You can also pass other props, such as data for the initial data, and event handlers, such as onInit, onChange, onBlur, and onFocus.

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1<CKEditor
2    editor={ ClassicEditor }
3    data="<p>Hello from CKEditor 5!</p>"
4    onInit={ editor => {
5        console.log( 'Editor is ready to use!', editor );
6    } }
7    onChange={ ( event, editor ) => {
8        const data = editor.getData();
9        console.log( { event, editor, data } );
10    } }
11    onBlur={ ( event, editor ) => {
12        console.log( 'Blur.', editor );
13    } }
14    onFocus={ ( event, editor ) => {
15        console.log( 'Focus.', editor );
16    } }
17/>
18

Using the Classic Editor in CKEditor 5

The Classic Editor in CKEditor 5 is a traditional, toolbar-based editor. It is one of the many editor types available in CKEditor 5. The Classic Editor provides rich features, including text formatting, image insertion, and link creation.

To use the Classic Editor, import it from the CKEditor package and pass it as a prop to the CKEditor component.

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1import ClassicEditor from '@ckeditor/ckeditor5-build-classic';
2
3<CKEditor editor={ ClassicEditor } />
4

Getting Data from CKEditor in React

To get data from CKEditor in React, you can use the editor.getData() method. This method returns the data currently present in the editor.

You can call this method in the onChange event handler, which is triggered whenever the data in the editor changes.

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1onChange={ ( event, editor ) => {
2    const data = editor.getData();
3    console.log( { event, editor, data } );
4} }
5

Adding Plugins to CKEditor in React

CKEditor 5 allows you to add plugins to enhance the editor's functionality. Many plugins are available for text formatting, image insertion, and link creation.

To add a plugin, you need to import it and add it to the configuration of the CKEditor component.

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1import Image from '@ckeditor/ckeditor5-image/src/image';
2
3<CKEditor
4    editor={ ClassicEditor }
5    config={ {
6        plugins: [ Image ],
7    } }
8/>
9

Customizing CKEditor in React with CSS

You can customize the appearance of CKEditor in React using CSS. For example, you can change the border radius of the editor.

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1.ck.ck-editor__editable {
2    border-radius: 10px;
3}
4

This CSS rule changes the border radius of the editable area of the editor to 10 pixels.

Testing Your React Application with CKEditor

Testing is a crucial part of any application development process. For a React application with CKEditor, you can use the npm run test command to start the testing process. This command runs the test runner in the interactive watch mode, allowing you to see the results of your tests in real-time.

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1npm run test
2

To ensure your application works as expected, you should write tests for all the functionalities provided, including those related to the CKEditor component.

Building and Deploying Your React App with CKEditor

Once you have developed and tested your React application with CKEditor, you can build it for production using the npm run build command. This command creates a build directory with a production-ready version of your application.

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1npm run build
2

After building your application, you can deploy it to the hosting platform of your choice. Make sure to follow the deployment instructions provided by your hosting platform.

Understanding the Release Process of Your React App with CKEditor

The release process of a React app with CKEditor involves several steps, including testing, building, and deploying the application. Before releasing a new version of your application, you should run tests to ensure that all functionalities work as expected. You should also build a production-ready version of your application using the npm run build command. Finally, you should deploy the new version of your application to your hosting platform.

Troubleshooting Common Issues in React CKEditor Implementation

You may encounter some common issues while implementing CKEditor in a React application. For example, you may get an error if you try using a plugin not included in the CKEditor build. In such cases, you should check the CKEditor documentation and ensure you use the correct build and plugins.

Comparing CKEditor with Other Rich Text Editors for React

CKEditor is one of the most popular rich text editors for React, but it is not the only one. Other rich text editors include Draft.js, Slate, and Quill. Each of these editors has its strengths and weaknesses, and the best one for your application depends on your specific requirements.

Conclusion: The Power of CKEditor in React Applications

In conclusion, CKEditor is a powerful tool for adding rich text editing capabilities to your React applications. It provides a wide range of features, is highly customizable, and can easily integrate into a React application. Whether you are building a blog, a content management system, or any other application that requires rich text editing, CKEditor is a great choice.