Next.js 14: 5 Best Rich Text Editor With Examples The Ultimate Guide

Best Rich Text Editor for Next.js 14: The Ultimate Guide

Building rich text editing capabilities in your Next.js application can significantly enhance the user experience, whether you're creating a blog, CMS, or any app requiring advanced text input. With Next.js 14's release, developers can leverage the new features, performance upgrades, and the expanding React ecosystem to seamlessly integrate a powerful rich text editor.

Here’s the ultimate guide to selecting the best rich text editor for your Next.js 14 project:

1.Draft.js

• Overview:

• Developed by Facebook, Draft.js is a powerful framework for building rich text editors in React. It's built around the idea of creating an editor that handles rich text but also allows developers to extend the functionality as needed.

• Pros:

  • Full control over content and styling.
  • Modular architecture.
  • Highly customizable.
  • Integrates well with React components.
  Usage Example:

  
  

• npm install draft-js
  

"use client";
import React from "react";
import { Editor, EditorState } from "draft-js";
import "draft-js/dist/Draft.css";

const MyEditor = () => {
  const [editorState, setEditorState] = useState(() =>
    EditorState.createEmpty()
  );

  return (
    <div>
      <Editor editorState={editorState} onChange={setEditorState} />;
    </div>
  );
};

export default MyEditor;

2. Jodit-react.js

• Overview: Jodit is a lightweight, fast, and feature-rich JavaScript editor that provides a user-friendly interface for content editing. The jodit-react package makes it simple to use Jodit within React projects.

  Usage Example:

• npm i jodit-react

"use client";
import React from "react";
import JoditEditor from "jodit-react";
import "jodit-react/examples/app.css";

const MyEditor = () => {
  const editor = useRef(null);
  const [myContent, setMyContent] = useState(myLocalContent);
  const [config, setConfig] = useState({
    readonly: false,
    height: 600,
    toolbar: true,
    zIndex: -1,
  });
  const changeContent = (newContent) => {
    setMyContent(newContent);
  };

  return (
    <div>
      <JoditEditor
        ref={editor}
        config={config}
        value={myContent}
        tabIndex={1}
        onChange={changeContent}
      />
    </div>
  );
};

export default MyEditor;

3. Quill.js

• Overview: Quill is an open-source, simple-to-use WYSIWYG editor with a rich API for customization. It's lightweight and provides a clean, consistent user experience.

• Pros:

  • Easy to set up and use.
  • Built-in support for various content formats (bold, italic, links, images).
  • Very active community and support.

Usage Example:

npm install react-quill

"use client";
import React from "react";
import dynamic from 'next/dynamic';
import 'react-quill/dist/quill.snow.css';
const ReactQuill = dynamic(() => import('react-quill'), { ssr: false });

const MyEditor = () => {
  const [value, setValue] = useState('');

  return (
    <div>
      <ReactQuill value={value} onChange={setValue} />
    </div>
  );
};

export default MyEditor;

npm install @tiptap/react @tiptap/starter-kit

"use client";
import React from "react";
import { EditorContent, useEditor } from '@tiptap/react';
import StarterKit from '@tiptap/starter-kit';

const MyEditor = () => {
  const editor = useEditor({
    extensions: [StarterKit],
    content: '<p>Hello World!</p>',
  });

  return (
    <div>
      <EditorContent editor={editor} />;
    </div>
  );
};

export default MyEditor;

4. Slate.js

• Overview: Slate.js is a customizable framework for building rich text editors. It allows developers to fully control the experience and supports complex use cases like nested elements and collaboration.

• Pros:

  • Fully customizable.
  • Modular architecture similar to Draft.js.
  • Supports real-time collaboration features.

npm install slate slate-react

"use client";
import React from "react";
import { Slate, Editable, withReact } from "slate-react";
import { createEditor } from "slate";
import { useMemo, useState } from "react";

const MyEditor = () => {
  const editor = useMemo(() => withReact(createEditor()), []);
  const [value, setValue] = useState(initialValue);
  const initialValue = [
    {
      type: "paragraph",
      children: [{ text: "A line of text in a paragraph." }],
    },
  ];
  return (
    <div>
      <Slate editor={editor} value={value} onChange={setValue}>
        <Editable />
      </Slate>
    </div>
  );
};

export default MyEditor;

5. CKEditor 5

• Overview: CKEditor 5 is a full-featured, modern WYSIWYG editor offering a wide range of plugins and rich text functionalities. It’s ready to use out-of-the-box but highly customizable with a variety of extensions.

• Pros:

  • Out-of-the-box support for collaborative editing.
  • Built-in features like media embed, image editing, and markdown support.
  • Easy integration with popular frameworks like Next.js.

npm install @ckeditor/ckeditor5-react @ckeditor/ckeditor5-build-classic

"use client";
import React from "react";
import { CKEditor } from "@ckeditor/ckeditor5-react";
import ClassicEditor from "@ckeditor/ckeditor5-build-classic";

const MyEditor = () => {
  const editor = useMemo(() => withReact(createEditor()), []);
  const [value, setValue] = useState(initialValue);
  const initialValue = [
    {
      type: "paragraph",
      children: [{ text: "A line of text in a paragraph." }],
    },
  ];
  return (
    <div>
      <CKEditor
        editor={ClassicEditor}
        data="<p>Hello from CKEditor 5!</p>"
        onChange={(event, editor) => {
          const data = editor.getData();
          console.log({ event, editor, data });
        }}
      />
    </div>
  );
};

export default MyEditor;

Conclusion

Choosing the right rich text editor for your Next.js 14 project depends on your specific requirements:

• Quick Setup & Simplicity: Choose Quill.js or CKEditor for straightforward and reliable implementations.
• Highly Customizable & Complex Needs: Draft.js, Slate.js, and Tiptap... are perfect for developers looking to build custom or advanced text editing experiences.
• Modern UI & Performance: If sleek UI and lightweight performance are priorities, Froala Editor may be the best choice.

Each editor has its own strengths, so evaluate the trade-offs based on your use case, whether you’re looking for ease of use, advanced functionality, or a balance between the two.