Integrating CKEditor5 in Next JS: A How-To Guide

Welcome to our step-by-step tutorial on integrating CKEditor into your Next JS applications. CKEditor is a powerful WYSIWYG editor that enables users to effortlessly create rich and dynamic content. By combining CKEditor's flexibility with the efficient development environment of Next JS, you can take your content creation capabilities to the next level. In this tutorial, we will guide you through seamlessly integrating CKEditor into your Next JS projects, empowering you to provide a superior content editing experience for your users. Whether you are a seasoned Next JS developer or just getting started, this tutorial is designed to provide you with the knowledge and tools necessary to implement CKEditor effectively. So, let's dive in and unlock the potential of CKEditor in your Next JS applications.

Prerequisites

Before we begin, let's ensure you have the necessary prerequisites in place for integrating CKEditor into Next JS. We will cover the required knowledge and tools, including installing Next JS and basic project setup. Having these prerequisites in order will ensure a smooth integration process.

1. Basic knowledge of Next JS 13.
2. Installation of Next JS and basic project setup (You can follow this).

Setting up CKEditor

In this section, we will walk you through the steps to set up CKEditor in your Next JS application. We will cover the installation of the CKEditor package, configuring CKEditor within Next JS, and creating a CKEditor component. By the end of this section, you will have a functioning CKEditor instance integrated into your Next JS project.

One of the easiest ways to install and configure CKEditor is by using the CKEditor Online Builder, which allows you to customize and build a tailored CKEditor package.

Here's how you can proceed with the installation and setup process:

1. Visit the CKEditor Online Builder website (https://ckeditor.com/ckeditor-5/online-builder/).
2. Customize your CKEditor package by selecting the desired features, plugins, and language support.
3. Once satisfied with your selections, click on the "Build" button to generate the customized CKEditor package.
4. Download the generated package, which will contain the necessary CKEditor files.

Now that you have your customized CKEditor package, let's move on to the Next JS integration steps:

1. Create a new Next JS project or navigate to your existing project.

2. Now paste the downloaded folder (Unzip First) into the root directory of your project.

   Note: The directory with the editor’s build cannot be placed inside the src/ directory because Node could return an error:
   
   FATAL ERROR: Ineffective mark-compacts near heap limit Allocation failed - JavaScript heap out of memory

3. Now, add the package located in the ckeditor5 directory as a dependency of your project:

   BASH

   yarn add file:./ckeditor5

4. Now, import the build in your application:

import React, { Component } from "react";
import Editor from "ckeditor5-custom-build/build/ckeditor";
import { CKEditor } from "@ckeditor/ckeditor5-react";
const editorConfiguration = {
  toolbar: ["bold", "italic"],
};
class App extends Component {
  render() {
    return (
      <div className="App">
        <h2>Using CKEditor 5 from online builder in React</h2>
        <CKEditor
          editor={Editor}
          config={editorConfiguration}
          data="<p>Hello from CKEditor 5!</p>"
          onReady={(editor) => {
            // You can store the "editor" and use when it is needed.
            console.log("Editor is ready to use!", editor);
          }}
          onChange={(event, editor) => {
            const data = editor.getData();
            console.log({ event, editor, data });
          }}
          onBlur={(event, editor) => {
            console.log("Blur.", editor);
          }}
          onFocus={(event, editor) => {
            console.log("Focus.", editor);
          }}
        />
      </div>
    );
  }
}
export default App;

By following these steps, you will have successfully installed and configured CKEditor in your Next JS project using the CKEditor Online Builder. Now you're ready to create a CKEditor component and start integrating it into your application.

Note

If you prefer alternative installation methods or want to explore other CKEditor customization options, refer to the official CKEditor documentation for detailed instructions.

Let's move on to the next section and create a CKEditor component within Next JS.

Advanced CKEditor functionalities in Next JS:

CKEditor offers advanced features and functionalities that can take your content editing experience to the next level. We will explore working with CKEditor plugins and extensions and extending CKEditor with custom functionality. This section will unlock the advanced capabilities of CKEditor within your Next JS applications.

1. Adding Plugins and Features:

   CKEditor offers a wide range of plugins and features that can enhance the editing experience. You can add plugins for functionalities like image uploading, spell checking, or code syntax highlighting. To add a plugin, follow these steps:

   1. Visit the CKEditor Plugin Repository (Features Overview | CKEditor 5) to explore available plugins.
   2. Download the desired plugin and copy its files into your project's CKEditor folder.
   3. Import the plugin in your CKEditor component file and configure it according to its documentation.

2. Styling and Theming CKEditor:

   You can customize the appearance of CKEditor to match your application's design. CKEditor provides CSS customization options, allowing you to modify the editor's styles or apply custom themes. Here's how you can style and theme CKEditor:

   1. Create a custom CSS file in your project and define your desired styles.

   2. Import the CSS file into your Next JS project or reference it directly in your CKEditor component.

   3. Apply the custom styles to CKEditor by adding appropriate classes or modifying the CKEditor configuration.

      You can follow the steps here.

      You can follow this tutorial (Theme customization - CKEditor 5 Documentation). Or here is a pre-setup dark theme.

3. Handling Custom Toolbar Options:

   The CKEditor toolbar provides a set of editing options for users. You can customize the toolbar by adding or removing buttons, rearranging them, or creating custom toolbar configurations. To handle custom toolbar options, follow these steps:

   1. Configure the CKEditor toolbar in your CKEditor component file.
   2. Use the CKEditor toolbar configuration options to define the toolbar's button layout and functionality.
   3. Specify which toolbar configuration to use when initializing CKEditor.

By leveraging these customization options, you can create a tailored editing experience that aligns perfectly with your application's requirements.

Warning

Remember, when customizing CKEditor, it's essential to consider user experience, performance, and compatibility with Next JS. Ensure that any customizations or additional plugins you add are thoroughly tested and optimized to provide a smooth editing experience for your users.

In the next section, we will explore how to integrate CKEditor with Next JS forms, enabling users to input and edit content seamlessly.

Best practices and tips:

To ensure a smooth and optimized integration, we will provide you with best practices and tips for integrating CKEditor into Next JS. This section will cover topics such as optimizing CKEditor performance, security considerations, and accessibility guidelines. Following these best practices will enhance the overall user experience and ensure robust implementation.

1. Optimize CKEditor Performance:
   • Load CKEditor asynchronously to prevent blocking the main rendering process.
   • Utilize code-splitting techniques to load CKEditor only when necessary.
   • Configure CKEditor to load only required plugins and features, reducing unnecessary overhead.
   • Minify and compress CKEditor files for faster loading times.
   • Implement caching mechanisms to store CKEditor assets locally for subsequent page loads.
2. Security Considerations:
   • Sanitize and validate user-generated content before storing or rendering it.
   • Implement content filtering and whitelisting to prevent malicious code injection.
   • Configure CKEditor's content security settings to restrict certain HTML tags, attributes, or scripting capabilities.
   • Stay updated with CKEditor's security patches and updates to address any identified vulnerabilities promptly.
3. Accessibility Guidelines:
   • Ensure CKEditor is accessible to users with disabilities by following WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) standards.
   • Provide keyboard navigation support and proper focus management within the CKEditor interface.
   • Include alternative text for images and captions for multimedia content.
   • Use semantic markup and appropriate ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) attributes for enhanced accessibility.
4. Documentation and User Guidance:
   • Document the CKEditor integration process, including installation instructions and configuration options.
   • Provide clear instructions for developers to customize and extend CKEditor according to the project's requirements.
   • Offer user guides and tutorials for content authors to effectively use CKEditor's features.
   • Create a knowledge base or FAQ section to address common issues and troubleshooting tips.
5. Testing and Compatibility:
   • Test CKEditor integration across different browsers and devices to ensure consistent behaviour and compatibility.
   • Perform cross-browser testing for various functionalities, including content input, formatting, and media embedding.
   • Consider responsive design and test CKEditor's performance on different screen sizes.

By following these best practices, you can optimize CKEditor integration, enhance security, promote accessibility, and ensure a robust and user-friendly content editing experience within your Next JS application.

In the concluding section, we will recap the key points covered in this tutorial and encourage you to explore CKEditor's potential further.

Conclusion:

Congratulations! You have successfully completed our comprehensive tutorial on integrating CKEditor into your Next JS applications. Throughout this guide, we explored the step-by-step process of integrating CKEditor, customizing its features, integrating it with Next JS forms, and implementing advanced functionalities. By harnessing the power of CKEditor, you can empower your users to create and edit rich content seamlessly within your Next JS projects.

We covered the importance of leveraging the CKEditor Online Builder to customize and generate a tailored CKEditor package. This approach allows you to include specific plugins, features, and language support that align with your project requirements.

Furthermore, we delved into customizing CKEditor by adding plugins and features, styling and theming the editor, and handling custom toolbar options. These customization options give you the flexibility to tailor CKEditor's functionality and appearance to meet the unique needs of your application.

We also explored how to integrate CKEditor with Next JS forms, enabling users to input and edit content effortlessly. By following the steps outlined, you can seamlessly incorporate CKEditor into your forms, manage form submissions, retrieve data, and validate the content.

Additionally, we provided you with best practices to optimize CKEditor performance, ensure security, adhere to accessibility guidelines, and emphasized the importance of thorough testing across different browsers and devices.

Now equipped with this knowledge, it's time to explore and unleash the full potential of CKEditor in your Next JS projects. Whether you're building a blog, a content management system, or an online collaboration platform, CKEditor's capabilities will enhance the content creation and editing experience for both you and your users.

Remember to refer to the official CKEditor documentation for additional resources, updates, and community support as you continue to work with CKEditor and Next JS.

Thank you for joining us on this journey to integrate CKEditor in Next JS. We hope this tutorial has provided valuable insights, inspired your creativity, and empowered you to build exceptional content-driven applications. Happy coding!