A WYSIWYG editor is a digital workspace where you can make changes to a document or web page, and it immediately displays how it will look once it's published.
How Does It Work?
A WYSIWYG editor simplifies the web design process by allowing users to design their pages visually, generating the necessary code automatically, and previewing the final result. This process mirrors the building of a house, where one visually designs the layout, has machines or skilled laborers implement the design, and then inspects and adjusts the final construction.
- Visual Layout Design: The user begins by visually designing the layout of the page. In our analogy, this is equivalent to deciding where to place the windows, doors, and walls in a house. This design phase often involves dragging and dropping elements on a canvas or adjusting them on a grid.
- Conversion to Code: Once the user has designed the layout, the WYSIWYG editor automatically generates the necessary code to implement the design. This is similar to the machine in the analogy that can automatically place and arrange elements based on your visual design. In the case of a WYSIWYG editor, this code is usually in the form of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
- Preview and Adjust: After the code is generated, the WYSIWYG editor will show a preview of how the page will appear on a web browser. The user can then make adjustments to the design if necessary. This step corresponds to inspecting and adjusting elements in a house once they've been placed.
- Additional Functionality: Besides the basic design, a WYSIWYG editor often allows for the addition of extra functionalities, such as animations, interactive forms, or multimedia content. This is similar to adding extra features to a house, like security systems, air conditioning, or smart home technology.
- Finalization: Once the design and functionality are in place, the user can finalize the web page and publish it to the web. In the house analogy, this is the equivalent of finishing construction and moving into the house.
Why Use a WYSIWYG Editor?
A WYSIWYG editor enables users with varying levels of technical expertise to easily create and manage visually appealing digital content, such as websites, blog posts, or online portfolios, without the need for coding skills. By providing a real-time preview of the final output, it streamlines the design process, making it faster and more efficient for professionals and individuals alike to achieve their desired results.
Web Designer
A web designer can use a WYSIWYG editor to quickly prototype and visualize a website design. They can drag and drop elements, adjust the layout, and experiment with color schemes in real time. The generated code can then be fine-tuned to match the specific design requirements.
Small Business Owner
A small business owner wants to create a website for their store without the expense of hiring a professional web developer. They can use a WYSIWYG editor to easily create their own website by selecting templates, adding text and images, and arranging elements to create a polished online presence.
Content Creator/Blogger
A content creator who wants to publish a blog post with images, videos, and interactive content can use a WYSIWYG editor to create visually appealing content without needing to know HTML or CSS. They can easily format text, add media, and preview the final result before publishing it on their blog.
Marketing Manager
A marketing manager needs to create and update landing pages for their company's various campaigns. They can use a WYSIWYG editor to quickly design and implement landing pages with attention-grabbing visuals and compelling calls-to-action. The real-time preview allows them to iterate and refine the design until it's just right.
Educator
An educator wants to create interactive online learning materials for their students. They can use a WYSIWYG editor to create multimedia-rich lessons with embedded videos, interactive quizzes, and engaging visuals. They can preview the content to ensure it displays properly across different devices.
Personal Portfolio
An artist, photographer, or designer wants to showcase their work in an online portfolio. They can use a WYSIWYG editor to create a visually striking portfolio website that highlights their work. They can easily add new pieces and update their portfolio as their body of work grows.
Types of WYSIWYG Editors
Web Design Editors
These editors allow users to design and build websites without having to write HTML, CSS, or JavaScript code. Examples include Webflow, Framer, and more.
Document Editors
This category includes word processors that show the text, formatting, and layout on-screen as it will appear in the final output. Examples are Microsoft Word, Google Docs, and Apple Pages.
Desktop Publishing Editors
These editors are used for creating print or digital media, such as brochures, newsletters, and e-books. Adobe InDesign, QuarkXPress, and Scribus are some examples.
Presentation Editors
These are used to create visual presentations, often in the form of slideshows. Examples include Microsoft PowerPoint, Google Slides, and Apple Keynote.
Content Management System (CMS) Editors
Many CMS platforms, like WordPress, Joomla!, and Drupal, offer WYSIWYG editors as part of their core functionality or as plugins. These editors allow users to create and edit content without needing to know HTML or other web technologies.
Rich Text Editors
These editors are often embedded in web applications to enable users to format and style text in a user-friendly manner. Examples include CKEditor, TinyMCE, and Summernote.
Form Builders
These are typically used to create web forms or surveys. Examples include Google Forms, Typeform, and SurveyMonkey.
No-Code App Builders
These are platforms that allow users to create web and mobile applications without writing any code. These platforms often use drag-and-drop interfaces, visual design tools, and pre-built components to make app creation accessible to non-developers. Examples include Bubble and Glide.
Functionality of a WYSIWYG Editor
It offers a range of features, including formatting, previewing, media management, responsive design, collaboration, and publishing, making web design accessible to both non-coders and experienced developers.
Creating and Editing Content
WYSIWYG editors allow users to create and edit content such as text, images, and multimedia elements with ease. They enable users to insert and manipulate text, change fonts, font sizes, colors, and text styles such as bold, italic, underline, etc. Users can also insert and edit images, videos, audio, and other media content, and customize their positioning and display properties.
Formatting
These editors provide tools for formatting the layout of the content. Users can add and manipulate various elements such as headings, paragraphs, lists (ordered or unordered), tables, and block quotes. They can also adjust spacing, line height, and other text and layout properties.
Previewing
WYSIWYG editors have a preview mode that enables users to see how the content will appear once it's published. This feature helps users check and adjust the design, layout, and appearance of the content in a live environment before it goes live.
Code Generation
As users create and edit content visually, WYSIWYG editors generate the corresponding HTML, CSS, and JavaScript code in the background. This allows users without coding skills to design web pages effortlessly. For those who have coding knowledge, most editors also offer a code view where users can manually edit the generated code.
Page Management
These editors often provide tools for managing pages and the overall website structure. Users can create, delete, and organize pages, set navigation menus, and arrange the content hierarchy. This includes assigning parent and child pages, arranging pages in categories, and adding tags.
Media Management
WYSIWYG editors usually come with media libraries or media management tools. Users can upload, store, and organize their media files, such as images, videos, and audio clips. They can also link to external media sources and embed multimedia elements from popular platforms like YouTube, Vimeo, and SoundCloud.
Responsive Design
Most modern WYSIWYG editors offer tools for creating responsive designs. Users can preview how their content will look on different screen sizes (desktop, tablet, mobile) and make adjustments to ensure their design is compatible with various devices.
Templates and Themes
These editors often provide pre-designed templates and themes, which users can customize to create unique designs quickly. These templates can include layouts, color schemes, typography, and other design elements.
Collaboration and Versioning
Some WYSIWYG editors have built-in collaboration tools, allowing multiple users to work on the same document or web page simultaneously. They may also offer versioning features, where users can save and revert to previous versions of their content.
Publishing and Exporting
Once the content is ready, WYSIWYG editors provide options for publishing it online or exporting it to various file formats (e.g., HTML, PDF). Users can also schedule content to be published at specific times.
Plugins and Extensions
Many WYSIWYG editors support plugins or extensions, allowing users to extend their functionality and integrate them with other tools and services. Plugins can add features like e-commerce, SEO optimization, social media sharing, and more.
Accessibility
WYSIWYG editors often have features to ensure that the content is accessible to people with disabilities. This includes options for adding alternative text to images, ensuring proper contrast and font sizes, and making sure that the content can be navigated with a keyboard.
WYSIWYG Editor Examples
WordPress Gutenberg
Gutenberg is a built-in WYSIWYG editor for WordPress. It allows users to create and customize their website with a block-based approach, enabling you to add, remove, and rearrange different blocks of content easily.
CKEditor
CKEditor is a popular open-source WYSIWYG editor that can be integrated into web applications. It allows users to create rich text content in a visual way, without having to write or edit code.
Froala Editor
Froala Editor is a lightweight and highly customizable WYSIWYG HTML editor for web applications. It's known for its clean design, ease of use, and wide range of plugins and features.
Bubble
Bubble is a no-code web application development platform that allows users to build and host web applications without writing code. It features a WYSIWYG editor that lets users visually design their applications by dragging and dropping elements onto a canvas, setting up workflows, and defining database structures. Bubble's visual programming environment allows users to create complex, interactive web applications without having to learn or write traditional programming code.
Webflow
Webflow is a web design and development platform that empowers users to create responsive websites visually, without writing code. It features a powerful WYSIWYG editor that allows designers to create layouts, add content, and style elements with a user-friendly interface. Webflow also provides advanced features like CSS styling, animations, and interactions. Once the design is complete, Webflow can generate clean, production-ready HTML, CSS, and JavaScript code, making it easier for developers to work with. Webflow also offers hosting services, enabling users to publish their websites directly from the platform.
WYSIWYG Editor Future Trends
- AI-Powered Assistance: AI and machine learning will play a crucial role in WYSIWYG editors, offering automated suggestions for design elements, content layout, and even personalized content generation based on user behavior and preferences.
- Improved Collaboration Features: WYSIWYG editors are likely to offer better collaboration features, enabling multiple users to work on a project simultaneously, providing real-time feedback, and tracking changes more efficiently.
- 3D Design and Animation: As 3D technology becomes more prevalent, WYSIWYG editors might incorporate features for creating and editing 3D designs and animations.
- Low-Code/No-Code Development: As the demand for custom applications increases, WYSIWYG editors that facilitate low-code or no-code development will become more popular, enabling non-technical users to create functional apps with minimal coding.