I’m looking for a JavaScript library that can handle text layout and formatting similar to what you see in word processors like Google Docs or Microsoft Word Online. I’ve heard that these applications don’t rely on standard browser features like designMode or contentEditable attributes. Instead they build their own custom text rendering systems from scratch.
Does anyone know if there are open source libraries that provide this kind of advanced text layout functionality? I’m specifically interested in something that can handle complex document formatting, text flow, and positioning without depending on the browser’s built-in editing features.
Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated!
I’ve hit this same wall before - it’s a real pain. Most libraries trying to do this are either half-baked or choke on big documents. Canvas-based rendering with custom text measurement worked for me, but you’ll need to nail the tricky stuff like cursor positioning and text selection across lines. I’d suggest looking at how the big rich text editors handle their complex features, then slowly move away from contentEditable as you build your own rendering. Just heads up - performance takes a hit, especially on mobile where it’ll be slower than native browser rendering.
Building custom text rendering engines is definitely complex. I’ve worked on document-heavy apps, and you should check out Quill.js architecture even though it uses contentEditable - their modular approach to formatting and document state is really sophisticated. For truly custom rendering, I’ve had good luck combining Canvas API with libraries like Konva.js for text positioning and layout calculations. The real challenge isn’t just rendering text but handling all the edge cases - line breaking, font metrics, cross-browser consistency. Performance becomes critical with large documents, so implement virtualization early if you’re planning substantial content. The browser’s native text handling exists for good reasons - replicating that from scratch requires serious investment in testing across different platforms and input methods.
i second fabric.js! it’s super flexible for canvas text. also, proseMirror is a beast in handling complex docs. even tho it relies on contentEditable, it’s architecture is def worth checkin out. good luck buildin your own thing!