Using Google Drive API to embed document editing functionality in my website

Other Questions Google docs
1

I’m building a web app where users need to create and modify documents. I found the Google Drive REST API but I’m confused about its capabilities.

From my research, this API lets me connect to user’s Drive accounts and work with their files. I can open, edit, and create new documents through my app.

But here’s what I really want to know - can I actually use Google’s own document editor interface in my application? Or do I need to build my own editing interface and just use the Realtime API for collaborative features?

I’m worried that Google expects developers to create their own editors while only providing the backend functionality through the Drive API. The Google Docs editor would be perfect for my needs and building something similar seems incredibly difficult.

If I have to make my own editor, does anyone know good open source document editors that work well with C# ASP.NET? Or is there some way to actually integrate Google’s editor directly into my website?

// Example of what I'm trying to achieve
function loadDocumentEditor(fileId) {
    const editorContainer = document.getElementById('doc-editor');
    
    // Can I somehow embed Google's editor here?
    driveAPI.loadEditor({
        containerId: 'doc-editor',
        documentId: fileId,
        permissions: ['read', 'write']
    });
}
2

unfortunately you can’t embed google’s editor directly - their api doesn’t work that way. but here’s a workaround i’ve used: create the doc through the drive api, then open it in a popup or iframe that points to the google docs url. it’s not perfect, but users get the full editing experience and changes sync back to drive automatically.

3

I faced a similar challenge two years ago when working on a document management system. Unfortunately, Google does not allow the embedding of their Docs editor in third-party applications. The Drive API and Apps Script provide file handling capabilities, but the editing interface remains within Google’s ecosystem. You can direct users to Google Docs through the Drive API for editing purposes and then fetch content back into your application, but this approach disrupts user experience. In my case with C# ASP.NET, I opted for TinyMCE and developed custom plugins for tailored functionality. This required considerable development effort but afforded us full control over the editing experience. CKEditor is another viable alternative, offering improved collaborative features. Ultimately, replicating the capabilities of Google Docs requires significant resources; thus, many developers either integrate existing solutions or utilize basic rich text editors for straightforward formatting.

4

Google’s document editor can’t be embedded into external websites - security and licensing won’t allow it. What you want doesn’t exist in their API. The Drive API handles files and the old Realtime API did collaboration, but you can’t access Google’s actual editing interface.

I’ve done tons of document integration projects. Most successful ones use a hybrid approach: create docs in Google Drive programmatically, redirect users to edit in Google Docs when they need to, then sync changes back to your app. You keep the powerful editing experience without breaking your workflow.

For ASP.NET apps that need embedded editing, I’ve had great luck with Quill.js frontend + SignalR for real-time collaboration. Way lighter than building a full Word-like editor but still gives you professional document editing. Learning curve’s reasonable and it should integrate smoothly with your existing C# backend.