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Rainbow (Syntax Highlighting) VS prism.js

Compare Rainbow (Syntax Highlighting) VS prism.js and see what are their differences

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Rainbow (Syntax Highlighting) logo Rainbow (Syntax Highlighting)

Simple syntax highlighting library written in JavaScript.

prism.js logo prism.js

Prism is a lightweight, extensible syntax highlighter, built with modern web standards in mind.
Not present
  • prism.js Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-08-28

Rainbow (Syntax Highlighting) features and specs

  • Improved Code Readability
    Rainbow enhances code readability by applying distinct colors to different syntax elements, making it easier for developers to parse and understand the code structure quickly.
  • Customization
    Rainbow offers customizable themes, allowing developers to choose or create color schemes that suit their preferences and improve their coding experience.
  • Wide Language Support
    Rainbow supports a broad range of programming languages, making it versatile for developers working in multiple languages or projects.
  • No Dependencies
    The library does not rely on external dependencies, which simplifies integration into projects and reduces potential conflicts or load times.
  • Open Source
    As an open-source library, Rainbow allows developers to contribute to its development or modify it for personal use, promoting a collaborative and flexible environment.

Possible disadvantages of Rainbow (Syntax Highlighting)

  • Limited Customization Options
    While it offers theme customization, Rainbow may have limited configuration options compared to other more feature-rich syntax highlighting tools, particularly for users with specific needs.
  • Performance Overhead
    Similar to other client-side libraries, Rainbow adds some performance overhead, especially noticeable in large files or documents with extensive code snippets.
  • Maintenance and Updates
    Depending on its community and contributors, there might be delays in receiving updates or improvements compared to more actively maintained syntax highlighters.
  • Learning Curve
    For developers unfamiliar with integrating JavaScript libraries, there might be a slight learning curve to effectively implement and customize Rainbow in their projects.
  • Browser Compatibility
    Though a minor issue, there might be variances in how syntax highlighting appears across different web browsers, potentially affecting consistency.

prism.js features and specs

  • Lightweight
    Prism.js is designed to be a lightweight library, minimizing performance impact on the website. It is optimized for being small in size, which aids in faster loading times.
  • Easy to Use
    It is very easy to integrate Prism.js into any web project with minimal setup required. The instructions and implementation are straightforward, making it accessible for developers.
  • Theme Customization
    Prism.js supports custom themes, allowing developers to easily match syntax highlighting styles with the design of their website or application.
  • Extensible
    The library is modular with plugins and supports language extensions. This allows developers to add just the components they need, reducing bloat and improving performance.
  • Wide Language Support
    Prism.js supports a broad array of programming languages, making it versatile for projects that require syntax highlighting across multiple coding languages.

Possible disadvantages of prism.js

  • Basic Functionality
    Prism.js focuses on simple syntax highlighting and doesn't include advanced features like IDE-level code analysis or linting, which some users might expect.
  • Limited Plugin Ecosystem
    While there are several plugins available, the ecosystem isn't as extensive as some other larger projects, which may limit customization for more advanced use cases.
  • Lacks Built-in Line Highlighting
    Some alternative libraries offer built-in advanced line highlighting features, which are not included out of the box in Prism.js, requiring additional customization.
  • No Built-in Live Code Editing
    Prism.js doesn’t support live code editing natively, which may be a limitation for users needing an interactive coding environment, such as in educational tools.
  • Supports Web Only
    Prism.js is optimized specifically for web use, which might be a limitation if you need syntax highlighting for different environments or formats, like desktop applications.

Rainbow (Syntax Highlighting) videos

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prism.js videos

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Prism.js - How to show html css javascript code syntax on your own website

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Rainbow (Syntax Highlighting) and prism.js)

Rainbow (Syntax Highlighting)

prism.js

App Reviews
27 27%
App Reviews
73% 73
Customer Feedback
32 32%
Customer Feedback
68% 68
Marketing Tools
39 39%
Marketing Tools
61% 61
Documentation
30 30%
Documentation
70% 70

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, prism.js seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 20 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Rainbow (Syntax Highlighting) mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Rainbow (Syntax Highlighting) yet. Tracking of Rainbow (Syntax Highlighting) recommendations started around May 2025.

prism.js mentions (20)

  • Artisanal Handcrafted Git Repositories
    The site uses Astro (https://astro.build/) and the code blocks are generated using Shiki (https://shiki.style/). As Shiki generates the HTML and CSS at build-time instead of requiring runtime JS like alternatives like Prism (https://prismjs.com/#basic-usage), it's actually quite performant. I think it's unlikely that a couple of hundred lines with some empty spans in is going to cause performance issues – imo it's... - Source: Hacker News / 3 months ago
  • Build A Full-Stack Application With AnalogJS
    First step it to open src/app/app.config.ts, enable markdown file support, and add a syntax highlighter. You can pick between Prism or Shiki, both are great, but for this example, we’re rolling with Prism. - Source: dev.to / 5 months ago
  • Supercharge Your Projects: Must-Have JavaScript Plugins for Developers 🚀
    ✨ Explore Prism.js for more themes and plugins! - Source: dev.to / 7 months ago
  • SLATE Code editor with highlight
    This function receives a SLATE Node. I get the text of the "Node" With the text, I create the "tokens" with PRISMJS. I transform the "tokens" into Range. The "Ranges" have the className property with the information for the highlight. - Source: dev.to / 11 months ago
  • My OpenSource Blog that You Can Use Right Now
    For Code highlighting, I am using Prism.js. First I am loading the styles file inside the _app.tsx file and inside the CodeBlock component, I am loading the styling that gives us beautiful syntax highlights. - Source: dev.to / almost 2 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Rainbow (Syntax Highlighting) and prism.js, you can also consider the following products

highlight.js - Highlight.js is a syntax highlighter written in JavaScript. It works in the browser as well as on the server.

Shiki - A beautiful syntax highlighter based on TextMate grammar, accurate and powerful.

starry-night - This package is an open source version of GitHub’s closed-source PrettyLights project (more on that later).

Chroma (Syntax Highlighter) - Chroma takes source code and other structured text and converts it into syntax highlighted HTML, ANSI-coloured text, etc.

Re-Highlight - Re-Highlight is a powerful text syntax highlighting library.

Pygments - Generic syntax highlighter suitable for use in code hosting, forums, wikis or other applications...

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