Software Alternatives & Startups

VisualEditor VS Editor.js

Compare VisualEditor VS Editor.js and see what are their differences

VisualEditor

VisualEditor gives you the ability to edit without needing to learn wikitext markup, as is required by the default wikitext editor.

Rating
0 reviews
Editor.js

A block-styled editor with clean JSON output

Rating
0 reviews

Which is more popular?

Text Editors popularity
17% vs 83%
alternatives listed
23 vs 62

Base details

Website, pricing, platforms and company facts side by side.

VE
VisualEditor
Editor.js
Website mediawiki.org codex.so
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

VE
VisualEditor 5 features
Editor.js 7 features
  • User-Friendly Interface
    VisualEditor provides a WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) interface, making it more accessible for users who are not familiar with wiki markup language.
  • Real-Time Editing Feedback
    Changes are immediately visible, allowing users to see how their edits will appear on the page without the need to preview separately.
  • Reduces Entry Barrier
    By simplifying the editing process, VisualEditor invites more contributors who might be intimidated by traditional editing methods.
  • Improved Accessibility
    It enhances accessibility for people with disabilities, as navigating and editing are more straightforward with the visual cues provided.
  • Consistent Style Guide
    Helps maintain a consistent style across articles by embedding templates and standard formats directly into the editing process.

Possible disadvantages

  • Performance Issues
    VisualEditor can sometimes be slower to load and operate compared to the traditional wikitext editor, especially on large pages.
  • Limited Features
    While convenient, VisualEditor may lack some advanced features available in the traditional markup editor, restricting power users' capabilities.
  • Occasional Bugs
    As with any complex software, users may encounter bugs or glitches that disrupt the editing process.
  • Higher Resource Demand
    VisualEditor requires more computing resources, which can be problematic for users with older devices or slower internet connections.
  • Learning Curve for Advanced Users
    Experienced users of the traditional editor might find transitioning to VisualEditor challenging due to different workflows and controls.
  • Modular Architecture
    Editor.js is designed with a modular architecture, allowing users to add and remove tools (blocks) as needed, which provides flexibility and extensibility.
  • Block Style Editor
    The editor uses a block-style approach, where each type of content (paragraphs, images, videos, etc.) is treated as a separate block, making complex layouts easier to manage and edit.
  • Clean JSON Output
    Produces structured JSON data that is easy to parse and process, which is beneficial for storing content in a database or serving it via an API.
  • API Flexibility
    Offers a well-documented API that developers can use to create custom tools and extensions, enhancing the editor's functionality and adapting it to specific use cases.
  • Lightweight & Fast
    The editor is lightweight and performs well, offering a responsive experience for users, even on less powerful devices.
  • Open Source
    As an open-source project, Editor.js allows developers to contribute to its development and tailor it to their own needs without licensing fees.
  • Rich Plugin Ecosystem
    A variety of plugins are available that extend the core functionality of Editor.js, covering a wide range of use-cases from simple text editing to complex multimedia integration.

Possible disadvantages

  • Steep Learning Curve
    While powerful, the modular architecture can be confusing for new users who are not familiar with block-based editors.
  • Limited Built-In Tools
    Out-of-the-box, Editor.js provides only basic functionality, requiring additional plugins or custom development for more advanced features.
  • Dependency on JavaScript
    Editor.js heavily relies on JavaScript, which might be a limitation for environments where JavaScript is restricted or needs to be minimized.
  • Plugin Compatibility
    Since the ecosystem includes plugins developed by various contributors, there may be issues with compatibility or stability between different plugins.
  • Configuration Complexity
    Setting up and configuring Editor.js with all necessary tools and plugins can be time-consuming and complex, requiring a good understanding of JavaScript and its ecosystem.
  • Lack of Native Features
    Some features that are standard in other rich-text editors, like WYSIWYG capabilities, are not natively available in Editor.js, necessitating additional development.
  • Accessibility Concerns
    Ensuring the editor meets accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG) might require extra effort, as not all plugins and customizations may adhere to best practices.

Analysis

An editorial look at what each product does well and who it suits.

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VisualEditor
Editor.js

Overall verdict

  • VisualEditor is a solid, mature WYSIWYG editing tool for MediaWiki that lowers the barrier to wiki editing by removing the need to learn wikitext syntax, making it a good choice for wikis wanting to attract and retain non-technical contributors, though experienced wikitext editors may still prefer the traditional source editor for complex tasks.

Why this product is good

  • Provides a what-you-see-is-what-you-get (WYSIWYG) interface, making editing intuitive for users unfamiliar with wikitext markup
  • Officially developed and maintained by the Wikimedia Foundation, ensuring long-term support and integration with MediaWiki core
  • Lowers the learning curve for new editors, which helps increase contributor participation on wikis like Wikipedia
  • Supports real-time preview of formatting, tables, templates, media, and references without needing to memorize syntax
  • Includes collaborative and accessibility-friendly features such as citation tools, link suggestions, and special character insertion
  • Allows seamless switching between visual and source (wikitext) editing modes
  • Actively developed with regular updates, bug fixes, and community feedback incorporated via Wikimedia's development process
  • Free and open-source, consistent with the MediaWiki ecosystem's licensing

Recommended for

  • New or casual wiki contributors unfamiliar with wikitext syntax
  • Wikimedia projects and communities aiming to lower barriers to entry for editors
  • Organizations running internal wikis who want a more user-friendly editing experience
  • Non-technical staff or subject-matter experts contributing content without needing markup knowledge
  • Wiki administrators seeking to increase editor retention and reduce onboarding friction
  • Users who prefer visual formatting tools similar to word processors over raw markup editing

Overall verdict

  • Editor.js is considered a good choice for developers who need a flexible, modern content editing solution that prioritizes structured data. It is particularly beneficial for projects where content needs to be presented in various ways or integrated with complex data models. However, it might not be the best fit for those seeking a traditional, more intuitive text editing experience out-of-the-box.

Why this product is good

  • Editor.js is designed to be a block-styled editor, which provides a clean and flexible way to handle content. It focuses on modern use cases such as creating structured data content, offering a unique approach compared to traditional WYSIWYG editors. Its emphasis on separation of data and views makes it easy to present the content in different formats. Additionally, it offers a highly pluggable architecture, enabling developers to extend its functionality with custom blocks.

Recommended for

  • Developers building applications requiring structured data
  • Projects where content must be easily re-purposed or presented differently
  • Teams who benefit from a highly customizable and extendable editor
  • Use cases involving complex integrations with data-driven systems

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

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VisualEditor 1 video + Add
Editor.js 2 videos + Add

Side-by-side comparison of VisualEditor loading time

Editor.js - An Awesome Next Gen Block Styled Content Editor!

More videos

  • - umbraCoffee #079 - Editor.js, tide flows, and Codegarden blues

Category popularity

How often each product is chosen within a category, 0–100% relative to the other.

Score bands 0–20 21–40 41–50 51–60 61–100
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VisualEditor
Editor.js
17% 17%
83% 83%
100% 100%
0% 0%
21% 21%
79% 79%
100% 100%
0% 0%

User comments

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Reviews and articles

External articles and on-site reviews we used to compare the two products.

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VisualEditor no reviews yet
Editor.js no reviews yet

We have no reviews of VisualEditor yet. Be the first one to post

  • 14 Best Open Source WYSIWYG HTML Editors
    itsfoss.com · Sep 2023

    Editor.js gives you the perks of a block-style editor. The headings, paragraphs, and other items are all separate blocks, which makes them editable while not affecting the rest of the content.

Alternatives to VisualEditor and Editor.js

When comparing VisualEditor and Editor.js, you can also consider the following products.