Disappearing id and data-unique attributes in CKEditor5 can become a frustrating roadblock. You’ve meticulously added these attributes, expecting them to stay intact, only to discover they’ve mysteriously vanished after saving or processing your content. This scenario isn’t uncommon and can hinder your content management significantly—especially when you rely on these attributes for styling, JavaScript hooks, or tracking purposes. So, what exactly causes this issue, and how can we effectively resolve it?
The Problem with id and data-unique Attributes in CKEditor5
One common pitfall CKEditor5 users face involves disappearing HTML attributes, particularly id and data-unique. Often, developers attempt to assign these attributes directly to their <div> elements for styling purposes or JavaScript functionalities. Unfortunately, CKEditor5’s default behavior can wipe out these custom attributes after edits or saves.
This often leaves developers scratching their heads. For example, you might add a custom div tag:
<div id="content-area" data-unique="main-div">
Your editable content goes here.
</div>
After saving and reopening the editor, you notice your id and data-unique attributes have disappeared, leaving only:
<div>
Your editable content goes here.
</div>
Configuring CKEditor5 to Allow id and data-unique Attributes
CKEditor5 provides the GeneralHtmlSupport plugin to help tackle this attribute issue. You can configure allowed attributes directly within your editor configuration like this:
ClassicEditor.create( document.querySelector( '#editor' ), {
plugins: [ Essentials, Bold, Italic, GeneralHtmlSupport, Paragraph, ... ],
toolbar: [ 'bold', 'italic', 'undo', 'redo' ],
htmlSupport: {
allow: [
{
name: 'div',
attributes: {
id: true,
'data-unique': true,
class: true
}
}
]
}
} );
While this configuration is essential, developers often report that attributes like id and data-unique still don’t stay persistent after saving, leading them to question the completeness and stability of their setup.
Analyzing the Disappearing Attributes Issue
At its core, CKEditor5 sanitizes content when it is loaded into the editor or saved to ensure a clean editing experience and prevent potential security vulnerabilities. Attributes like id and data-unique can unintentionally become collateral damage during this sanitizing process.
Moreover, some CKEditor5 plugins or internal hooks—such as pasting, formatting, or autoformatting features—can trigger sanitization events that accidentally strip away your custom attributes.
How to Effectively Retain id and data-unique Attributes
Thankfully, there are several proven solutions to help ensure your custom attributes remain intact.
Solution 1: Enhancing the GeneralHtmlSupport Configuration
First, ensure you’re correctly configuring CKEditor5’s htmlSupport settings. Some developers forget to include broad enough allowance rules. Make sure you’re explicit:
htmlSupport: {
allow: [
{
name: /.*/, // Matches all HTML tags
attributes: {
id: true,
'data-unique': true,
class: true
}
}
]
}
Using a broader regex match like this explicitly permits these attributes on all relevant HTML elements, greatly minimizing attribute loss.
Solution 2: Custom Data Attribute Handling plugin
Another viable approach is creating or integrating a custom plugin explicitly handling your data attributes. Consider custom JavaScript hooks or plugins that explicitly re-add required attributes or prevent their deletion.
Here’s a basic example of how you might implement custom handling after editor initialization:
editor.model.schema.extend( '$block', { allowAttributes: [ 'id', 'data-unique' ] } );
editor.conversion.for( 'downcast' ).add( dispatcher => {
dispatcher.on( 'attribute:id', ( evt, data, conversionApi ) => {
const viewWriter = conversionApi.writer;
const viewElement = conversionApi.mapper.toViewElement( data.item );
if ( data.attributeNewValue ) {
viewWriter.setAttribute( 'id', data.attributeNewValue, viewElement );
} else {
viewWriter.removeAttribute( 'id', viewElement );
}
} );
dispatcher.on( 'attribute:data-unique', ( evt, data, conversionApi ) => {
const viewWriter = conversionApi.writer;
const viewElement = conversionApi.mapper.toViewElement( data.item );
if ( data.attributeNewValue ) {
viewWriter.setAttribute( 'data-unique', data.attributeNewValue, viewElement );
} else {
viewWriter.removeAttribute( 'data-unique', viewElement );
}
} );
});
Implementing custom downcast converters ensures your attributes are always correctly mapped from the model back to the DOM, avoiding unintended attribute loss.
Best Practices to Prevent Attribute Loss
Keeping your custom attributes intact doesn’t happen by accident. Follow these quick guidelines:
- Explicitly define allowed attributes in htmlSupport configuration settings.
- Use custom plugins or converters to manage attributes explicitly.
- Regularly test attribute persistence throughout the full content workflow.
- Monitor CKEditor5 updates closely, as some updates may impact attribute handling behavior.
- Backup editor configurations before updates to facilitate quick rollbacks if issues emerge.
Case Studies: Real-World Examples of CKEditor5 Attribute Issues
A recent Stack Overflow discussion documented a notable struggle with disappearing custom div attributes. Developers outlined their GeneralHtmlSupport configuration clearly, yet attributes continually vanished after saves. Upon detailed debugging, the issue was pinpointed to improper CKEditor5 model-to-view conversion, requiring custom downcast converters as highlighted above.
In another case study, detailed by a developer on CKEditor’s GitHub issue tracker, the solution involved setting up a broader htmlSupport rule alongside custom conversion code, resulting in attributes consistently sticking around, even after extensive editing.
Notably, these practical solutions also enhance SEO performance and overall user interface reliability by maintaining consistent data elements used for styling and interactivity.
Maintaining Consistent HTML Attributes is Crucial
Reliable retention of custom HTML attributes in CKEditor5 isn’t merely nice to have—it’s essential. Ensuring your editor correctly maintains these attributes directly impacts SEO performance, customization capabilities, user experience consistency, and efficiency of frontend development workflows.
Disappearing attributes in CKEditor5 can certainly feel daunting initially, but solutions like proper GeneralHtmlSupport configuration and custom implementations effectively address these challenges.
How has your experience been maintaining custom attributes in CKEditor5? Share your insights or questions to help the broader development community keep their editor attributes intact.
0 Comments