CKEditor 4.5.9 / 3.6.6.2 / 2.6.11

Overview

CKeditor is an industry-leading, open-source WYSIWIG (What You See is What You Get) Text/HTML editor that provides full-featured functionality for even the most demanding web developers. By giving you a convenient interface in which to develop and format content this software greatly simplifies the process of creating webpages.

Installation

Installing CKEditor is just as easy as using it to create basic webpages. After running the wizard-guided setup file you should be up and running in just a couple of minute's time.

Interface

The interface of Ckeditor is perhaps its strongest advantage, providing an intuitive visual control panel in which you can perform almost every aspect of web content development. You can click on objects to maximize them into full-screen, resize various components of the interface with drag-and-drop functionality, and utilize the "show blocks" feature to make it easier to view each component of the content.

Pros

• Provides a plethora of formatting features, including basic and advanced styling, a wide spectrum of colors, real block-quoting, e-mail linking, and advanced linking

• Find and replace feature makes it easy to revise multiple errors or insert information throughout a page's content with a few clicks of the mouse

• Lets you utilize a variety of content types to enrich your web development efforts, including images, flash content, templates, and smiley faces

• Form creation feature gives you the ability to create custom forms for polls, tests, inquiries etc.

• Use print break points to ensure that the printed version of your webpage is just as appealing as the digital version

• Integrated spell checker automatically notifies you of spelling mistakes as you type

• Use the powerful context menu to quickly access integral features by right-clicking on items

• Lets you perform an unlimited amount of undos, so you never have to worry about making irreparable mistakes

• Element selector gives advanced users the ability to achieve greater control over HTML development

• Can be seamlessly integrated into most popular content management systems, including Drupal and Joomla! Alternatively, you can download the standalone version that can be used on your desktop

• Open-source functionality lets developers create plugins to enhance and extend the feature set

• Every aspect of the development toolbar can be customized to accommodate your preferences

• Offers supreme control over CSS styles, letting you adjust font size/face settings, and you can even specify which colors your publishers are able to use within the content of a page

Cons

• Novice users may find the interface to be a bit cluttered with formatting options. Fortunately, you can customize the toolbar to free up space if the features are too overwhelming.

Alternatives

Popular alternatives include TinyMCE and Aloha Editor both of which offer similar features. However, TinyMCE is the more popular of the two competitors, and is often included by default with many web hosting plans.

Conclusion

Whether you're a novice webmaster looking for an easier way to design webpages, or an advanced specialist who needs to improve productivity, CKeditor offers a suitable solution and makes a great addition to any developer's toolset.