How to Add Code Blocks in Your React App

In web development, a common requirement is to display code blocks with proper formatting and highlighting. Code blocks are a versatile tool that can be used for a variety of purposes, including showcasing code and improving user engagement.

library setup

First, create a React app and install the react-code-blocks library. This library is used to display code blocks in your app. You can install this library using npm, the package manager for Node.js. Open your terminal and navigate to your project directory. Then run the following command.

This will install react-code-blocks library in your project.

Adding code blocks to your project

After installing the react-code-blocks library, you are ready to get started. First, import the CodeBlocks component from the react-code-blocks library into your app. You can do this by adding the following code to your file.

In the above code, you are using the atom-one-dark theme, setting line numbers to start at 10, disabling line numbers, enabling line wrapping, and attaching a click handler. Are.

Using these props, you can customize the look and behavior of your code block to suit your needs.

Adding a Theme to Your Code Block

The react-code-blocks library provides a variety of built-in themes that can be used to customize the look of your code blocks. To use the built-in theme, you need to specify the theme name in the theme props. For example, to use the atom-one-dark theme, you would use the following code.

In addition to the built-in themes, you can also create custom themes by defining a JavaScript object that specifies the colors to be used for different parts of the code block. Here’s an example of what a custom theme object might look like.

Using built-in and custom themes, you can customize the appearance of your code blocks to suit your needs and the overall design of your app.

Add copyblock to your project

If you want to add copy functionality to your code block, you can use the CopyBlock component provided by the react-code-blocks library. To use this component, you also need to install the react-copy-to-clipboard library. Here’s how to add the CopyBlock component to your project.

By adding the CopyBlock component to your project, you can easily allow users to copy code from your code block to their clipboard.

Alternative ways to add code blocks

While using the react-code-blocks library is the most direct way to add code blocks to your React app, there are a few alternative methods you can use:

Adding syntax highlighting manually: If you don’t want to use a library, you can add syntax highlighting to your code manually using Tailwind CSS or normal CSS. This involves adding CSS classes to your code elements to apply the appropriate styles. While this method gives you more control over the styles, it can be time consuming to set up and maintain.

Using other libraries: There are many other libraries available that provide syntax highlighting for code, such as react-syntax-highlighter, prism-react-renderer and highlight.js. These libraries have different features and styles, so you can choose the one that best suits your needs.

While the react-code-blocks library is a great choice for most applications, these alternative methods can be useful in some situations. Ultimately, the method you choose will depend on your specific needs and preferences.

Improve user engagement with code blocks

By using code blocks to explain code, providing interactive coding examples, and creating visually appealing designs, you can enhance your users’ experience and keep them engaged with your website or application. Additionally, using features like CopyBlock and custom themes, you can make your React app even more functional and attractive.