Lexical Editor and Next JS

ONLINECAST

3 min read

·

02-09-2024

18

0

Share

Integrating Lexical Editor with Next.js: A Guide to Smooth Deployment

Lexical is a powerful JavaScript library for building rich text editors, and Next.js is a popular framework for building server-side rendered React applications. This combination can lead to fast and feature-rich user experiences, but integrating these two can present challenges, especially when it comes to server-side rendering and build processes. This article dives into a common issue encountered when deploying a Lexical editor within a Next.js application and explores solutions.

Understanding the "TypeError: Failed to execute 'observe' on 'MutationObserver'"

The error message "TypeError: Failed to execute 'observe' on 'MutationObserver': parameter 1 is not of type 'Node'" arises when Lexical attempts to initialize its MutationObserver, a mechanism for observing changes to the DOM, on an element that is not a valid DOM node. This typically happens during server-side rendering (SSR) or in situations where the Lexical editor's DOM element is not properly initialized.

Solutions & Analysis:

The issue highlighted in the Stack Overflow question stems from the way Lexical handles DOM interaction. Here's a breakdown of the solution and the reasoning behind it:

1. Server-side Rendering Considerations:

• Problem: Lexical relies heavily on DOM manipulation, and its core functionality hinges on a properly initialized DOM structure. During SSR, Next.js renders the components on the server without a fully functional browser environment, which can lead to conflicts when Lexical attempts to interact with the DOM.
• Solution: To prevent this error, it's crucial to ensure that the Lexical editor is only initialized after the client-side rendering is completed.

2. Client-side Initialization:

• Problem: The Stack Overflow example exhibits the incorrect use of the <LexicalComposer> component. It's being rendered within a server-side rendered component, which leads to the issue.
• Solution: The solution lies in leveraging React's lifecycle methods or a state-based approach to conditionally render the Lexical editor.

Implementation:

import { useState, useEffect } from 'react';
import { $getRoot } from "lexical";
import { useLexicalComposerContext } from "@lexical/react/LexicalComposerContext";
import { LexicalComposer } from "@lexical/react/LexicalComposer";
import { ContentEditable } from "@lexical/react/LexicalContentEditable";
import MyLexicalTheme from "../lexical-theme";
import ToolbarPlugin from "./ToolbarPlugin";
import { RichTextPlugin } from "@lexical/react/LexicalRichTextPlugin";
import { $generateHtmlFromNodes } from "@lexical/html";

// ... other imports

function LexicalEditorWrapper({ setMyCommentText, setEditorAndRootValuesInParent }) {
  const [initialized, setInitialized] = useState(false);
  const initialConfig = {
    namespace: "MyEditor",
    theme: MyLexicalTheme,
    onError,
  };

  useEffect(() => {
    if (typeof window !== 'undefined') {
      setInitialized(true);
    }
  }, []);

  return (
    <>
      {initialized && ( // Render LexicalEditor only on client-side
        <LexicalComposer initialConfig={initialConfig}>
          <div className="editor-container">
            <div className="editor-inner">
              <RichTextPlugin
                contentEditable={<ContentEditable className="editor-input" />}
                placeholder={
                  <div className="editor-placeholder">Enter some text...</div>
                }
              />
            </div>
          </div>
        </LexicalComposer>
      )}
    </>
  );
}

export default LexicalEditorWrapper;

Explanation:

1. State Management: We introduce a state variable initialized to track whether the Lexical editor is ready to be rendered.
2. Client-side Detection: The useEffect hook checks if the window object is available. This ensures that the code only runs on the client-side after the browser environment is fully loaded.
3. Conditional Rendering: The initialized state is used to conditionally render the <LexicalComposer> component. This prevents the error from occurring during server-side rendering because the component is only rendered after the browser environment is ready.

Additional Tips:

• Lexical Configuration: Ensure your Lexical configuration is correct and doesn't contain any errors that might conflict with the DOM initialization process.
• Use next/dynamic: Consider using Next.js' next/dynamic component to dynamically import the Lexical editor components. This can further optimize your application's load time and improve SEO by minimizing the initial JavaScript bundle size.

Conclusion:

Lexical Editor and Next.js can be a powerful combination for building sophisticated web applications with rich text editing capabilities. Understanding the nuances of server-side rendering and client-side initialization is crucial for overcoming errors and achieving a seamless user experience. By implementing the solution described above, you can successfully integrate Lexical Editor into your Next.js application, unlocking the full potential of this feature-rich text editing library. Remember, refer to the official Lexical documentation for the most up-to-date guidance and best practices.