HTML Editor

Introduction

The term HTML stands for Hypertext markup language. It is mainly used for web development. With the help of this, we can define the structure of the website. Most websites use HTML to develop the structure of the webpage. So every web developer should have a strong knowledge of HTML editor.

So the HTML editor is the piece of software that provides the feature to develop a well-structured and fully functional website. With the help of an HTML editor, any developer can create a website from scratch and modify the code with more functionality.

What is an HTML Editor?

An HTML editor is a piece of software that is used for creating and editing a website. It is a type of stand-alone software that is dedicated to writing and editing code. It is also an IDE. IDE stands for Integrated Development Environment.

The HTML editor provides some advanced feature which is beneficiary for a developer to develop the code. It is specially developed for designing a website that runs efficiently. It also ensures that every code should be written clean and works properly. The HTML editor provides some most common features.

1. Syntax highlighting: It provides color to every tag of the HTML based on their category. So it helps the developer to easier to read and also helps to recognize the structure of the code.
2. Auto-completion: It also suggests the code to the developer based on previously typed tags and attributes. It also saves time for typing the longer piece of code.
3. Error detection: It scans the whole code and checks for the syntax error. Whenever the developer types any wrong code, it automatically fixes it.
4. Search and Replace: With the help of this editor, we can also find a particular code from thousands of lines of code and replace the code.
5. FTP integration: With the help of this editor, we can also connect our webpage with the web server.
6. Code folding: With the help of this editor, we can also hide a particular section of the code from the HTML document.

Some HTML code editor has the feature to convert the markup language into programming languages like CSS, XML, and JAVASCRIPT.

WYSIWYG Editor vs HTML Text Editor

There are two types of code editors for HTML code.

1. WYSIWYG Editor

WYSIWYG stands for "What You See Is What You Get". As per the name, it provides a real-time feature to display the code output. It also provides a visual interface like a typical word processor. With the help of this editor, the user can also add an element to the webpage, such as headings, paragraphs, or images, without touching a line of code.

2. Text-based HTML Editor

With the help of this editor, we can develop only text-based editors. It is designed so that the developer should practice the coding. Also, with the help of this editor, we can directly modify the code over the work. It also provides some features. These are auto-completion, syntax highlighting, and error detection. But it doesn't provide a real-time feature to display the code output.

Best Free HTML Editors for 2023

There are many HTML editors available online. We have to find out which editor is beneficial for us. Below are some best HTML editors that are used to write the HTML code.

1. Atom

It is the most popular HTML editor in the market. It is an open-source code editor. The main aim of this editor is to provide premium features to the developer completely free of cost. The GitHUB community maintains this editor. The developer can add, modify, and share various source codes with this editor to improve the functionality of the editor.

The developer can also customize the editor's interface by changing the themes. The Atom is not a visual editor, so we can not see the real-time output of the HTML code. It also supports multi-programming languages such as JavaScript, Node.js, and CSS. It is also integrated with the teletype, which is used to collaborate on the project with another developer.

Features of Atom:

• Built-in package manager: It has more than 80 inbuilt packages. The user can also add their customized package up to 8700.
• Multiple panes: The developer can split its window into multiple windows. With the help of this feature, the developer can write in different files within a particular time.
• Syntax highlighting: It helps the developer detect errors while writing the code. It also identifies the different codes and the different coding languages.
• Smart auto-completion: With the help of this feature, the developer can write the code faster. It also auto-suggests the code to the developer.

NOTE: The Atom is available for Windows, OS X, and Linux (64-bit).

2. Notepad ++

It is free and open-source software that is used to write HTML code. It is only available for window-based operating systems. It is a very lightweight software. It also offers a mobile version that the developer can continue the coding without downloading it to their computer. It provides the software free of cost to the developer.

The respiratory of notepad++ is also available in the git hub. This software is only for window users, but the Linux user can use this program in Wine by adding a compatibility layer. It also provides a flexible user interface to the developer.

It also provides the feature to the developer that they can split the screen into two parts. With the help of this feature, the developer can write two different documents at a particular time. The advanced version of Notepad ++ supports Multi-language such as HTML and CSS to JavaScript and PHP.

Features of Notepad++:

• Powerful code editing tools: It is also known as a Scintilla-based text editor. It also provides fast processing speed with a lighter size.
• Plugin integrations: We can add advanced functionality by creating new plugins in this editor. We can also install third-party plugins from the list.
• FTP connection: With the help of this feature, the developer can directly connect to the server file. And the developer can edit the code from the dashboard.
• Document map: It provides a particular section display and an overview of the document. It makes it easy for the developer to navigate a large file.

3. Sublime Text

It is also an HTML code editor that resembles Notepad++. It also provides cross-platform support. This software is available for Windows, Mac, and Linux-based systems. The user can use the feature of sublime text. But for more advanced features, the user must purchase a premium subscription. Sublime has filled with lots of tools, and with the help of these tools, the developer can quickly build a webpage.

For example, the Sublime has a GPU rendering system. With the help of this system, Sublime optimized the operating system's performance. TypeScript, JSX, and TSX, along with many other programming languages, are supported by the latest version of the sublime text editor. When the developer opens the sublime for the first time, the basic text editor has no sidebar or tools. Also, there is a paid version of the sublime text editor. The free version of the sublime text editor has the following features.

Features of sublime text:

• Context-aware autocomplete: It provides auto-suggestion to the developer based on existing coding. When we hover over each code, it briefly explains that code.
• Split-editing: The developer can easily split the editor's screen for more efficient and easier HTML editing.
• GoTo anything: We can search for any specific file, code string, or section with a simple keyboard shortcut.
• Updated Python API: With the help of the Python 3.8 version, we can add many plugins.

NOTE: It is available for Windows, OS X, and Linux (32/64 bit).

4. Visual Studio Code

It is also open-source software that is used to write HTML code. It is developed by Microsoft company. With the help of this framework, we can create the project using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript across multiple operating systems. This software is supported for Windows, Mac, and Linux. It is also integrated with Microsoft Azure. The user can develop the project and application and publish them in Azure with a single click of the software.

This open-source software has some intelligence features. It provides auto-completion, including variables, fields, and function definitions. The developer can install some language extensions, such as Ruby and Python. This extension allows the other programming language to work smartly. It provides a clean and straightforward interface. With the help of this software, we can easily locate the various HTML editing tools, open a new file, and search documents.

Features of Visual Studio Code:

• Debugging: It has a built-in debugging tool. With the help of this debugging tool, we can quickly edit, compile, or debug code.
• WYSIWYG editor: We can install the simple extension of the default text editor. This simple text editor supports the WYSIWYG HTML editor.
• Code snippets: It supports the built-in code snippet, which IntelliSense powers. With the help of this, we can write the repeating code in a very easy manner.
• Multi-root workspace: With the help of this, we can write more than one code simultaneously.

NOTE: This software can support Linux x64, Windows x64, and OS X.

Best Premium HTML Editors

The free software HTML code editor provides some excellent features but only some advanced features. For advanced features, we can take the help of a premium HTML editor.

When the developer wants to create a responsive web page, we have to take the help of pre-built temperature. Below are some best premium HTML code editors.

1. Adobe Dreamweaver CC

It is an IDE application that is used for the development of both frontend and backend. It also provides a tool kit for web design and web development toolkits. It also has a robust code editing platform that supports various markup languages such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. With the help of this software, the developer can choose between the text-based and WYSIWYG editor or combine both.

It also has so many helpful features by which the developer can build the webpage. It also supports the drag-and-drop facility for the developer. There is no free version available for this software. But this editor provides seven days trial for the developer. After completion of the trial period, if the developer wants to continue the service, then they have to buy the plans. The plans may be bought monthly, annually, and prepaid.

Features of Adobe Dreamweaver CC:

• Starter templates: It provides the basic structure of the webpage so that the developer can customize the webpage according to their need.
• Responsive designs: It provides a grid layout that fits various screen sizes by automatically resizing itself.
• Git support: With the help of this editor, we can perform various git operations like "push," "pull," and "fetch" from the Dreamweaver dashboard.
• Access to Creative Cloud Libraries: With the help of this editor, we can access all the Adobe programs that support Creative Cloud Libraries, including Photoshop, Premiere Pro, and After Effects.

2. Froala:

It is a WYSIWYG HTML editor for frontend development, which is designed in such a way that it provides optimized performance to the developer. It is a lightweight software that loads in 40 milliseconds. This software is also available for the mobile version and is compatible with Android and IOS. It also can support a rich text editor. The developer can add various things to the webpage, like videos, table cells, and emoticons.

Additionally, it supports more than 30 plugins to extend its functionality. The developer writes only the editor's HTML code to display the real-time output. It provides integration with codex.io, by which we can perform real-time editing and collaboration. It provides three subscription plans from $239/year to $3999/year. It also provides a facility for the developer to check the software first before buying a license.

Features of Froala:

• Inline editing: We can select any element from the webpage and edit it directly.
• HTML5 and CSS3: It provides an optimized user experience with the help of the latest HTML and CSS versions.
• Multi-language support: With the help of this software, we can translate the code into 34 languages, and it automatically detects the language type from RTL or LTR keyboards.
• Free online HTML editor: With the help of this software, we can convert the text file into an HTML file.

NOTE: It is available for Windows, Linux, and macOS systems.

3. CoffeeCup:

It is another HTML code editor which provides a wide range of features and functionality. For example, if the developer wants to create a website with the help of HTML and CSS, they have to select the predefined templates and customize them according to their needs. It also provides a compartment of the library by which the developer can add the elements to the webpage.

The webpage such as Windows, Linux, and macOS systems. There is no need to update the webpage manually; the developer has to modify certain library items. With the help of this editor, we can review the website in multiple ways. It provides a function like spilling the screen. With the help of this feature, we can spill the coding area and preview the webpage.

The developer can also write the code side by side with the help of this editor. There is also available external display by which we can display the webpage in the new window. The trial version is available for this editor. But it provides some extra functionality in the premium version. The trial version of this software expires within 30 days. The premium plans for this software start from $29/license.

Features of CoffeeCup:

• Semantic web-ready: With the help of this editor, we can create the whole webpage with the help of semantic tags. We can also take the help of a search engine by which we can get details about the element provided by this editor.
• FTP integration: With the help of this editor, we can directly publish the website from the dashboard of the menu bar with the help of an FTP client.
• Built-in validation tool: If we have made any mistake while writing the code, the editor highlights our errors. And it also makes sure that the website runs perfectly.
• Template downloader: The developer can also import the template from the available template.

Reasons to Use an HTML Editor

Building a website is a difficult process for both freshers and experienced. An HTML editor is a good idea for the development of the website. With an HTML editor's help, we can easily develop a website. There are some reasons to use an HTML editor.

• Create websites faster: With the help of an HTML editor, we can create a website very faster. It can also add common HTML elements, split screen editing, and syntax highlighting. With the help of this functionality, the HTML code is functional and clean with less effort.
• It helps you learn HTML: Many text editors have color-coding or syntax highlighting features to identify different programming languages, such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. They also differentiate various HTML tags from one to another to easily read the code and learn to structure tags properly.
• Optimized code for SEO: The best HTML editors usually provides built-in functionality for search engine optimization (SEO). For instance, some text editors establish semantic markup, improving search engine crawlability.
• Prevents errors in the source code: With features like spell-checking and error detection, HTML editors help spot mistakes in every code. For example, the editor will notify you if you forget to put the "</" end tag in a code element. Most text editors also include auto-completion to prevent mistyping and help you write code faster.
• Easier project management: Each HTML editor offers an easy way to work together in a team or with other developers using various project management tools. Some editors can create open-source projects like Atom, Sublime Text, and Visual Studio Code.