How to Add Code Blocks in Your React App

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

Installing the Library

First,create a React appand install thereact-code-blockslibrary. 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 the react-code-blocks library in your project.

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Adding the Code Block to Your Project

Once you have installed the react-code-blocks library, you’re ready to get started. First, import theCodeBlockcomponent from the react-code-blocks library in your app. You can do this by adding the following code to your file:

Then, use the CodeBlock component in your app by adding the following code:

A laptop, open on a desk, showing code in a text editor.

In the above code, you are passing several props to the CodeBlock component. Here is a list of all available props:

Here’s an example of how to use all of these props:

react app with codeblocks and custom theme

In the above code, you are usingatom-one-darktheme, starting the line numbers at 10, disabling line numbers, enabling line wrapping, and attaching a click handler.

By using these props, you can customize the appearance and behavior of your code blocks to fit your needs.

react app with a codeblock and a copyblock

Adding Themes in Your Code Blocks

The react-code-blocks library provides a variety of built-in themes that can be used to customize the appearance of your code blocks. To use a built-in theme, you simply need to specify the name of the theme in thethemeprop. For example, to use theatom-one-darktheme, you would use the following code:

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

An open laptop displaying a web site about an interior designer

To use a custom theme, you would pass the theme object as the theme prop of the CodeBlock component:

Below is the output:

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

Adding CopyBlock to Your Project

If you want to add the copy functionality to your code blocks, you can use theCopyBlockcomponent provided by the react-code-blocks library. To use this component, you’ll need to install thereact-copy-to-clipboardlibrary as well. Here’s how to add the CopyBlock component to your project:

Install thereact-copy-to-clipboardlibrary:

Import the necessary components and libraries:

Use the CopyBlock component in your code:

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

Alternate Methods to Add Code Blocks

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

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

Improve User Engagement With Code Blocks

By using code blocks for explaining 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, by using features like CopyBlock and custom themes, you can make your React app even more functional and attractive.

You can use an interactive carousel to display images, text, or any combination of HTML elements.

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