HTML5 has grown to become one of the most popular markup languages among web developers. Its popularity can be attributed to its enhanced features such as video, audio and canvas components. At present, there are two variations in HTML5 editors: standalone applications and browser-based applications. Browser-based applications are compatible with popular browsers (such as Firefox, Google Chrome, Internet Explorer), and require an internet connection to work. Standalone applications, on the other hand, can be installed on any computer, and do not require an internet connection.
In this post, we have compiled a list of nine best HTML5 editors for web developers.
1. Maqetta
Maqetta, a technology initiative at Dojo Foundation, is a free and open-source project that offers WYSIWYG visual authoring of HTML5 UI. The application is written in HTML and therefore runs in the web browser, without the need for third-party tools or plugins.
Maqetta comes with many features including visual page editor, themes, wireframes, javascript libraries and mobile authoring among other features. Additionally, it provides support to all major browsers such as Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, Firefox, and Safari.
2. Aptana Studio 3
Apana Studio 3 is a powerful open-source development tool that is specifically designed for web development projects. It allows developers to develop and test their apps using a single environment. Aptana is compatible with all major browsers and supports the latest browser technology specifications such as IDE Customization, JavaScript Code assists, GIF incorporation, incorporated debugger, HTML and operation wizard. The tool also supports major markup and coding languages including PHP, Ruby, HTML5, JavaScript, and CSS.
Aptana is available as Eclipse plug-in or as a stand-alone version.
3. BlueGriffon
BlueGriffon is an open source WYSIWYG content editor that is powered by Gecko (page rendering engine of Firefox). It is able to edit Web pages in compliance with the current Web Standards. The editor provides Web authors (beginners or advanced professionals), with an easy to use interface that allows them to create Web sites without the need to have broad technical knowledge about Web Standards.
4. Aloha Editor
Aloha Editor is an HTML5 based WYSIWYG editor that is developed in JavaScript environment. It is compatible with a variety of operating systems and web browsers such as Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, Opera and Google Chrome. Unlike most HTML editors, Aloha can be embedded within a blog, CMS or any other standard web development framework. This way, you can easily make corrections to content that is already online.
The tool is designed to be user-friendly and fast in editing as compared to other web-based HTML5 editors in the market. With Aloha Editor, you can edit the contents of image descriptions in slideshows, tickers, accordions, and sliders.
Aloha is free, and you can easily download it from the Aloha official website.
5. Mercury Editor
Mercury is a feature-rich HTML5 editor that allows you to edit sections of an HTML page directly in the browser. It has the same features as CKEditor or TinyMCE, but includes a couple of advanced features to enhance user experience. Instead of using iframes, Mercury editor uses the HTML5 contentEditable features on block elements, and it displays a single toolbar for every segment on the page.
Mercury is written in jQuery and CoffeeScript for the JavaScript portions, and it is written on top of Rails3.1. It supports Safari5+, Chrom10+, and Firefox4+.
6. Rendera
Rendera Is an online HTML5 editor that allows you to see real time preview of work. You can comfortably use the tags of CSS3 or HTML5 that your browser supports. It is built with CoffeScript and Sinatra, and supports HAML and SASS. Overall, Rendera is a good fit for users who not only want to write HTML, but also want to learn how to write HTML5, CSS, and JavaScript.
7. Adobe Dreamweaver CS5
Adobe Dreamweaver CS5 is probably the most reputable HTML5 editor on this list, mainly because it is developed by one of the most established software companies.
Its interface features customizable layouts, real-time site previews and JavaScript widgets among other elements. The responsive design helps developers to arrange the contents of their page to better adjust to different types of devices and screen sizes. With these features, you get a huge amount of control and convenience when designing the Web pages.
The editor is compatible with the latest web languages such as JavaScript, Ajax, HTML5, and CSS. It can also be integrated with other Adobe products such as Adobe ColdFusion software to ensure excellent operation.
Dreamweaver CS5 is quite expensive due to its professional design and feature richness. It is designed for both amateur and professional web developers.
8. Raptor
Raptor Editor is an Open Source WYSIWYG HTML editor that is designed to be user-friendly. The editor comes with a beautiful custom theme and a variety of options that can be customized to suit any visual design. Additionally, it is designed with an extensible plugin architecture, which enables you to add features or enhance functionality.
The editor allows for inline editing and is a great tool for complex multi-block layouts. It features a comprehensive collection of built-in unit tests, an extensible codebase, and a visual test interface. It utilizes the latest technology such as jQuery and HTML5.
9. Popline
Popline is a jQuery plugin that helps users to create HTML5 Rich-Text-Editor Toolbar. Compared to the traditional RTE, Popline floats around the selected text. It supports two modes: the Edit mode and View mode. It has been tested on Firefox 21.0., Chrome 27.0, and Safari 6.0.4.
Bottom Line
What is the best HTML5 editor for web developers? Well, it’s all about what works best for you. So, it’s important to try different editors until you find the one that suits you the most. Dreamweaver is our top pick. This HTML5 editor is useful for advanced professionals web developers, from beginners to advanced professionals. It features a multiscreen preview panel, WYSIWYG functions, integration with Adobe BrowserLab and jQuery Mobile. Additionally, it supports HTML5, CSS3, iOS and Android apps.
Which Web editor do you love or positively hate? Tell us in the comments section below.