\n\n*Markdown streaming live into the editor. The framework re-renders incrementally as content arrives — no flicker, no full reflows.*\n\nThe editor uses **virtualization** throughout. A document can contain thousands of paragraphs, but the user only sees a few dozen at a time — so those are the only ones paying the cost of being on screen. The same principle runs deeper than rendering: text storage, document structure, position tracking, undo history are all built around the same idea. Do the minimum work, on the smallest piece of the document, at the latest possible moment.\n\nIn practice, that means:\n\n- **Typing stays responsive** on documents large enough to make other editors crawl.\n- **Scrolling is smooth** regardless of document length.\n- **Saving doesn't freeze the UI.** Export to RTF, DOCX, or XAML happens in the background — you keep typing while the file is written.\n- **Undo is cheap.** A long edit session doesn't quietly eat your memory.\n\nThese aren't micro-optimizations bolted on at the end. They fall out of the architecture.\n\n## Pluggable at every layer\n\nThe framework is built as a stack of distinct layers, each with a clean public surface. You can use the whole stack as a finished editor — drop it in a window, give it a document, done. Or you can reach into any single layer and replace, extend, or wrap it:\n\n- **The document model** is the storage layer. Use it on its own if you just need a fast, structured text data structure.\n- **The rendering layer** can be used without the editor on top — there's a read-only document viewer for display-only scenarios.\n- **The editing layer** is component-based. Keyboard handling, mouse handling, caret behavior, selection — each is a swappable piece. Want vim-style keybindings? Replace the keyboard component. Want a custom caret? Replace the caret component.\n- **The highlight system** is open. Selection rendering is one highlight layer; you can add your own for find-and-replace, spell check, syntax highlighting, collaborative cursors — anything that needs to draw on top of text.\n- **The serialization layer** is extensible. RTF, DOCX, XAML, and plain text ship in the box; any format you need beyond that is one interface away.\n- **The undo system** records your own custom operations alongside the built-in ones.\n\n![An amber callout block labeled \"HEADS UP\" — a warm-toned styled Section with a left bar, used for warnings or tips.](https://cms.avaloniaui.net/assets/6a62d395-c9f6-4d76-aedf-fdbe628fe88a)\n\n*Callouts, notes, tips, and warnings — every styled block in the document is built from the same `Section` primitive.*\n\nEvery layer has a documented public API. Every layer can be customized without forking. And because each layer is independent, you only take on the complexity of the parts you actually touch.\n\n![A styled pull-quote rendered by the editor — soft blue background, dark blue left bar, italic text, with a small \"From the design notes\" attribution beneath.](https://cms.avaloniaui.net/assets/da544d13-b86c-4543-9518-01d2ad141e51)\n\n*A pull-quote authored as a styled `Section` — same primitive, restyled to fit the document.*\n\n## What's in the box\n\nA complete editing experience, out of the box:\n\n- A **rich document model** with paragraphs, sections, lists, hyperlinks, and inline runs — including the ability to embed arbitrary Avalonia controls inline with text\n- **Advanced table editing** — non-destructive, with merged cells and per-cell formatting, directly in the editor\n- **Caret, selection, keyboard, and mouse** behavior that matches what users expect\n- **Undo and redo** with sensible defaults\n- **Import and export** for RTF, DOCX, XAML, and plain text, plus rich content import via clipboard\n- A **toolbar and action system** with the common formatting commands ready to use\n- **Light and dark themes** out of the box\n- A **read-only document viewer** for when you only need display\n- A **separate Markdown control** for rendering Markdown, with optional syntax-highlighting integrations\n\nAnd underneath it, a foundation you can build on when \"out of the box\" isn't enough.\n\n![A styled \"Quarterly Plan\" table showing initiatives, owners, dates, progress percentages, and colored status pills (Shipped, On track, At risk, Blocked, Planned), with a merged summary row at the bottom.](https://cms.avaloniaui.net/assets/118375a1-6ba6-4190-9617-3d90127bb119)\n\n*A planning table authored as a single FlowDocument. Five status colors, a merged summary row, and per-cell styling — no template hacks.*\n\n## Availability and Licensing\n\nRichTextEditor is included with Avalonia's Pro subscription tier. You can see the current plans on the [Avalonia pricing page](https://avaloniaui.net/pricing?utm_source=avaloniaui&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=blog-rich-text-editor-pricing).\n\n## Get Started\n\nInstall the package:\n\n```bash\ndotnet add package Avalonia.Controls.RichTextEditor\n```\n\nAdd your license key to the executable project's `.csproj`:\n\n```xml\n\n \n\n```\n\nAdd the editor theme to your `App.axaml`:\n\n```xml\n\n \n \n\n```\n\nDrop the editor into your XAML:\n\n```xml\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n```\n\nThat's it. You have a working rich text editor with toolbar, formatting commands, undo/redo, clipboard, and import/export for RTF, DOCX, XAML, and plain text.\n\nFor the full API and customization guides, see the [documentation](https://docs.avaloniaui.net/controls/input/text-input/richtexteditor?utm_source=avaloniaui&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=blog-rich-text-editor-documentation).\n\nIf you've been waiting for a serious rich text story on Avalonia — it's here.\n","category","News","coverImage","https://cms.avaloniaui.net/assets/7a0cd915-4874-4cb0-8a09-d61e8784b93b?width=800&quality=92&format=webp","coverImageSocial","https://cms.avaloniaui.net/assets/7a0cd915-4874-4cb0-8a09-d61e8784b93b?width=1200&quality=85&format=jpg","publishedAt","2026-05-14T10:41:00","updatedAt","2026-05-14T08:53:50.690Z","actionData","errors"]

Benedikt Stebner

Posts by Benedikt Stebner

Rich Text on Avalonia, Built for Speed