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WHAT YOU'LL LEARN
  • how to add custom components to your Website Builder

In this tutorial, we explain how to create, register and use custom components in this Website Builder project.

  • Step 1: Add a React component file
  • Step 2: Register the component
  • Step 3: Ensure the group matches the one registered
  • Step 4: Open the editor to verify the component appears in the chosen group

Overview
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  • Custom components live in the src/editorComponents folder and are provided to the renderer via editorComponents exported from src/editorComponents/index.tsx.
  • The page renderer (src/components/DocumentRenderer.tsx) passes editorComponents to DocumentRenderer from @webiny/website-builder-nextjs.
  • Component groups (used in the editor UI) are registered in src/contentSdk/initializeContentSdk.ts using registerComponentGroup.

Files to Inspect
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  • src/editorComponents/index.tsx — the central list of editor components and input definitions
  • src/components/DocumentRenderer.tsx — how components are provided to the renderer
  • src/contentSdk/initializeContentSdk.ts — where component groups are registered

Step-by-Step: Create a New Custom Component
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Step 1: Add a React Component File
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Add a React component file under src/editorComponents (or a subfolder). In this tutorial we will create CalloutBox component.

  • Prefer exporting a named component (e.g. export const CalloutBox = () => { ... }).
  • Keep the component as a standard React functional component.

Example minimal component:

src/editorComponents/CalloutBox.tsx

Step 2: Register the Component
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Define editor inputs and register the component in src/editorComponents/index.tsx.

  • Use createComponent from @webiny/website-builder-nextjs to register the component with name, label, group and inputs.
  • Use input helpers such as createTextInput, createLongTextInput, createLexicalInput, createFileInput, createSelectInput, createSlotInput.

Example registration snippet (add to src/editorComponents/index.tsx):

Notes:

  • The name property defines the unique editor identifier (used by the editor to save/load the block).
  • The group should match a component group registered in src/contentSdk/initializeContentSdk (e.g., custom, basic).

How inputs map to component props

  • When the editor renders the page, the DocumentRenderer will render your component and pass the block data as props.
  • Typical convention: input names map to prop names. For example, title becomes props.title inside your component.
  • For slot inputs (createSlotInput) the renderer will pass an array of nested blocks which you should render using children or a dedicated renderer.

Step 3: Ensure the Group Matches the One Registered
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  • Component groups (editor categories) are registered in src/contentSdk/initializeContentSdk.ts with registerComponentGroup.
  • Pick an existing group (basic, sample) or add a new one in initializeContentSdk.ts.

In this tutorial, we used an existing group, but if you ned to create a new one, for example, a new Demo Group add the following to initializeContentSdk.ts:

Note: the order in which the Component groups show in the Website builder depends on the order in which they were added to the file above.

Tips and best practices

  • Keep components presentation-focused; prefer receiving plain data from inputs rather than coupling to editor APIs inside the component.

  • For rich text, prefer createLexicalInput where content is saved as Lexical nodes and will be rendered by DocumentRenderer.

  • Use createSlotInput to allow nesting arbitrary content inside your block.

  • Keep components SSR-friendly. Use client-only code (like browser-only libs) inside a child component or guarded by dynamic import to avoid SSR issues.

Step 4: Open the Editor to Verify the Component Appears in the Chosen Group and That It Is Functional.
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  • Run the site and open a new Page in the editor to verify the component appears in the chosen group.
  • Drag and drop the new component in the Page to validate it is functional.
Callout Box Custom ComponentCallout Box Custom Component
(click to enlarge)