Prerequisites
- Node.js (v14 or higher)
- React (v16.8 or higher for hooks)
- A Velt account with an API key (sign up)
- Optional: TypeScript for type safety
Setup
Step 1: Install Dependencies
Install the required packages:- React / Next.js
- Other Frameworks
Step 2: Setup Velt
Initialize the Velt client by following the Velt Setup Docs. This is required for the collaboration engine to work.Step 3: Initialize Collaborative Editor
- Initialize the collaboration manager and use it to create the Tiptap editor.
- Pass an
editorIdto uniquely identify each editor instance you have in your app. This is especially important when you have multiple editors in your app.
- React / Next.js
- Other Frameworks
Use the
useCollaboration hook to manage the entire CRDT lifecycle. It creates a CollaborationManager, initializes the CRDT store, and returns a TipTap Extension for collaboration and cursor tracking.Step 4: Add CSS for Collaboration Cursor
- Add the following CSS to your app to style the collaboration cursor.
Step 5: Status Monitoring (Optional)
Monitor the connection status and sync state to display UI indicators.- React / Next.js
- Other Frameworks
The
useCollaboration hook returns reactive status, isSynced, and error state:Step 6: Version Management (Optional)
Save and restore named snapshots of the document state.- React / Next.js
- Other Frameworks
The
manager returned by useCollaboration provides version management methods:Step 7: Force Reset Initial Content (Optional)
By default,initialContent is applied exactly once, only when the document is brand new. Pass forceResetInitialContent: true to always overwrite remote data with initialContent on initialization. Useful for “reset to template” workflows.
- React / Next.js
- Other Frameworks
Step 8: CRDT Event Subscription (Optional)
Listen for real-time sync events usinggetCrdtElement().on() from the Velt client.
- React / Next.js
- Other Frameworks
Step 9: Custom Encryption (Optional)
Encrypt CRDT data before it’s stored in Velt by registering a custom encryption provider. For CRDT methods, input data is of typeUint8Array | number[].
- React / Next.js
- Other Frameworks
Step 10: Error Handling (Optional)
- React / Next.js
- Other Frameworks
Pass an
onError callback to handle initialization or runtime errors. The error reactive state is also available for rendering.Step 11: Access Yjs Internals (Advanced)
The manager exposes escape hatches for direct Yjs manipulation when needed.- React / Next.js
- Other Frameworks
Step 12: Cleanup
Cleanup is automatic, when the TipTap editor is destroyed, the extension’sonDestroy hook triggers manager.destroy(), which cascades cleanup to the store, provider, and all listeners.
You can also call manager.destroy() manually:
- React / Next.js
- Other Frameworks
Notes
- Unique editorId: Use a unique
editorIdper editor instance. - Disable history: Turn off Tiptap
history/undoRedowhen using collaboration. - Auth required: Ensure the Velt client is initialized and user is available before starting.
Testing and Debugging
To test collaboration:- Login two unique users on two browser profiles and open the same page in both.
- Edit in one window and verify changes and cursors appear in the other.
- Cursors not appearing: Ensure each editor has a unique
editorIdand users are authenticated. Also ensure that you are logged in with two different users in two different browser profiles. - Editor not loading: Confirm the Velt client is initialized and the API key is valid.
- Desynced content: Make sure Tiptap
history/undoRedois disabled when using collaboration.
Complete Example
- React / Next.js
- Other Frameworks
- React / Next.js Live Demo
- Non-React Demo
A complete collaborative TipTap editor with user login, status display, and version management.App.tsxEditor.tsx
Complete App.tsx
Complete Editor.tsx
How It Works
useCollaboration(React) /createCollaboration(non-React) creates aCollaborationManager. This initializes a CRDT Store (type: 'xml'), a YjsY.XmlFragment, and aSyncProvider.- The extension (returned by the hook or
manager.createExtension()) bundlesCollaboration(Yjs document binding) andCollaborationCaret(remote cursor rendering) as a single TipTap extension. - User types -> TipTap/ProseMirror transaction ->
Y.XmlFragmentmutation -> Yjs CRDT broadcasts via Velt backend -> all connected clients see the change. - Remote cursors are tracked via Yjs Awareness. The extension renders colored cursor labels at each remote user’s selection position.
- Initial content is applied only once for brand-new documents. The manager waits for remote content before deciding the document is new.
- Conflict resolution is handled by Yjs CRDTs, concurrent typing at different positions merges correctly, and formatting changes on different text ranges are independent.
- Version management saves the full Yjs state as a named snapshot. Restoring a version replaces the current state and broadcasts to all clients.
- Cleanup is automatic, the manager destroys the editor bindings, store, and all listeners when the editor is destroyed or the component unmounts.
APIs
React: useCollaboration()
The primary React hook for collaborative TipTap editing. Creates aCollaborationManager, initializes the CRDT store, and returns a TipTap Extension with cursor support.
- Signature:
useCollaboration(config: UseCollaborationConfig) - Params: UseCollaborationConfig
editorId: Unique identifier for this collaborative session.initialContent: HTML content applied once for brand-new documents. Default: empty paragraph.debounceMs: Throttle interval (ms) for backend writes. Default:0.forceResetInitialContent: Iftrue, always clear and re-applyinitialContent. Default:false.veltClient: Explicit Velt client. Falls back toVeltProvidercontext.onError: Error callback.
- Returns: UseCollaborationReturn
extension: TipTap Extension bundling Yjs binding + cursor rendering.nullwhile loading.isLoading:trueuntil CollaborationManager is initialized.isSynced:trueafter the initial sync with the backend completes.status: Connection status:'connecting','connected', or'disconnected'.error: Most recent error, ornull.manager: The underlyingCollaborationManager.nullbefore initialization.
Non-React: createCollaboration()
Factory function that creates aCollaborationManager, calls initialize(), and returns a ready-to-use instance.
- Signature:
createCollaboration(config: CollaborationConfig): Promise<CollaborationManager> - Params: CollaborationConfig
editorId: Unique editor/document identifier for syncing.veltClient: Velt client instance must have an authenticated user.initialContent: HTML content applied once for brand-new documents.debounceMs: Throttle interval (ms) for backend writes. Default:0.onError: Callback for non-fatal errors.forceResetInitialContent: Iftrue, always reset toinitialContent. Default:false.
- Returns:
Promise<CollaborationManager>
CollaborationManager Methods
Once themanager is available (non-null from the hook, or returned from createCollaboration), you can use its full API:
manager.createExtension()
Returns a single TipTapExtension that bundles Yjs document binding and remote cursor rendering. Non-React only, the React hook returns the extension directly.
- Returns:
Extension
manager.onStatusChange()
Subscribe to connection status changes.- Signature:
manager.onStatusChange(callback: (status: SyncStatus) => void): Unsubscribe - Returns:
Unsubscribe(call to stop listening)
manager.onSynced()
Subscribe to sync state changes.- Signature:
manager.onSynced(callback: (synced: boolean) => void): Unsubscribe - Returns:
Unsubscribe
manager.initialized
Whetherinitialize() has completed.
- Returns:
boolean
manager.synced
Whether initial sync with the backend has completed.- Returns:
boolean
manager.status
Current connection status.- Returns:
SyncStatus('connecting' | 'connected' | 'disconnected')
manager.saveVersion()
Save a named snapshot. Returns the version ID.- Signature:
manager.saveVersion(name: string): Promise<string> - Returns:
Promise<string>
manager.getVersions()
List all saved versions.- Returns:
Promise<Version[]>
manager.restoreVersion()
Restore to a saved version. Returnstrue on success. The restored state is pushed to all connected clients.
- Signature:
manager.restoreVersion(versionId: string): Promise<boolean> - Returns:
Promise<boolean>
manager.setStateFromVersion()
Apply a Version object’s state locally to the current document.- Signature:
manager.setStateFromVersion(version: Version): Promise<void> - Returns:
Promise<void>
manager.getDoc()
Get the underlying Yjs document.- Returns:
Y.Doc
manager.getXmlFragment()
Get the XmlFragment bound to TipTap content.- Returns:
Y.XmlFragment | null
manager.getProvider()
Get the sync provider.- Returns:
SyncProvider
manager.getAwareness()
Get the Yjs Awareness instance.- Returns:
Awareness
manager.getStore()
Get the core CRDT Store.- Returns:
Store<string>
manager.destroy()
Full cleanup (automatic on editor destroy or component unmount). Safe to call multiple times.- Returns:
void
Custom Encryption
Encrypt CRDT data before it’s stored in Velt by registering a custom encryption provider. For CRDT methods, input data is of typeUint8Array | number[].
- React / Next.js
- Other Frameworks
Migration Guide: v1 to v2
React
Overview
The v2 API replacesuseVeltTiptapCrdtExtension() with useCollaboration(). The new hook provides richer reactive state (status, sync, error) and exposes the CollaborationManager for advanced use.
Key Changes
Step-by-Step
1. Replace the hook:Non-React
Overview
The v2 API replaces the callback-basedcreateVeltTiptapCrdtExtension() with an async createCollaboration() factory that returns a CollaborationManager.
Key Changes
Step-by-Step
1. Replace the extension creation:Legacy API (v1)
React: useVeltTiptapCrdtExtension() (deprecated)
A React hook that returns a TipTap extension and store. Internally delegates touseCollaboration (v2) via a compatibility wrapper.
- Signature:
useVeltTiptapCrdtExtension(config: VeltTiptapCrdtExtensionConfig) - Params: VeltTiptapCrdtExtensionConfig
- Returns: VeltTiptapCrdtExtensionResponse
React: VeltTiptapCrdtExtensionConfig (deprecated)
React: VeltTiptapCrdtExtensionResponse (deprecated)
Non-React: createVeltTiptapCrdtExtension() (deprecated)
Creates a collaboration extension using a callback-based pattern. The function subscribes to the Velt SDK lifecycle and invokes theonReady callback when the extension and store are ready.
- Signature:
createVeltTiptapCrdtExtension(config: VeltTipTapStoreConfig, onReady: (response: VeltTiptapCrdtExtensionResponse) => void): () => void - Returns:
() => void(cleanup function)

