How do I use the HTML view in the Rich Content Editor?

You can embed HTML in the Rich Content Editor. When creating custom HTML coding in Canvas, you may discover that certain HTML codes do not work upon saving. This is because Canvas only supports certain HTML elements for security reasons. This also applies to content copied and pasted from an external source. Below is a link to a list of HTML tags that are permissible in Canvas. HTML tags that are not on this list may be stripped out of the Rich Content Editor when you save your work. For more information, view the Canvas HTML Editor Allowlist resource document.

The HTML Editor in the Rich Content Editor can display HTML in either a pretty HTML editor with numbered lines and syntax highlighting or a raw HTML editor that displays HTML as raw text.

Several features in Canvas support the Rich Content Editor, including Announcements, Assignments, Discussions, Pages, and Quizzes.

Note: The Rich Content Editor saves the last used HTML editor state (raw or pretty). This persists across browser tabs and windows.

00:07: How do I use the HTML view in the Rich Content Editor? 00:11: By default, the Rich Content Editor, or RCE, displays when composing end editing content in announcements, assignments, discussions, pages, and quizzes. 00:23: Click "Switch to the HTML view" in the RCE toolbar to open the HTML editor. 00:29: The HTML editor displays the pretty HTML editor by default. The pretty HTML editor displays line numbers and syntax highlighting. Enter content in the HTML editor or edit existing content using HTML. 00:46: To switch to the Raw HTML Editor and edit your HTML in plain text, click the "Switch to raw HTML Editor" button. 00:55: Edit your HTML in plain text without line numbers or syntax highlighting in the Raw HTML Editor. 01:02: To switch back to the Pretty HTML Editor, click the "Switch to pretty HTML Editor" button. 01:09: Content can be saved while in the HTML editor. To preview the content in the RCE before saving, click the HTML icon at the bottom of the editor. Content can be saved from the HTML 01:23: This guide covered how to use the HTML view in the Rich Content Editor.

Open Rich Content Editor

Open Rich Content Editor

Open the Rich Content Editor when using one of the Canvas features which support the Editor.

Note: The Rich Content Editor supports keyboard shortcuts. To view the Keyboard Shortcuts menu, click the Keyboard icon or press ALT+F8 (PC keyboard) or Option+F8 (Mac keyboard).

Open HTML Editor

Open HTML Editor

Click the HTML Editor icon.

Note: When in HTML view, you can click the HTML Editor icon to return to the Rich Content Editor.

Edit HTML Content

Edit HTML Content

The HTML editor displays the pretty HTML editor by default. The pretty HTML editor displays line numbers and syntax highlighting.

Enter content in the HTML editor or edit existing content using HTML.

View Raw HTML Editor

View Raw HTML Editor

To switch to the Raw HTML Editor and edit your HTML in plain text, click the Switch to raw HTML Editor button.

Edit Raw HTML

Edit Raw HTML

Edit your HTML in plain text without line numbers or syntax highlighting. To switch back to the Pretty HTML Editor, click the Switch to pretty HTML Editor button.

Save Changes

Save Changes

Click the Save button.

Note: When using the Rich Content Editor in Discussions, the Save button may appear as the Reply button.