univer

Univer is an open-source toolkit for developers who want to add spreadsheet, document, or presentation editing to their own software products. Instead of building these features from scratch, developers can install Univer and embed a fully functional spreadsheet or document editor directly into a web app, internal business tool, or AI application. The end result looks and works like the editing tools people already know, without the developer needing to license or depend on an external hosted service.

The project is built around a plugin system, which means you only include the parts you actually need. If you only want spreadsheet editing, you add that plugin. If you also need formula support or collaboration features, you add those separately. This keeps the final product lighter and more tailored than taking a full pre-built office suite.

Univer runs in two environments: inside a web browser for interactive editing, and on a server (using Node.js) for processing spreadsheets or documents automatically, such as generating reports or running calculations in the background. The same code and logic work in both places, so developers do not need to learn a second approach for server-side work.

The interface layer uses a canvas-based drawing system to keep large spreadsheets smooth and responsive, even with many rows of data or complex formulas. A single programming interface called the Facade API gives developers a consistent way to create workbooks, read cell values, apply formatting, and respond to user actions, whether the code runs in a browser or on a server.

Getting started can be as simple as installing one preset package that bundles the most common plugins together, or as detailed as picking individual packages for fine control over bundle size and features. Univer supports several popular front-end frameworks including React and Vue, so it fits into existing projects without requiring a full rewrite.