Demo Instructions:
Select any text on this page and click the Highlight button. You’ll be redirected to the login page. Use the credentials below to log in. Once logged in, you can highlight any text and add notes to your highlights.
Username:
testuser
Password:DemoPass123!To access the backend settings of Highlite Pro, click Admin Dashboard after logging in.
Demo Instructions:
Select any text on this page and click the Highlight button. You’ll be redirected to the login page. Use the credentials below to log in. Once logged in, you can highlight any text and add notes to your highlights.
Username:
testuser
Password:DemoPass123!To access the backend settings of Highlite Pro, click Admin Dashboard after logging in.
In the age of interactive content and personalized learning, allowing your website visitors to highlight text and take notes directly on your WordPress site can significantly boost engagement, retention, and return visits. Whether you’re running a blog, educational platform, news portal, or knowledge base, implementing such a feature can transform passive readers into active participants.
This comprehensive guide will walk you through how to enable frontend text highlighting and annotation using the Highlite plugin — a smart and flexible WordPress tool available in both Free and Pro versions. We’ll explore what the plugin does, how it works, why it matters, and how to integrate it effectively on your site.
What Is Frontend Text Highlighting?
Definition and Purpose
- Frontend text highlighting allows users to select and mark text directly on a live webpage.
- It mimics the familiar experience of using a highlighter on a physical book or PDF reader.
- Users can remember important content, create visual anchors, or emphasize useful segments.
Why It Matters
- Increases user engagement: Readers interact with your content rather than skim through it.
- Enhances learning: Especially important for educational blogs, tutorials, and knowledge-based articles.
- Promotes return visits: Users are more likely to come back to continue reading or retrieve their notes.
- Encourages personalization: Users can tailor the content to their needs.
Introducing Highlite Plugin for WordPress
Overview
- Highlite is a smart frontend highlighter plugin created by SacredWP.
- It offers two versions:
- Highlite Free: Basic text highlighting (single yellow color), with persistent storage and per-user visibility.
- Highlite Pro: Advanced functionality including custom colors, notes, shortcode list views, DOCX export, print support, post-type restrictions, and more.
Key Use Cases
- Bloggers who want to give readers more control.
- Educators who publish tutorials or long-form guides.
- Research-based platforms that need annotation and highlight tools.
- Product documentation and wikis that require markups.
Highlite Free Version Features
Highlighting Basics
- Users can select any text on supported posts and apply a yellow highlight.
- The plugin stores highlights per user and per post.
- Highlights persist across sessions (if user is logged in).
Delete Functionality
- Users can delete their highlights with a simple click.
- Context menu appears on clicking the highlight.
Admin Controls
- Enable or disable highlighting per post type (e.g., posts, pages, products).
- Non-conflicting architecture with the Pro version (auto-deactivation notice).
Technical Stack
- Uses jQuery-based DOM manipulation.
- Native WordPress AJAX functions for save/delete.
- WordPress roles and capabilities respected.
Highlite Pro Version Features
All Features from Free Version PLUS:
1. Custom Colors
- Multiple pre-defined highlight colors (e.g., red, blue, green, violet).
- Custom color picker (via color input).
2. Inline Notes & Annotations
- SweetAlert2 + Quill.js based rich note editor.
- Notes are attached per highlight and saved for the user.
- Users can edit or delete individual notes.
3. Max Word Limit
- Admin-defined maximum words per highlight.
- Useful for preventing abuse or over-selection.
4. Highlight List Shortcode
- Use
[highlite_list]to display user-specific highlights. - Supports:
- Search
- Sort by title or date
- Pagination
- DOCX Download
- Print button (per post basis)
5. Export and Print Options
- Generate printable pages for highlights with notes.
- Export DOCX files preserving formatting and links.
6. Frontend Color Management
- Users can edit the highlight color from the frontend.
- Custom rainbow color swatch.
Installing Highlite Plugin
Step-by-Step Guide
- Go to
Plugins > Add Newin your WordPress admin. - Search for Highlite – Simple Frontend Text Highlighter.
- Install and activate it.
- To upgrade, download Highlite Pro from SacredWP or
- Upload and activate Pro. The Free version auto-deactivates.
How to Use Highlite on Your Site
Free Version Usage
- Highlight text by selecting and clicking the popup button.
- Users must be logged in to save highlights.
- Highlights reappear on revisit.
- Click the highlighted text to delete.
Pro Version Usage
- Highlight and select a custom color.
- Add notes when prompted.
- Change color or delete notes by clicking icons.
- View all highlights via
[highlite_list]shortcode.
Ideal Use Cases with Examples
Educational Blogs
- Highlight formulas, definitions, or paragraphs.
- Students attach their own notes.
Legal or Policy Portals
- Users can mark key clauses.
- Annotations help for personal record-keeping.
Research Journals
- Scholars highlight references or technical segments.
- Download DOCX to save locally.
Online Courses
- Lessons become interactive.
- Add highlight + note capabilities to articles or transcripts.
Performance and Compatibility
Compatibility
- Works with most modern WordPress themes.
- Tested with popular builders like Elementor, Gutenberg, and WPBakery.
Performance
- Lightweight JS and AJAX calls.
- Does not bloat DOM.
- Degrades gracefully if JavaScript is disabled.
Security
- All input is sanitized.
- Nonces used in AJAX for CSRF protection.
- Access limited to logged-in users.
Best Practices for Implementation
Enable Smartly
- Use for select post types (e.g., knowledge base articles).
- Avoid enabling on short posts or landing pages.
Inform Your Users
- Add a banner or tooltip explaining highlight features.
- Mention that login is required for saving.
Set Reasonable Max Words
- 100–150 words is a reasonable limit for each highlight.
- Prevents users from highlighting entire articles.
Use the List Shortcode Effectively
- Create a dedicated “My Highlights” page.
- Add
[highlite_list]and restrict it to logged-in users.
FAQs
1. Can guests use the highlight feature?
No, users must be logged in to save or view highlights. This ensures persistence.
2. What happens if I switch from Free to Pro?
Pro activates and the Free version deactivates automatically to avoid conflicts. All previous highlights remain intact.
3. Does the plugin support custom post types?
Yes. You can enable highlighting for any public post type (e.g., course, docs, products).
4. Can users export their highlights?
Yes, in the Pro version. Users can export to .docx format or print directly.
5. Is it compatible with page builders?
Yes. It works well with Elementor, Gutenberg, WPBakery, and others.
6. Does it work on mobile?
Yes, highlighting works on touch devices. Popup buttons are mobile-optimized.
7. Will it slow down my site?
No. It uses lightweight scripts and only loads on enabled post types.
8. Can I customize the highlight colors?
Only in the Pro version. The Free version uses yellow by default.
9. Can I restrict users from highlighting too much?
Yes. Set a max word limit per highlight in the Pro version.
10. How do I report a bug or get support?
Visit sacredwp.com for documentation and support.
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