Cannot be selected on canvas if tags are nested
@artf Sorry, frameworks don't solve everything as you say. I'll make sure to read the documentation properly from now on. Thank you for your reply.
Read full answer below βQuestion
GrapesJS version
- I confirm to use the latest version of GrapesJS
What browser are you using?
Chrome 126.0.6478.127(Windows)
Reproducible demo link
https://jsfiddle.net/vbu18q5f/2/
Describe the bug
How to reproduce the bug?
- Cannot be selected on canvas if tags are nested Section 2 block in demolink has a div tag inside the section tag. section 2 block cannot make section tag selected in canvas, div tag becomes selected. This creates two problems.
- The div tag is selected, so when you try to delete the block on the canvas, Only the div tag will be deleted, and the section tag will remain. You can't delete all elements of block from canvas, so to delete all elements of block you have to delete it from layer manager
https://github.com/GrapesJS/grapesjs/assets/14024165/e0eceae0-2f92-490c-9164-12d13328a750
Perhaps if the nested elements have the same size, only child elements can be clicked
- If you try to add another block, the element will be added inside the div tag.
https://github.com/GrapesJS/grapesjs/assets/14024165/91997107-603a-4677-98c0-3e972fd34296
What is the expected behavior?
- Parent element can be selected even if tags are nested
- Blocks can be added as separate blocks without being added inside other blocks unintentionally. You can easily add blocks between blocks.
What is the current behavior?
- The child element (tag) becomes selected on the canvas, and the first parent element (tag) cannot be set to selected.
- Unintentionally adding a block within a block on canvas
Code of Conduct
- I agree to follow this project's Code of Conduct
Answers (3)
@artf
Sorry, frameworks don't solve everything as you say. I'll make sure to read the documentation properly from now on. Thank you for your reply.
This is not a bug but more of a UX issue related to how in general HTML works, that's also the exact reason why we provide "select parent" button in the toolbar.
Don't expect the framework to fix all the problems for you, It's up to the developer to provide a user-friendly interface and better UX, there are a lot of component properties that could help.
Thanks for reporting this, @ihatov08.
Great question about Cannot be selected on canvas if tags are nested. The recommended approach with Canvas is to use the event-driven API.
Start here:
- Check the GrapesJS documentation for your specific module
- Look for the
on()event listener method - Most operations can be achieved by listening to editor and component events
Common patterns:
// Listen for changes
editor.on('change', () => console.log('something changed'));
// Component lifecycle
editor.on('component:mount', (c) => console.log('component ready', c));
editor.on('component:update', (c) => console.log('component updated', c));
If you're still stuck:
- Share a minimal CodeSandbox reproduction
- Include what you've already tried
- Mention your GrapesJS version
- The community is here to help!
Related Questions and Answers
Continue research with similar issue discussions.
Issue #6409
Cannot drag to move components on mobile
GrapesJS version [x] I confirm to use the latest version of GrapesJS What browser are you using? Chrome v133 Reproducible demo link https:/...
Issue #5633
Cannot select component in ``component:remove`` handler
GrapesJS version [X] I confirm to use the latest version of GrapesJS What browser are you using? Chrome Version 120.0.6099.225 Reproducible...
Issue #4497
Updating to GrapesJS v19.5 from v18.4 results in Chrome becoming unresponsive
GrapesJS version[x] I confirm to use the latest version of GrapesJSWhat browser are you using? Chrome 104.0.5112.79Reproducible demo link h...
Issue #5245
Contents of component with editable:false are still editable
GrapesJS version [X] I confirm to use the latest version of GrapesJS What browser are you using? Chrome 114.0.5735.198 Reproducible demo li...
Paid Plugins That Match This Issue
Curated by issue keywords and label relevance to help you ship faster.
Loading paid plugin recommendations...
Check the open-source GrapesJS plugins on GitHub or run a quick search in our free catalog.
Browse free plugins βPremium plugins ship with support, regular updates, and production-ready features β save days of integration work.
Browse premium plugins βRelated tutorials
In-depth guides on the same topic.
Tutorial
Find the Right GrapesJS Plugin in Seconds: Smarter Discovery Is Live
We're shipping a set of discovery upgrades. New label filters, a proper compatibility switch for GrapesJS vs Studio, one-click and a smarter sort bar.
Tutorial
GrapesJS vs Webflow vs Tilda: What to Choose for Your Business in 2026
Choosing the right website platform in 2026 is no longer just about building a site
Tutorial
GJS Market 2.0 - Donations, Tracking, Labels and Better Product Discovery
Weβve rolled out a new set of GrapesJS marketplace updates across GJS Market, focused on improving how creators distribute products
Browse Plugin Categories
Jump directly to plugin category pages on the marketplace.