✨ What is Univer?
Univer is an open-source SDK for creating office applications inside your own product. It gives you the building blocks for spreadsheet, document, and presentation experiences without forcing you into a hosted app or a fixed UI.
Use Univer when you need to:
- Embed spreadsheet or document editing into a SaaS product, internal tool, BI workflow, or AI application.
- Run workbook/document processing on the server with the same architecture used in the browser.
- Compose only the features you need through plugins or start quickly with presets.
- Extend behavior through custom plugins, commands, services, UI components, and Facade APIs.
Univer is not a spreadsheet file viewer only. It is a framework for building your own productivity surface.
🌟 Highlights
⚡
Built for large surfaces
Canvas-based rendering and a dedicated formula engine keep complex workbooks responsive.
|
🧩
Plugin-shaped by default
Compose, replace, lazy-load, or extend capabilities without taking the whole stack.
|
🤖
Headless for AI infrastructure
Run workbook and document logic in Node.js to power agents, automation, and server-side workflows.
|
🛠️
Product-ready SDK
Framework adapters, Facade APIs, presets, and headless runtime fit real integration paths.
|
🌗
Dark-mode ready
UI components and the rendering engine both adapt to light and dark themes.
|
🔌
Unified Facade API
One consistent API surface for workbooks, ranges, formulas, and documents across browser and Node.js.
|
🚀 Why Univer?
- Isomorphic by design: run UI apps in browsers and headless processing in Node.js.
- Plugin-first architecture: every capability is delivered as a composable plugin, so features can be added, removed, replaced, or lazy-loaded.
- Preset mode for fast integration: use the curated plugin collections in
presets/ when you want a working app quickly.
- Plugin mode for full control: manually compose packages when you need custom loading, smaller bundles, or deep integration.
- Facade API: work with workbooks, worksheets, ranges, documents, formulas, commands, and events through a higher-level API.
- Canvas rendering engine: support large editable document surfaces with a rendering layer shared across document types.
- Extensible UI: integrate with React, Vue, Web Components, and framework-specific application shells.
⚡ Quick Start
Use Plugin Mode for complete product coverage and precise composition. For supported Sheets, Docs, and Node profiles, Preset Mode provides a shorter curated setup.
Plugin Mode
Plugin Mode gives you lower-level control over packages, style imports, locale merging, Facade API registration, and plugin configuration.
pnpm add @univerjs/core @univerjs/design @univerjs/docs @univerjs/docs-ui @univerjs/engine-formula @univerjs/engine-render @univerjs/sheets @univerjs/sheets-formula @univerjs/sheets-formula-ui @univerjs/sheets-numfmt @univerjs/sheets-numfmt-ui @univerjs/sheets-ui @univerjs/ui
import { LocaleType, mergeLocales, Univer } from '@univerjs/core'
import { FUniver } from '@univerjs/core/facade'
import DesignEnUS from '@univerjs/design/locale/en-US'
import { UniverDocsPlugin } from '@univerjs/docs'
import { UniverDocsUIPlugin } from '@univerjs/docs-ui'
import DocsUIEnUS from '@univerjs/docs-ui/locale/en-US'
import { UniverFormulaEnginePlugin } from '@univerjs/engine-formula'
import { UniverRenderEnginePlugin } from '@univerjs/engine-render'
import { UniverSheetsPlugin } from '@univerjs/sheets'
import SheetsEnUS from '@univerjs/sheets/locale/en-US'
import { UniverSheetsFormulaPlugin } from '@univerjs/sheets-formula'
import SheetsFormulaEnUS from '@univerjs/sheets-formula/locale/en-US'
import { UniverSheetsFormulaUIPlugin } from '@univerjs/sheets-formula-ui'
import SheetsFormulaUIEnUS from '@univerjs/sheets-formula-ui/locale/en-US'
import { UniverSheetsNumfmtPlugin } from '@univerjs/sheets-numfmt'
import { UniverSheetsNumfmtUIPlugin } from '@univerjs/sheets-numfmt-ui'
import SheetsNumfmtUIEnUS from '@univerjs/sheets-numfmt-ui/locale/en-US'
import { UniverSheetsUIPlugin } from '@univerjs/sheets-ui'
import SheetsUIEnUS from '@univerjs/sheets-ui/locale/en-US'
import { UniverUIPlugin } from '@univerjs/ui'
import UIEnUS from '@univerjs/ui/locale/en-US'
import '@univerjs/design/lib/index.css'
import '@univerjs/ui/lib/index.css'
import '@univerjs/docs-ui/lib/index.css'
import '@univerjs/sheets-ui/lib/index.css'
import '@univerjs/sheets-formula-ui/lib/index.css'
import '@univerjs/sheets-numfmt-ui/lib/index.css'
import '@univerjs/engine-formula/facade'
import '@univerjs/ui/facade'
import '@univerjs/sheets/facade'
import '@univerjs/sheets-ui/facade'
import '@univerjs/sheets-formula/facade'
import '@univerjs/sheets-numfmt/facade'
const univer = new Univer({
locale: LocaleType.EN_US,
locales: {
[LocaleType.EN_US]: mergeLocales(
DesignEnUS,
UIEnUS,
DocsUIEnUS,
SheetsEnUS,
SheetsUIEnUS,
SheetsFormulaEnUS,
SheetsFormulaUIEnUS,
SheetsNumfmtUIEnUS,
),
},
})
univer.registerPlugin(UniverRenderEnginePlugin)
univer.registerPlugin(UniverFormulaEnginePlugin)
univer.registerPlugin(UniverUIPlugin, { container: 'app' })
univer.registerPlugin(UniverDocsPlugin)
univer.registerPlugin(UniverDocsUIPlugin)
univer.registerPlugin(UniverSheetsPlugin)
univer.registerPlugin(UniverSheetsUIPlugin)
univer.registerPlugin(UniverSheetsFormulaPlugin)
univer.registerPlugin(UniverSheetsFormulaUIPlugin)
univer.registerPlugin(UniverSheetsNumfmtPlugin)
univer.registerPlugin(UniverSheetsNumfmtUIPlugin)
const univerAPI = FUniver.newAPI(univer)
univerAPI.createWorkbook({})
Preset Mode
Presets are curated collections of Univer plugins that include the required Facade API registrations and styles.
pnpm add @univerjs/presets @univerjs/preset-sheets-core
import { UniverSheetsCorePreset } from '@univerjs/preset-sheets-core'
import UniverPresetSheetsCoreEnUS from '@univerjs/preset-sheets-core/locales/en-US'
import { createUniver, LocaleType, mergeLocales } from '@univerjs/presets'
import '@univerjs/preset-sheets-core/lib/index.css'
const { univerAPI } = createUniver({
locale: LocaleType.EN_US,
locales: {
[LocaleType.EN_US]: mergeLocales(UniverPresetSheetsCoreEnUS),
},
presets: [
UniverSheetsCorePreset({
container: 'app',
}),
],
})
univerAPI.createWorkbook({})
Your page needs a container:
<div id="app" style="height: 100vh"></div>
Learn more in the Installation & Basic Usage guide, the createUniver reference, and the Facade API reference.
🧩 Preset Mode vs Plugin Mode
| Choose |
When to use it |
Start here |
| Plugin Mode |
You need strict control over packages, configured dependencies, lazy loading, or custom runtime composition. |
This repository's examples/ and architecture guide |
| Preset Mode |
You want a working Sheets, Docs, or Node setup with minimal configuration. |
This repository's presets/ and the getting started guide |
| Headless Mode |
You need server-side workbook/document processing, formula calculation, or automation without UI. |
Headless Univer |
Keep the @univerjs/* SDK packages in the same coordinated Univer release line on the same version. Independently released packages, including @univerjs/icons and @univerjs/icons-svg, use the compatible versions declared by package manifests instead of the SDK version. If you use Univer Pro packages, keep @univerjs-pro/* aligned with the matching coordinated release line.
For API compatibility expectations, experimental APIs, internal APIs, and deprecation rules, see the API Stability Policy.
🧭 Compatibility
- Browser runtime: Univer is compiled with a Chrome 88 target and aims to work on Edge
>=88, Firefox >=90, Chrome >=88, Safari >=14.1, and Electron >=12.
- Polyfills: Univer relies on
Intl.Segmenter. Add a polyfill such as @formatjs/intl-segmenter if your target browser or runtime does not provide it.
- Build tools: We recommend Vite, esbuild, or Webpack 5. If your build tool does not support the
exports field in package.json (common in Webpack 4), you may need extra path mapping.
- React: Univer's view layer is built on React 18, supports React 18 and 19, and provides minimal compatibility support for React 16.9+ and 17.
- Node.js runtime: Headless Univer supports Node.js
>=18.17.0. Developing this monorepo requires Node.js >=22.18.
🛠️ What You Can Build
| Area |
Open-source capabilities |
Univer Pro extensions |
| Sheets |
Workbooks, worksheets, ranges, selection, formulas, number formatting, filtering, sorting, data validation, conditional formatting, hyperlinks, comments, find and replace, notes, tables, drawing integration, and extensible UI plugins. |
Real-time collaboration, edit history, import/export, printing, charts, pivot tables, sparklines, outlines, shapes, in-cell graphics, data connectors, server-side calculation, and performance-enhanced formula features. |
| Docs |
Rich document model, editing UI, lists, hyperlinks, drawing integration, comments, quick insert, and shared document architecture. |
Collaboration, import/export, printing, enhanced tables and lists, columns, callouts, code blocks, quotes, shapes, and remote comment resources. |
| Slides |
Presentation data model and UI packages under active development. |
Pro slide model and UI, slide import/export, chart and table model/UI plugins, and shared shape-editing infrastructure. |
| Bases |
Build custom structured-data experiences on top of Univer's plugin, command, and model architecture. |
Base database model, commands, formula integration, workbench UI, field editors, and render-engine views. |
| Runtime |
Browser apps, Node.js headless usage, Web Worker/RPC patterns, multi-instance usage, and server-oriented automation. |
Collaboration client/server packages, Node.js collaboration client, Pro server services, SSR, computing delegation, server-side calculation, and changeset replay tooling. |
| Integrations |
React, Vue, Web Components, framework templates, theming, localization, and custom plugins. |
Pro presets and enterprise deployment packages. |
Sheets are the most mature product surface today. Docs and Slides share Univer's architecture and continue to evolve in the same SDK.
🔓 Open Source and Pro
This repository contains Univer's open-source core and first-party OSS plugins. Univer Pro is developed separately as a commercial extension layer for advanced product surfaces, collaboration, server features, and enterprise integrations.
| Category |
Open source |
Univer Pro / commercial |
| Foundation |
Core SDK, plugin system, rendering engine, formula engine, Facade API, themes, i18n, and framework adapters. |
Pro presets and enterprise deployment packages. |
| Sheets |
Core spreadsheet editing, formulas, number formatting, filter/sort, data validation, conditional formatting, notes, tables, hyperlinks, comments, drawing, find and replace. |
Collaboration, edit history, import/export, print, charts, pivot tables, sparklines, outlines, shapes, in-cell graphics, data connectors, range preprocessing, and enhanced formula engine features. |
| Docs |
Document model and editor UI, lists, hyperlinks, comments, quick insert, and drawing integration. |
Collaboration, import/export, print, enhanced tables/lists, columns, callouts, code blocks, quotes, shapes, and remote thread-comment resources. |
| Slides |
OSS presentation model and UI packages. |
Pro slide model/UI packages, slide import/export, charts, tables, and reusable shape editor UI. |
| Bases |
Extensible plugin architecture for custom data-centric products. |
Base database core model, commands, mutations, formula integration, workbench UI, field editors, and render-engine integration. |
| Server and runtime |
Node.js headless runtime, RPC/Web Worker patterns, and server-oriented automation primitives. |
Collaboration server, Node.js collaboration client, SSR services, computing delegation, server-side calculation, and collaboration changeset replay tooling. |
Pro features are documented in the Univer Pro guide. They are intentionally separated here so the OSS package surface is clear.
Boundary principles:
- OSS packages in this repository are intended to be useful on their own under the Apache-2.0 license. Univer Pro is optional and is not required to use the public OSS SDK APIs.
- Bugs, regressions, and security issues in OSS packages should be reported and fixed in the OSS repository, even when a related Pro feature exists.
- OSS documentation should not imply that Pro-only capabilities are available in public
@univerjs/* packages. Pro-only APIs, packages, and deployment paths should be named explicitly.
- When an OSS feature has a Pro enhancement, the OSS behavior should remain documented independently so users can evaluate the open-source surface without reading commercial docs first.
🌐 Ecosystem
- Core SDK:
dream-num/univer, this monorepo.
- Presets: this repository's
presets/, curated plugin collections for browser and Node.js apps.
- AI agent skills:
dream-num/univer-sdk-skills, reusable instructions for AI agents working with Univer integration, Pro features, plugin development, and Node backends. See the AI Skills guide.
- Documentation: docs.univer.ai, including Sheets, Docs, Slides, recipes, and Pro guides.
- API Reference: docs.univer.ai/reference, the Facade API and generated API reference.
- Examples and showcase: Univer Showcase and this repository's
examples/.
- AI-native spreadsheets:
dream-num/univer-mcp, Univer Platform / MCP integration for driving Univer Sheets with natural language.
📦 Repository Guide
.
├── packages/ Core packages, engines, document types, UI plugins, and feature plugins
├── examples/ All-in-one Vite workbench used for local browser development
├── common/ Shared internal tooling, storybook, and utilities
├── tests/ Additional integration test projects
└── docs/ Architecture notes, images, and repository-local documentation
Package-level READMEs live beside each package under packages/.
🧑💻 Development
Requirements:
- Node.js
>=22.18
- pnpm
>=11
git clone https://github.com/dream-num/univer.git
cd univer
pnpm install
pnpm dev
Useful commands:
| Command |
Purpose |
pnpm dev |
Start the all-in-one Sheets, Docs, and Slides workbench with Vite 8 Bundled Dev and HMR. |
pnpm build |
Build workspace packages, excluding internal common packages. |
pnpm test |
Run unit tests through Turbo. |
pnpm typecheck |
Run TypeScript checks through Turbo. |
pnpm lint |
Run ESLint. |
pnpm storybook:dev |
Start Storybook for UI component development. |
Read CONTRIBUTING.md before opening a pull request.
📝 Contributor Notes
Repository-local notes worth reading before deeper changes:
- Building Isomorphic Univer: how to split browser, Node.js, UI, and shared plugin logic.
- API Stability Policy: stable, experimental, internal, deprecated, and breaking-change expectations.
- Contributing to Facade API: API design expectations for
FUniver, FWorkbook, FRange, and related Facade classes.
- Naming Convention: file, folder, interface, plugin, command, and dependency injection token conventions.
- Fixing Memory Leaks: common leak patterns and debugging workflow for Univer instances.
- Architecture TLDRs:
Univer is an open-source SDK for embedding spreadsheet, document, and presentation editing directly into your own product, instead of hosting a separate office app.