@json-render/react-email

React Email renderer that converts JSON specs into HTML or plain-text email output.

Quick Start

import { renderToHtml } from "@json-render/react-email";
import { schema, standardComponentDefinitions } from "@json-render/react-email";
import { defineCatalog } from "@json-render/core";

const catalog = defineCatalog(schema, {
  components: standardComponentDefinitions,
});

const spec = {
  root: "html-1",
  elements: {
    "html-1": { type: "Html", props: { lang: "en", dir: "ltr" }, children: ["head-1", "body-1"] },
    "head-1": { type: "Head", props: {}, children: [] },
    "body-1": {
      type: "Body",
      props: { style: { backgroundColor: "#f6f9fc" } },
      children: ["container-1"],
    },
    "container-1": {
      type: "Container",
      props: { style: { maxWidth: "600px", margin: "0 auto", padding: "20px" } },
      children: ["heading-1", "text-1"],
    },
    "heading-1": { type: "Heading", props: { text: "Welcome" }, children: [] },
    "text-1": { type: "Text", props: { text: "Thanks for signing up." }, children: [] },
  },
};

const html = await renderToHtml(spec);

Spec Structure (Element Tree)

Same flat element tree as @json-render/react: root key plus elements map. Root must be Html; children of Html should be Head and Body. Use Container (e.g. max-width 600px) inside Body for client-safe layout.

Creating a Catalog and Registry

import { defineCatalog } from "@json-render/core";
import { schema, defineRegistry, renderToHtml } from "@json-render/react-email";
import { standardComponentDefinitions } from "@json-render/react-email/catalog";
import { Container, Heading, Text } from "@react-email/components";
import { z } from "zod";

const catalog = defineCatalog(schema, {
  components: {
    ...standardComponentDefinitions,
    Alert: {
      props: z.object({
        message: z.string(),
        variant: z.enum(["info", "success", "warning"]).nullable(),
      }),
      slots: [],
      description: "A highlighted message block",
    },
  },
  actions: {},
});

const { registry } = defineRegistry(catalog, {
  components: {
    Alert: ({ props }) => (
      <Container style={{ padding: 16, backgroundColor: "#eff6ff", borderRadius: 8 }}>
        <Text style={{ margin: 0 }}>{props.message}</Text>
      </Container>
    ),
  },
});

const html = await renderToHtml(spec, { registry });

Server-Side Render APIs

Function	Purpose
`renderToHtml(spec, options?)`	Render spec to HTML email string
`renderToPlainText(spec, options?)`	Render spec to plain-text email string

RenderOptions: registry, includeStandard (default true), state (for $state / $cond).

Visibility and State

Supports visible conditions, $state, $cond, repeat (repeat.statePath), and the same expression syntax as @json-render/react. Use state in RenderOptions when rendering server-side so expressions resolve.

Server-Safe Import

Import schema and catalog without React or @react-email/components:

import { schema, standardComponentDefinitions } from "@json-render/react-email/server";

Key Exports

Export	Purpose
`defineRegistry`	Create type-safe component registry from catalog
`Renderer`	Render spec in browser (e.g. preview); use with `JSONUIProvider` for state/actions
`createRenderer`	Standalone renderer component with state/actions/validation
`renderToHtml`	Server: spec to HTML string
`renderToPlainText`	Server: spec to plain-text string
`schema`	Email element schema
`standardComponents`	Pre-built component implementations
`standardComponentDefinitions`	Catalog definitions (Zod props)

Sub-path Exports

Path	Purpose
`@json-render/react-email`	Full package
`@json-render/react-email/server`	Schema and catalog only (no React)
`@json-render/react-email/catalog`	Standard component definitions and types
`@json-render/react-email/render`	Render functions only

Standard Components

All components accept a style prop (object) for inline styles. Use inline styles for email client compatibility; avoid external CSS.

Document structure

Component	Description
`Html`	Root wrapper (lang, dir). Children: Head, Body.
`Head`	Email head section.
`Body`	Body wrapper; use `style` for background.

Layout

Component	Description
`Container`	Constrain width (e.g. max-width 600px).
`Section`	Group content; table-based for compatibility.
`Row`	Horizontal row.
`Column`	Column in a Row; set width via style.

Content

Component	Description
`Heading`	Heading text (as: h1–h6).
`Text`	Body text.
`Link`	Hyperlink (text, href).
`Button`	CTA link styled as button (text, href).
`Image`	Image from URL (src, alt, width, height).
`Hr`	Horizontal rule.

Utility

Component	Description
`Preview`	Inbox preview text (inside Html).
`Markdown`	Markdown content as email-safe HTML.

Email Best Practices

Keep width constrained (e.g. Container max-width 600px).
Use inline styles or React Email's style props; many clients strip <style> blocks.
Prefer table-based layout (Section, Row, Column) for broad client support.
Use absolute URLs for images; many clients block relative or cid: references in some contexts.
Test in multiple clients (Gmail, Outlook, Apple Mail); use a preview tool or Litmus-like service when possible.

react-email

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