Prism is a lightweight syntax highlighting library for JavaScript.
Prism solves the problem of adding code syntax highlighting to web pages with minimal overhead. It works by parsing code and applying semantic highlighting through CSS classes, allowing developers to style highlighted code through themes. The library is designed to be extensible, enabling users to add support for new languages and create custom plugins without modifying core functionality.
Prism suits projects where file size and performance matter, particularly in documentation sites, blogs, and educational platforms. It works across nearly all browsers and Node.js versions. The project maintains a separate themes repository for developers who want to customize or contribute visual styles beyond the default themes.
Contributions are managed through a structured process that requires changes to unminified component files rather than the built output, with a build system using gulp to generate final assets. The maintainer has indicated that review times for larger pull requests affecting core functionality may be extended, though smaller contributions are typically merged quickly. Contributors who add new language definitions are expected to maintain those definitions and provide test cases and examples.
