XF 2.3 Embed your content anywhere

This week, we're delighted to introduce a new feature in XenForo 2.3 that enhances the way you can share content on your forum. Plus, we'll show you how easy it is to share any content from your forum to other platforms using our new content embedding feature.

Rich previews for content​

If you're already familiar with URL unfurling, content embedding works similarly. In XenForo 2.2, when you post a link to content on your forum, we perform an HTTP request, download a portion of the content, and extract metadata such as the page title, description, and a logo. If you need a refresher on URL unfurling, you can find our original announcement from XenForo 2.1 here:


While URL unfurling works well for content from other sources, for content already on your forum, we're introducing a new [EMBED] BB code. This fetches a rich preview directly, and is added to your content automatically on save if you paste a link (on its own line). This is what it looks like:

hys_7_content_embed_1.png


A minor inconvenience with the unfurl system when sharing content on your forum is that it sometimes misses the context. For example, if you link to a specific forum post, the unfurl system retrieves metadata from the thread instead of the post itself. With our new content embedding system, this issue is resolved. Now, when you want to feature a specific post, the system generates a rich preview of that post, preserving the context and enhancing the viewer's experience:

hys_7_content_embed_2.png


Of course threads and posts are not the only content supported. You can also embed profile posts:

hys_7_content_embed_3.png


Resources and resource updates:

hys_7_content_embed_4.png


hys_7_content_embed_5.png


And, of course, media items and albums which are mostly the same as they were previously with the existing [GALLERY] tag:

hys_7_content_embed_6.png

hys_7_content_embed_7.png


You might already be thinking about the possibilities this opens up for developers. As always, developers are welcome to add support for their own content types in the usual way.

We're eager to hear what you think about these updates. But don't go just yet; we've got more to share.

Embedding content anywhere​

In addition to improving how you highlight content on your forum, you can now also embed your content on other forums or even non-XF content management systems.

Included in XenForo is a new script named embed.php. This script allows your content to be rendered anywhere, as long as it's visible to guests. All you need is the content type and ID and an iframe:

HTML:
<iframe src="https://xenforo.com/community/embed.php?content=thread-216767" frameborder="0" width="560"></iframe>

hys_7_content_embed_8.png


For a more accessible approach, you can find the embed code for a specific item under the share tooltip (where available):

hys_7_content_embed_9.png


This version of the embed code looks like this:

HTML:
<div class="js-xf-embed" data-url="https://xenforo.com/community" data-content="thread-216767"></div>
<script defer src="https://xenforo.com/community/js/xf/external_embed.js?_v=ab87d886"></script>
This embed code does the same job as the iframe, but with a little extra magic to make sure the iframe sizes itself perfectly to fit the content.

This new ability to externally embed content means you can now implement a BB code media site in your XenForo forum to automatically embed content from other XenForo forums!

Furthermore, starting with XenForo 2.3, we're introducing a new oEmbed endpoint to our REST API. This endpoint doesn't require authentication and is always available. For example, a request to https://xenforo.com/community/api/oembed/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fxenforo.com%2Fcommunity%2Fthreads%2Fboosting-performance-in-xenforo-2-3.216767%2F will produce the output:

JSON:
{
    "version": "1.0",
    "type": "rich",
    "provider_name": "XenForo community",
    "provider_url": "https://xf.deemit.site/community",
    "author_name": "Chris D",
    "author_url": "/community/members/chris-d.11388/",
    "html": "<div class=\"js-xf-embed\" data-url=\"https://xenforo.com/community\" data-content=\"thread-216767\"></div><script defer src=\"https://xenforo.com/community/js/xf/external_embed.js?_v=ab87d886\"></script>",
    "referrer": "",
    "cache_age": 3600
}

In addition to oEmbed making it easier to embed your content on other XenForo forums, it will also make it easier to post your content almost anywhere. For example, if you were to get your forum approved by Embed.ly, your content could end up being shared with rich previews on platforms such as Reddit, and many more!

That wraps up this week's HYS! We look forward to hearing your feedback and will be back with more next week.
 
If you have an existing BBCode(s) using PHP callback to embed add-on content, would it likely be possible to convert those existing embeds over to the new [embed] bbcode functionality?

And more broadly, can existing XF native internal linked content be checked and converted over to the new [embed] bbcode functionality?
 
If i wanted to embed a post content from an external xenforo site, shouldnt it do the embed or am i missing something?
 
that won't work out of the box coz the editor only supports bbcode. one easy workaround is to use media sites addon.

 
If i wanted to embed a post content from an external xenforo site, shouldnt it do the embed or am i missing something?
that won't work out of the box coz the editor only supports bbcode. one easy workaround is to use media sites addon.
Should work if you create your own bb code according to:
This new ability to externally embed content means you can now implement a BB code media site in your XenForo forum to automatically embed content from other XenForo forums!
Haven't tested it myself since I don't have a need to.
 
yeah that's why i said easy way out lol. op would have to create a new bbcode media site for each site otherwise. s9e lets you add a list of domains in a central locations to add support for them.
 
yeah that's why i said easy way out lol. op would have to create a new bbcode media site for each site otherwise. s9e lets you add a list of domains in a central locations to add support for them.
hmm i have the domains listed within s9e but have to put that inside parsehtml tags to get the embedded content to show from external sites.

wish things werent so half baked in core.
 


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