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Real-Time Collaboration

Copera documents support real-time collaborative editing, allowing multiple people to work in the same document at the same time. Changes appear instantly for all participants, and the system handles conflict resolution automatically so no one's work is ever lost.

How It Works​

Real-time collaboration is powered by a conflict-free replicated data type (CRDT) engine that synchronizes changes across all connected clients. When you open a document, your browser establishes a persistent connection to Copera's collaboration server. Every keystroke, formatting change, and block insertion is broadcast to other editors within milliseconds.

There is nothing to enable or configure. Collaboration is active by default on every document.

Live Cursors and Selections​

When another person is editing the same document, you can see their activity in real time:

  • Cursors --- Each editor has a colored cursor with their name displayed above it. You always know exactly where someone is working.
  • Selections --- When another user selects text, their selection appears highlighted in their assigned color.
  • Presence indicators --- The document header shows avatars of all people currently viewing or editing the document.

Each person is automatically assigned a distinct color so it is easy to tell collaborators apart, even when several people are working in close proximity.

Conflict Resolution​

Copera's CRDT engine ensures that simultaneous edits never conflict. If two people type at the same position, the system merges the changes deterministically so both contributions are preserved. You do not need to worry about overwriting someone else's work or encountering merge conflicts.

Offline Editing​

If your internet connection drops temporarily, you can continue editing. Your changes are saved locally and automatically synchronized with the server when the connection is restored. Other editors will see your offline changes appear once the sync is complete.

Who Can Collaborate​

Collaboration respects the document's sharing and permission settings:

  • Editors --- People with edit permission can modify the document in real time.
  • Viewers --- People with view-only permission can see the document but cannot make changes. Their presence is still visible.
  • Anonymous viewers --- If the document is published publicly, anonymous visitors can view it but cannot edit or see other viewers' cursors.

See Sharing & Permissions for details on controlling access.

Tips for Effective Collaboration​

  • Communicate in context --- Use Mentions to tag a teammate next to a section that needs their input rather than sending a separate message.
  • Work in different sections --- When multiple people are editing simultaneously, it helps to work in different parts of the document to minimize distraction.
  • Use headings for structure --- A well-structured document with clear headings makes it easier for collaborators to navigate and find the section they need.
  • Check presence indicators --- Glance at the document header to see who else is in the document before making large structural changes.

Next Steps​