### Author:  [@Discourse](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Discourse)
#### Post date: [September 22, 2022, 1:43am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/configure-which-programming-languages-are-available-for-syntax-highlighting/239717/1 "2022-09-22T01:43:43Z")
> 🔖 This guide explains how to configure which programming languages are available for syntax highlighting in Discourse.
>
> 🙋 Required user level: Administrator
Syntax highlighting enhances readability in code blocks by applying formatting based on the programming language. You can customize the languages available for syntax highlighting in Discourse.
## Configuring the highlighted\_languages site setting
To configure the list of programming languages for syntax highlighting:
1. Navigate to the Admin panel.
2. Go to `Config` → `Content` → `Posts and Topics`.
3. Find the `highlighted_languages` site setting.
In this setting, you can define which languages will be available for syntax highlighting. Enter the names of the languages you want to support, separated by commas.
## Related settings
There are two additional site settings related to syntax highlighting, found in the same area:
- **`default_code_lang`** — The default language applied to code blocks when no language is specified. Defaults to `auto`, which attempts to detect the language automatically.
- **`autohighlight_all_code`** — When enabled, applies syntax highlighting to all `` blocks, even those without a language class specified. Defaults to off.
## Adding support for additional languages
If your desired language is not bundled with highlight.js, you can add it via a theme component using the `api.registerHighlightJSLanguage()` plugin API. Below are the steps to achieve this:
1. **Locate a module for your language:** Find a highlight.js language definition that supports the language you want to add. For example:
- Solidity: `https://github.com/highlightjs/highlightjs-solidity`
- Supercollider: `https://github.com/highlightjs/highlightjs-supercollider`
1. **Integrate the module using a theme component:**
- Obtain the HighlightJS language definition for the desired language.
- Create a new [theme component](https://meta.discourse.org/t/installing-a-theme-or-theme-component/63682) in Discourse.
- In the theme component’s JavaScript, use the plugin API to register the language:
```javascript
api.registerHighlightJSLanguage("languageName", languageDefinitionFunction);
```
- See [Install a new language for Highlight.JS via a theme component](https://meta.discourse.org/t/install-a-new-language-for-highlight-js-via-a-theme-component/97language) for a complete example.
> Last edited by @SaraDev 2024-07-16T22:41:30Z
>
> > **Check document**
> >
> > Perform check on document:
---
### Author:  [@elopio](https://meta.discourse.org/u/elopio)
#### Post date: [November 9, 2022, 12:17am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/configure-which-programming-languages-are-available-for-syntax-highlighting/239717/2 "2022-11-09T00:17:42Z")
I want to add solidity, a language that is not bundled with highlight.js. It is provided in this package: [GitHub - highlightjs/highlightjs-solidity · GitHub](https://github.com/highlightjs/highlightjs-solidity)
I’m not sure how to do this. I’ve added it to the discourse settings. Is it going to find the package for me and take care of everything, or do I have to put this extra javascript package somewhere? I’ll appreciate some guidance 🙂
---
### Author:  [@yaxu](https://meta.discourse.org/u/yaxu)
#### Post date: [November 29, 2022, 12:49pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/configure-which-programming-languages-are-available-for-syntax-highlighting/239717/3 "2022-11-29T12:49:52Z")
I’m also interested in this, to support syntax highlighting of the supercollider language via [GitHub - highlightjs/highlightjs-supercollider · GitHub](https://github.com/highlightjs/highlightjs-supercollider)
---
### Author:  [@pacharanero](https://meta.discourse.org/u/pacharanero)
#### Post date: [January 19, 2023, 12:57pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/configure-which-programming-languages-are-available-for-syntax-highlighting/239717/4 "2023-01-19T12:57:42Z")
Bump. If we want to add syntax highlighting support for languages not already in highlight.js, is there any way to add this directly eg via a theme component, or do we need to get the upstream highlight.js people to accept a PR with the additional syntax?
I’m asking as there is an fairly esoteric pair of languages Archetype Description Language (ADL) and Archetype Query Language (AQL) which the owners of [discourse.openehr.org](http://discourse.openehr.org) would like to be syntax highlight-able. They have technical capability to build a parser/highlighter, they just need to know how to make it work in a Discourse.
---
### Author:  [@Falco](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Falco)
#### Post date: [January 19, 2023, 1:18pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/configure-which-programming-languages-are-available-for-syntax-highlighting/239717/6 "2023-01-19T13:18:13Z")
It’s totally doable as a theme component! Once you get the HighlightJS script ready ping me here and I can help you build the #Customization > Theme component .
---
### Author:  [@pacharanero](https://meta.discourse.org/u/pacharanero)
#### Post date: [January 19, 2023, 1:38pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/configure-which-programming-languages-are-available-for-syntax-highlighting/239717/7 "2023-01-19T13:38:20Z")
Thanks @Falco ! I will get the script built and will post back when ready.
---
### Author:  [@putty](https://meta.discourse.org/u/putty)
#### Post date: [August 26, 2024, 8:30pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/configure-which-programming-languages-are-available-for-syntax-highlighting/239717/8 "2024-08-26T20:30:18Z")
In the last week or two, I’ve noticed that the code highlighting doesn’t seem to be registering when it should. [See here for an example](https://developer.sailpoint.com/discuss/t/leaver-process-deprovisioning/78196/2?u=derek_putnam). When I specify a language (java in the case above), it will apply the colors.
Here is another example for XML:
[https://developer.sailpoint.com/discuss/t/get-application-roles-as-well-as-search-for-the-roles/78194?u=derek\_putnam](https://developer.sailpoint.com/discuss/t/get-application-roles-as-well-as-search-for-the-roles/78194?u=derek_putnam)
We have dozens of languages to be detected. I see the subtext under this setting says that too many can cause it to perform poorly, but I don’t think we added anything recently.
