Why is the new editor adding data-list-item-id to lists?

Forum|Forum|9 months ago
October 17, 2025
5 replies
182 views

In the new editor, we've recently discovered lists are now getting the tag data-list-item-id for example <li data-list-item-id="e2ff5718d5e4b95bd4953d3d5ba603e6a"> If we clear the data-list-item and then save, it will be regenerated. Why is this being added? It is cluttering up the HTML view.

knowledge-base

Georg11

Newcomer

I find that annoying, too.

Francis14

Employee

Hi Liz,

The data-list-item-id attribute you’re seeing on list items in the new editor is automatically added to uniquely identify each list element, supporting features like reordering and content tracking. Because it’s essential to the editor’s internal functionality, it regenerates if removed and cannot currently be disabled.

Erskine

Also find this undocumented change incredibly annoying

Why is this essential? What are zendesk's “reordering” and “content tracking” features?

A

Aarti11

From what I’ve seen, the new editor adds data-list-item-id to list items so it can track and manage each item internally. It helps with things like maintaining list order, handling edits (insert/delete), undo/redo, and syncing changes more reliably.

It’s mainly for the editor’s internal state management and usually isn’t meant to be relied on in production code.

Georg11

Newcomer

@aarti11 If it is only about the editor's “well-being,” the users should not be confronted with it. Other editors can do all that and more without cluttering the code. For me as a user, this is not an improvement.

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