From c20d7afebf0e8d471f3dfd9406addb4a540af280 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Ella <ella@vandurpe.com>
Date: Tue, 14 Nov 2023 11:45:32 +0200
Subject: [PATCH 01/21] RichText: pass value to store (squashed)

---
 package-lock.json                             |  2 +
 .../src/components/rich-text/content.js       |  2 +-
 .../rich-text/get-rich-text-values.js         |  7 +-
 .../rich-text/native/index.native.js          |  2 +-
 .../components/rich-text/use-input-rules.js   |  4 +-
 .../components/rich-text/use-paste-handler.js |  7 +-
 packages/block-editor/src/utils/selection.js  |  9 ++-
 .../block-library/src/paragraph/block.json    |  5 +-
 .../__snapshots__/transforms.native.js.snap   |  2 +-
 .../__snapshots__/transforms.native.js.snap   |  2 +-
 packages/blocks/package.json                  |  1 +
 packages/blocks/src/api/matchers.js           | 12 ++++
 .../src/api/parser/get-block-attributes.js    | 22 ++++++-
 packages/blocks/src/api/utils.js              | 43 ++++++++++--
 .../src/footnotes/get-footnotes-order.js      |  2 +-
 packages/core-data/src/footnotes/index.js     | 18 +++--
 packages/rich-text/README.md                  |  5 ++
 packages/rich-text/src/component/index.js     | 20 ++++--
 packages/rich-text/src/create.js              | 66 ++++++++++++++++++-
 packages/rich-text/src/index.ts               |  2 +-
 schemas/json/block.json                       |  2 +
 ...al-selection-of-text-blocks-2-chromium.txt |  2 +-
 ...ith-other-blocks-in-between-2-chromium.txt |  2 +-
 ...al-selection-of-text-blocks-2-chromium.txt |  2 +-
 ...ith-other-blocks-in-between-2-chromium.txt |  2 +-
 .../fixtures/blocks/core__cover.json          |  2 +-
 .../blocks/core__cover.serialized.html        |  4 +-
 .../blocks/core__cover__deprecated-6.json     |  2 +-
 .../core__cover__deprecated-6.serialized.html |  4 +-
 .../blocks/core__cover__deprecated-7.json     |  2 +-
 .../core__cover__deprecated-7.serialized.html |  4 +-
 .../blocks/core__cover__deprecated-8.json     |  2 +-
 .../core__cover__deprecated-8.serialized.html |  4 +-
 .../blocks/core__cover__gradient-image.json   |  2 +-
 ...ore__cover__gradient-image.serialized.html |  2 +-
 .../blocks/core__cover__video-overlay.json    |  2 +-
 ...core__cover__video-overlay.serialized.html |  4 +-
 .../fixtures/blocks/core__cover__video.json   |  2 +-
 .../blocks/core__cover__video.serialized.html |  4 +-
 .../core__text__converts-to-paragraph.json    |  2 +-
 ...ext__converts-to-paragraph.serialized.html |  2 +-
 .../documents/ms-word-online-out.html         |  6 +-
 .../documents/ms-word-styled-out.html         |  2 +-
 .../documents/slack-paragraphs-out.html       |  2 +-
 .../fixtures/documents/slack-quote-out.html   |  2 +-
 .../non-matched-tags-handling.test.js         |  6 +-
 46 files changed, 228 insertions(+), 77 deletions(-)

diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
index e4b4aeb47f6bad..f65b8101b9da90 100644
--- a/package-lock.json
+++ b/package-lock.json
@@ -54674,6 +54674,7 @@
 				"@wordpress/i18n": "file:../i18n",
 				"@wordpress/is-shallow-equal": "file:../is-shallow-equal",
 				"@wordpress/private-apis": "file:../private-apis",
+				"@wordpress/rich-text": "file:../rich-text",
 				"@wordpress/shortcode": "file:../shortcode",
 				"change-case": "^4.1.2",
 				"colord": "^2.7.0",
@@ -70139,6 +70140,7 @@
 				"@wordpress/i18n": "file:../i18n",
 				"@wordpress/is-shallow-equal": "file:../is-shallow-equal",
 				"@wordpress/private-apis": "file:../private-apis",
+				"@wordpress/rich-text": "file:../rich-text",
 				"@wordpress/shortcode": "file:../shortcode",
 				"change-case": "^4.1.2",
 				"colord": "^2.7.0",
diff --git a/packages/block-editor/src/components/rich-text/content.js b/packages/block-editor/src/components/rich-text/content.js
index 9762582f86f141..cb13dd01213418 100644
--- a/packages/block-editor/src/components/rich-text/content.js
+++ b/packages/block-editor/src/components/rich-text/content.js
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ export const Content = ( { value, tagName: Tag, multiline, ...props } ) => {
 		value = `<${ MultilineTag }></${ MultilineTag }>`;
 	}
 
-	const content = <RawHTML>{ value }</RawHTML>;
+	const content = <RawHTML>{ value?.valueOf() }</RawHTML>;
 
 	if ( Tag ) {
 		const { format, ...restProps } = props;
diff --git a/packages/block-editor/src/components/rich-text/get-rich-text-values.js b/packages/block-editor/src/components/rich-text/get-rich-text-values.js
index bd1c62ea5e6f61..88e6013bca4ddd 100644
--- a/packages/block-editor/src/components/rich-text/get-rich-text-values.js
+++ b/packages/block-editor/src/components/rich-text/get-rich-text-values.js
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import {
 	getSaveElement,
 	__unstableGetBlockProps as getBlockProps,
 } from '@wordpress/blocks';
+import { RichTextData } from '@wordpress/rich-text';
 
 /**
  * Internal dependencies
@@ -95,5 +96,9 @@ export function getRichTextValues( blocks = [] ) {
 	const values = [];
 	addValuesForBlocks( values, blocks );
 	getBlockProps.skipFilters = false;
-	return values;
+	return values.map( ( value ) =>
+		value instanceof RichTextData
+			? value
+			: new RichTextData( { html: value } )
+	);
 }
diff --git a/packages/block-editor/src/components/rich-text/native/index.native.js b/packages/block-editor/src/components/rich-text/native/index.native.js
index 951d52ece6d694..130e8be10238a8 100644
--- a/packages/block-editor/src/components/rich-text/native/index.native.js
+++ b/packages/block-editor/src/components/rich-text/native/index.native.js
@@ -191,7 +191,7 @@ export class RichText extends Component {
 			selectionEnd: end,
 			colorPalette,
 		} = this.props;
-		const { value } = this.props;
+		const { value = '' } = this.props;
 		const currentValue = this.formatToValue( value );
 
 		const { formats, replacements, text } = currentValue;
diff --git a/packages/block-editor/src/components/rich-text/use-input-rules.js b/packages/block-editor/src/components/rich-text/use-input-rules.js
index 5aa47e7c7b4d74..607165d2ead62d 100644
--- a/packages/block-editor/src/components/rich-text/use-input-rules.js
+++ b/packages/block-editor/src/components/rich-text/use-input-rules.js
@@ -28,7 +28,9 @@ function findSelection( blocks ) {
 		if ( attributeKey ) {
 			blocks[ i ].attributes[ attributeKey ] = blocks[ i ].attributes[
 				attributeKey
-			].replace( START_OF_SELECTED_AREA, '' );
+			]
+				.toString()
+				.replace( START_OF_SELECTED_AREA, '' );
 			return [ blocks[ i ].clientId, attributeKey, 0, 0 ];
 		}
 
diff --git a/packages/block-editor/src/components/rich-text/use-paste-handler.js b/packages/block-editor/src/components/rich-text/use-paste-handler.js
index 1302e2d0dce469..5baf5858701219 100644
--- a/packages/block-editor/src/components/rich-text/use-paste-handler.js
+++ b/packages/block-editor/src/components/rich-text/use-paste-handler.js
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ import {
 	findTransform,
 	getBlockTransforms,
 } from '@wordpress/blocks';
-import { isEmpty, insert, create } from '@wordpress/rich-text';
+import { isEmpty, insert, create, RichTextData } from '@wordpress/rich-text';
 import { isURL } from '@wordpress/url';
 
 /**
@@ -134,7 +134,10 @@ export function usePasteHandler( props ) {
 				tagName,
 			} );
 
-			if ( typeof content === 'string' ) {
+			if (
+				typeof content === 'string' ||
+				content instanceof RichTextData
+			) {
 				const transformed = formatTypes.reduce(
 					( accumlator, { __unstablePasteRule } ) => {
 						// Only allow one transform.
diff --git a/packages/block-editor/src/utils/selection.js b/packages/block-editor/src/utils/selection.js
index 68c634d591c5e9..733ec8f1c37192 100644
--- a/packages/block-editor/src/utils/selection.js
+++ b/packages/block-editor/src/utils/selection.js
@@ -1,3 +1,8 @@
+/**
+ * WordPress dependencies
+ */
+import { RichTextData } from '@wordpress/rich-text';
+
 /**
  * A robust way to retain selection position through various
  * transforms is to insert a special character at the position and
@@ -19,8 +24,8 @@ export function retrieveSelectedAttribute( blockAttributes ) {
 	return Object.keys( blockAttributes ).find( ( name ) => {
 		const value = blockAttributes[ name ];
 		return (
-			typeof value === 'string' &&
-			value.indexOf( START_OF_SELECTED_AREA ) !== -1
+			( typeof value === 'string' || value instanceof RichTextData ) &&
+			value.toString().indexOf( START_OF_SELECTED_AREA ) !== -1
 		);
 	} );
 }
diff --git a/packages/block-library/src/paragraph/block.json b/packages/block-library/src/paragraph/block.json
index 85f56f4a838f50..3fe4fbb34e1029 100644
--- a/packages/block-library/src/paragraph/block.json
+++ b/packages/block-library/src/paragraph/block.json
@@ -13,10 +13,9 @@
 			"type": "string"
 		},
 		"content": {
-			"type": "string",
-			"source": "html",
+			"type": "rich-text",
+			"source": "rich-text",
 			"selector": "p",
-			"default": "",
 			"__experimentalRole": "content"
 		},
 		"dropCap": {
diff --git a/packages/block-library/src/preformatted/test/__snapshots__/transforms.native.js.snap b/packages/block-library/src/preformatted/test/__snapshots__/transforms.native.js.snap
index 81adef5b228388..e39fc8b92b2401 100644
--- a/packages/block-library/src/preformatted/test/__snapshots__/transforms.native.js.snap
+++ b/packages/block-library/src/preformatted/test/__snapshots__/transforms.native.js.snap
@@ -26,6 +26,6 @@ exports[`Preformatted block transforms to Group block 1`] = `
 
 exports[`Preformatted block transforms to Paragraph block 1`] = `
 "<!-- wp:paragraph -->
-<p>Some <em>preformatted</em> text...<br />And more!</p>
+<p>Some <em>preformatted</em> text...<br>And more!</p>
 <!-- /wp:paragraph -->"
 `;
diff --git a/packages/block-library/src/verse/test/__snapshots__/transforms.native.js.snap b/packages/block-library/src/verse/test/__snapshots__/transforms.native.js.snap
index 5570a6cf5d67d9..46e536a0f19f36 100644
--- a/packages/block-library/src/verse/test/__snapshots__/transforms.native.js.snap
+++ b/packages/block-library/src/verse/test/__snapshots__/transforms.native.js.snap
@@ -20,6 +20,6 @@ exports[`Verse block transforms to Group block 1`] = `
 
 exports[`Verse block transforms to Paragraph block 1`] = `
 "<!-- wp:paragraph -->
-<p>Come<br />Home.</p>
+<p>Come<br>Home.</p>
 <!-- /wp:paragraph -->"
 `;
diff --git a/packages/blocks/package.json b/packages/blocks/package.json
index 961cb338d73378..928d9d94740b4f 100644
--- a/packages/blocks/package.json
+++ b/packages/blocks/package.json
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@
 		"@wordpress/i18n": "file:../i18n",
 		"@wordpress/is-shallow-equal": "file:../is-shallow-equal",
 		"@wordpress/private-apis": "file:../private-apis",
+		"@wordpress/rich-text": "file:../rich-text",
 		"@wordpress/shortcode": "file:../shortcode",
 		"change-case": "^4.1.2",
 		"colord": "^2.7.0",
diff --git a/packages/blocks/src/api/matchers.js b/packages/blocks/src/api/matchers.js
index 7a6ac84891658a..a6ae94efe20630 100644
--- a/packages/blocks/src/api/matchers.js
+++ b/packages/blocks/src/api/matchers.js
@@ -3,6 +3,11 @@
  */
 export { attr, prop, text, query } from 'hpq';
 
+/**
+ * WordPress dependencies
+ */
+import { RichTextData } from '@wordpress/rich-text';
+
 /**
  * Internal dependencies
  */
@@ -41,3 +46,10 @@ export function html( selector, multilineTag ) {
 		return match.innerHTML;
 	};
 }
+
+export const richText = ( selector ) => ( el ) => {
+	return new RichTextData( {
+		element: selector ? el.querySelector( selector ) : el,
+		preserveWhiteSpace: false,
+	} );
+};
diff --git a/packages/blocks/src/api/parser/get-block-attributes.js b/packages/blocks/src/api/parser/get-block-attributes.js
index cc81c108005529..1d687cedecc63c 100644
--- a/packages/blocks/src/api/parser/get-block-attributes.js
+++ b/packages/blocks/src/api/parser/get-block-attributes.js
@@ -9,12 +9,22 @@ import memoize from 'memize';
  */
 import { pipe } from '@wordpress/compose';
 import { applyFilters } from '@wordpress/hooks';
+import { RichTextData } from '@wordpress/rich-text';
 
 /**
  * Internal dependencies
  */
-import { attr, html, text, query, node, children, prop } from '../matchers';
-import { normalizeBlockType } from '../utils';
+import {
+	attr,
+	html,
+	text,
+	query,
+	node,
+	children,
+	prop,
+	richText,
+} from '../matchers';
+import { normalizeBlockType, getDefault } from '../utils';
 
 /**
  * Higher-order hpq matcher which enhances an attribute matcher to return true
@@ -58,6 +68,9 @@ export const toBooleanAttributeMatcher = ( matcher ) =>
  */
 export function isOfType( value, type ) {
 	switch ( type ) {
+		case 'rich-text':
+			return value instanceof RichTextData;
+
 		case 'string':
 			return typeof value === 'string';
 
@@ -134,6 +147,7 @@ export function getBlockAttribute(
 		case 'property':
 		case 'html':
 		case 'text':
+		case 'rich-text':
 		case 'children':
 		case 'node':
 		case 'query':
@@ -152,7 +166,7 @@ export function getBlockAttribute(
 	}
 
 	if ( value === undefined ) {
-		value = attributeSchema.default;
+		value = getDefault( attributeSchema );
 	}
 
 	return value;
@@ -211,6 +225,8 @@ export const matcherFromSource = memoize( ( sourceConfig ) => {
 			return html( sourceConfig.selector, sourceConfig.multiline );
 		case 'text':
 			return text( sourceConfig.selector );
+		case 'rich-text':
+			return richText( sourceConfig.selector );
 		case 'children':
 			return children( sourceConfig.selector );
 		case 'node':
diff --git a/packages/blocks/src/api/utils.js b/packages/blocks/src/api/utils.js
index c43445c6272264..35096f6e68240f 100644
--- a/packages/blocks/src/api/utils.js
+++ b/packages/blocks/src/api/utils.js
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import a11yPlugin from 'colord/plugins/a11y';
 import { Component, isValidElement } from '@wordpress/element';
 import { __, sprintf } from '@wordpress/i18n';
 import { __unstableStripHTML as stripHTML } from '@wordpress/dom';
+import { RichTextData } from '@wordpress/rich-text';
 
 /**
  * Internal dependencies
@@ -47,8 +48,12 @@ export function isUnmodifiedBlock( block ) {
 	const newBlock = isUnmodifiedBlock[ block.name ];
 	const blockType = getBlockType( block.name );
 
-	return Object.keys( blockType?.attributes ?? {} ).every(
-		( key ) => newBlock.attributes[ key ] === block.attributes[ key ]
+	function isEqual( a, b ) {
+		return ( a?.valueOf() ?? a ) === ( b?.valueOf() ?? b );
+	}
+
+	return Object.keys( blockType?.attributes ?? {} ).every( ( key ) =>
+		isEqual( newBlock.attributes[ key ], block.attributes[ key ] )
 	);
 }
 
@@ -243,6 +248,16 @@ export function getAccessibleBlockLabel(
 	);
 }
 
+export function getDefault( attributeSchema ) {
+	if ( attributeSchema.default !== undefined ) {
+		return attributeSchema.default;
+	}
+
+	if ( attributeSchema.type === 'rich-text' ) {
+		return new RichTextData();
+	}
+}
+
 /**
  * Ensure attributes contains only values defined by block type, and merge
  * default values for missing attributes.
@@ -264,9 +279,27 @@ export function __experimentalSanitizeBlockAttributes( name, attributes ) {
 			const value = attributes[ key ];
 
 			if ( undefined !== value ) {
-				accumulator[ key ] = value;
-			} else if ( schema.hasOwnProperty( 'default' ) ) {
-				accumulator[ key ] = schema.default;
+				if ( schema.type === 'rich-text' ) {
+					if ( value instanceof RichTextData ) {
+						accumulator[ key ] = value;
+					} else if ( typeof value === 'string' ) {
+						accumulator[ key ] = new RichTextData( {
+							html: value,
+						} );
+					}
+				} else if (
+					schema.type === 'string' &&
+					value instanceof RichTextData
+				) {
+					accumulator[ key ] = value.toString();
+				} else {
+					accumulator[ key ] = value;
+				}
+			} else {
+				const _default = getDefault( schema );
+				if ( undefined !== _default ) {
+					accumulator[ key ] = _default;
+				}
 			}
 
 			if ( [ 'node', 'children' ].indexOf( schema.source ) !== -1 ) {
diff --git a/packages/core-data/src/footnotes/get-footnotes-order.js b/packages/core-data/src/footnotes/get-footnotes-order.js
index 42adeed7621e8f..169ca44264b2d5 100644
--- a/packages/core-data/src/footnotes/get-footnotes-order.js
+++ b/packages/core-data/src/footnotes/get-footnotes-order.js
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ function getBlockFootnotesOrder( block ) {
 	if ( ! cache.has( block ) ) {
 		const order = [];
 		for ( const value of getRichTextValuesCached( block ) ) {
-			if ( ! value || ! value.includes( 'data-fn' ) ) {
+			if ( ! value ) {
 				continue;
 			}
 
diff --git a/packages/core-data/src/footnotes/index.js b/packages/core-data/src/footnotes/index.js
index fa1c5fad5c7e7d..c95aa048168194 100644
--- a/packages/core-data/src/footnotes/index.js
+++ b/packages/core-data/src/footnotes/index.js
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 /**
  * WordPress dependencies
  */
-import { create, toHTMLString } from '@wordpress/rich-text';
+import { RichTextData, create, toHTMLString } from '@wordpress/rich-text';
 
 /**
  * Internal dependencies
@@ -53,11 +53,11 @@ export function updateFootnotesFromMeta( blocks, meta ) {
 				continue;
 			}
 
-			if ( typeof value !== 'string' ) {
-				continue;
-			}
-
-			if ( value.indexOf( 'data-fn' ) === -1 ) {
+			// To do, remove support for string values.
+			if (
+				typeof value !== 'string' &&
+				! ( value instanceof RichTextData )
+			) {
 				continue;
 			}
 
@@ -78,7 +78,11 @@ export function updateFootnotesFromMeta( blocks, meta ) {
 				}
 			} );
 
-			attributes[ key ] = toHTMLString( { value: richTextValue } );
+			if ( typeof value === 'string' ) {
+				attributes[ key ] = toHTMLString( { value: richTextValue } );
+			} else {
+				attributes[ key ] = new RichTextData( richTextValue );
+			}
 		}
 
 		return attributes;
diff --git a/packages/rich-text/README.md b/packages/rich-text/README.md
index 90726ff238c1bd..4f99cc33413fe9 100644
--- a/packages/rich-text/README.md
+++ b/packages/rich-text/README.md
@@ -175,6 +175,7 @@ _Parameters_
 -   _$1.html_ `[string]`: HTML to create value from.
 -   _$1.range_ `[Range]`: Range to create value from.
 -   _$1.\_\_unstableIsEditableTree_ `[boolean]`:
+-   _$1.preserveWhiteSpace_ `[boolean]`:
 
 _Returns_
 
@@ -355,6 +356,10 @@ _Returns_
 
 -   `RichTextValue`: A new value with replacements applied.
 
+### RichTextData
+
+Undocumented declaration.
+
 ### RichTextValue
 
 An object which represents a formatted string. See main `@wordpress/rich-text` documentation for more information.
diff --git a/packages/rich-text/src/component/index.js b/packages/rich-text/src/component/index.js
index 0e9291b7a5e03d..f9251b0aa83dc9 100644
--- a/packages/rich-text/src/component/index.js
+++ b/packages/rich-text/src/component/index.js
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ import { useRegistry } from '@wordpress/data';
 /**
  * Internal dependencies
  */
-import { collapseWhiteSpace, create } from '../create';
+import { collapseWhiteSpace, create, RichTextData } from '../create';
 import { apply } from '../to-dom';
 import { toHTMLString } from '../to-html-string';
 import { useDefaultStyle } from './use-default-style';
@@ -71,9 +71,10 @@ export function useRichText( {
 	function setRecordFromProps() {
 		_value.current = value;
 		record.current = create( {
-			html: preserveWhiteSpace
-				? value
-				: collapseWhiteSpace( typeof value === 'string' ? value : '' ),
+			html:
+				typeof value !== 'string' || preserveWhiteSpace
+					? value
+					: collapseWhiteSpace( value ),
 		} );
 		if ( disableFormats ) {
 			record.current.formats = Array( value.length );
@@ -116,7 +117,7 @@ export function useRichText( {
 
 		if ( disableFormats ) {
 			_value.current = newRecord.text;
-		} else {
+		} else if ( typeof value === 'string' ) {
 			_value.current = toHTMLString( {
 				value: __unstableBeforeSerialize
 					? {
@@ -125,6 +126,15 @@ export function useRichText( {
 					  }
 					: newRecord,
 			} );
+		} else {
+			_value.current = new RichTextData(
+				__unstableBeforeSerialize
+					? {
+							...newRecord,
+							formats: __unstableBeforeSerialize( newRecord ),
+					  }
+					: newRecord
+			);
 		}
 
 		const { start, end, formats, text } = newRecord;
diff --git a/packages/rich-text/src/create.js b/packages/rich-text/src/create.js
index a23baf70078bc9..1d18c59a946525 100644
--- a/packages/rich-text/src/create.js
+++ b/packages/rich-text/src/create.js
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import { store as richTextStore } from './store';
 import { createElement } from './create-element';
 import { mergePair } from './concat';
 import { OBJECT_REPLACEMENT_CHARACTER, ZWNBSP } from './special-characters';
+import { toHTMLString } from './to-html-string';
 
 /** @typedef {import('./types').RichTextValue} RichTextValue */
 
@@ -96,6 +97,29 @@ function toFormat( { tagName, attributes } ) {
 	};
 }
 
+const RichTextInternalData = Symbol( 'RichTextInternalData' );
+
+export class RichTextData {
+	constructor( init ) {
+		this[ RichTextInternalData ] = init?.formats ? init : create( init );
+	}
+	get html() {
+		return toHTMLString( { value: this[ RichTextInternalData ] } );
+	}
+	valueOf() {
+		return this.html;
+	}
+	toString() {
+		return this.html;
+	}
+	toJSON() {
+		return this.html;
+	}
+	get length() {
+		return this[ RichTextInternalData ].text.length;
+	}
+}
+
 /**
  * Create a RichText value from an `Element` tree (DOM), an HTML string or a
  * plain text string, with optionally a `Range` object to set the selection. If
@@ -128,7 +152,7 @@ function toFormat( { tagName, attributes } ) {
  * @param {string}  [$1.html]                     HTML to create value from.
  * @param {Range}   [$1.range]                    Range to create value from.
  * @param {boolean} [$1.__unstableIsEditableTree]
- *
+ * @param {boolean} [$1.preserveWhiteSpace]
  * @return {RichTextValue} A rich text value.
  */
 export function create( {
@@ -137,7 +161,13 @@ export function create( {
 	html,
 	range,
 	__unstableIsEditableTree: isEditableTree,
+	preserveWhiteSpace,
 } = {} ) {
+	// Ideally we use the instance internally as well.
+	if ( html instanceof RichTextData ) {
+		return { ...html[ RichTextInternalData ] };
+	}
+
 	if ( typeof text === 'string' && text.length > 0 ) {
 		return {
 			formats: Array( text.length ),
@@ -156,6 +186,40 @@ export function create( {
 		return createEmptyValue();
 	}
 
+	function collapseWhiteSpaceElement( el, isRoot = true ) {
+		Array.from( el.childNodes ).forEach( ( node ) => {
+			if ( node.nodeType === node.TEXT_NODE ) {
+				node.nodeValue = node.nodeValue
+					.replace( /[\n\t\r]+/g, ' ' )
+					.replace( / {2,}/g, ' ' );
+			} else if ( node.nodeType === node.ELEMENT_NODE ) {
+				collapseWhiteSpaceElement( node, false );
+			}
+		} );
+
+		if (
+			el.firstChild &&
+			el.firstChild.nodeType === el.TEXT_NODE &&
+			el.firstChild.nodeValue.startsWith( ' ' )
+		) {
+			el.firstChild.nodeValue = el.firstChild.nodeValue.slice( 1 );
+		}
+
+		if (
+			isRoot &&
+			el.lastChild &&
+			el.lastChild.nodeType === el.TEXT_NODE &&
+			el.lastChild.nodeValue.endsWith( ' ' )
+		) {
+			el.lastChild.nodeValue = el.lastChild.nodeValue.slice( 0, -1 );
+		}
+	}
+
+	if ( element && preserveWhiteSpace === false ) {
+		element.normalize();
+		collapseWhiteSpaceElement( element );
+	}
+
 	return createFromElement( {
 		element,
 		range,
diff --git a/packages/rich-text/src/index.ts b/packages/rich-text/src/index.ts
index 14d26cab8f7fb1..f82317d81573d0 100644
--- a/packages/rich-text/src/index.ts
+++ b/packages/rich-text/src/index.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 export { store } from './store';
 export { applyFormat } from './apply-format';
 export { concat } from './concat';
-export { create } from './create';
+export { RichTextData, create } from './create';
 export { getActiveFormat } from './get-active-format';
 export { getActiveFormats } from './get-active-formats';
 export { getActiveObject } from './get-active-object';
diff --git a/schemas/json/block.json b/schemas/json/block.json
index d5b4a04452eaa6..7e0c8715a4abda 100644
--- a/schemas/json/block.json
+++ b/schemas/json/block.json
@@ -114,6 +114,7 @@
 										"object",
 										"array",
 										"string",
+										"rich-text",
 										"integer",
 										"number"
 									]
@@ -159,6 +160,7 @@
 							"enum": [
 								"attribute",
 								"text",
+								"rich-text",
 								"html",
 								"raw",
 								"query",
diff --git a/test/e2e/specs/editor/various/__snapshots__/Copy-cut-paste-should-copy-only-partial-selection-of-text-blocks-2-chromium.txt b/test/e2e/specs/editor/various/__snapshots__/Copy-cut-paste-should-copy-only-partial-selection-of-text-blocks-2-chromium.txt
index 18b145e715a96e..f23061be5765a5 100644
--- a/test/e2e/specs/editor/various/__snapshots__/Copy-cut-paste-should-copy-only-partial-selection-of-text-blocks-2-chromium.txt
+++ b/test/e2e/specs/editor/various/__snapshots__/Copy-cut-paste-should-copy-only-partial-selection-of-text-blocks-2-chromium.txt
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 <!-- /wp:paragraph -->
 
 <!-- wp:paragraph -->
-<p>B </p>
+<p>B</p>
 <!-- /wp:paragraph -->
 
 <!-- wp:paragraph -->
diff --git a/test/e2e/specs/editor/various/__snapshots__/Copy-cut-paste-should-copy-paste-partial-selection-with-other-blocks-in-between-2-chromium.txt b/test/e2e/specs/editor/various/__snapshots__/Copy-cut-paste-should-copy-paste-partial-selection-with-other-blocks-in-between-2-chromium.txt
index 98ec917dd6da5a..039fd06b6a410b 100644
--- a/test/e2e/specs/editor/various/__snapshots__/Copy-cut-paste-should-copy-paste-partial-selection-with-other-blocks-in-between-2-chromium.txt
+++ b/test/e2e/specs/editor/various/__snapshots__/Copy-cut-paste-should-copy-paste-partial-selection-with-other-blocks-in-between-2-chromium.txt
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 <!-- /wp:spacer -->
 
 <!-- wp:paragraph -->
-<p>B </p>
+<p>B</p>
 <!-- /wp:paragraph -->
 
 <!-- wp:paragraph -->
diff --git a/test/e2e/specs/editor/various/__snapshots__/Copy-cut-paste-should-cut-partial-selection-of-text-blocks-2-chromium.txt b/test/e2e/specs/editor/various/__snapshots__/Copy-cut-paste-should-cut-partial-selection-of-text-blocks-2-chromium.txt
index 75d374dd0deb42..b6d9703a212cf4 100644
--- a/test/e2e/specs/editor/various/__snapshots__/Copy-cut-paste-should-cut-partial-selection-of-text-blocks-2-chromium.txt
+++ b/test/e2e/specs/editor/various/__snapshots__/Copy-cut-paste-should-cut-partial-selection-of-text-blocks-2-chromium.txt
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 <!-- /wp:paragraph -->
 
 <!-- wp:paragraph -->
-<p>B </p>
+<p>B</p>
 <!-- /wp:paragraph -->
 
 <!-- wp:paragraph -->
diff --git a/test/e2e/specs/editor/various/__snapshots__/Copy-cut-paste-should-cut-paste-partial-selection-with-other-blocks-in-between-2-chromium.txt b/test/e2e/specs/editor/various/__snapshots__/Copy-cut-paste-should-cut-paste-partial-selection-with-other-blocks-in-between-2-chromium.txt
index e862b0f6116960..90011a21d7eb71 100644
--- a/test/e2e/specs/editor/various/__snapshots__/Copy-cut-paste-should-cut-paste-partial-selection-with-other-blocks-in-between-2-chromium.txt
+++ b/test/e2e/specs/editor/various/__snapshots__/Copy-cut-paste-should-cut-paste-partial-selection-with-other-blocks-in-between-2-chromium.txt
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 <!-- /wp:spacer -->
 
 <!-- wp:paragraph -->
-<p>B </p>
+<p>B</p>
 <!-- /wp:paragraph -->
 
 <!-- wp:paragraph -->
diff --git a/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover.json b/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover.json
index a7ed06e153012d..a16cd2fe7ea79c 100644
--- a/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover.json
+++ b/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover.json
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@
 				"isValid": true,
 				"attributes": {
 					"align": "center",
-					"content": "\n\t\t\tGuten Berg!\n\t\t",
+					"content": "Guten Berg!",
 					"dropCap": false,
 					"placeholder": "Write title…",
 					"fontSize": "large"
diff --git a/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover.serialized.html b/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover.serialized.html
index b7eeb8cf4b85d8..e518c8042f9325 100644
--- a/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover.serialized.html
+++ b/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover.serialized.html
@@ -1,7 +1,5 @@
 <!-- wp:cover {"url":"data:image/jpeg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAMCAgICAgMCAgIDAwMDBAYEBAQEBAgGBgUGCQgKCgkICQkKDA8MCgsOCwkJDRENDg8QEBEQCgwSExIQEw8QEBD/yQALCAABAAEBAREA/8wABgAQEAX/2gAIAQEAAD8A0s8g/9k=","dimRatio":40} -->
 <div class="wp-block-cover"><span aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-cover__background has-background-dim-40 has-background-dim"></span><img class="wp-block-cover__image-background" alt="" src="data:image/jpeg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAMCAgICAgMCAgIDAwMDBAYEBAQEBAgGBgUGCQgKCgkICQkKDA8MCgsOCwkJDRENDg8QEBEQCgwSExIQEw8QEBD/yQALCAABAAEBAREA/8wABgAQEAX/2gAIAQEAAD8A0s8g/9k=" data-object-fit="cover"/><div class="wp-block-cover__inner-container"><!-- wp:paragraph {"align":"center","placeholder":"Write title…","fontSize":"large"} -->
-<p class="has-text-align-center has-large-font-size">
-			Guten Berg!
-		</p>
+<p class="has-text-align-center has-large-font-size">Guten Berg!</p>
 <!-- /wp:paragraph --></div></div>
 <!-- /wp:cover -->
diff --git a/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover__deprecated-6.json b/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover__deprecated-6.json
index 62bea629e8efe6..2889f8a324ac1d 100644
--- a/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover__deprecated-6.json
+++ b/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover__deprecated-6.json
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
 				"isValid": true,
 				"attributes": {
 					"align": "center",
-					"content": "\n\t\t\tGuten Berg!\n\t\t",
+					"content": "Guten Berg!",
 					"dropCap": false,
 					"placeholder": "Write title…",
 					"fontSize": "large"
diff --git a/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover__deprecated-6.serialized.html b/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover__deprecated-6.serialized.html
index 657c10cc928964..458471eae5d49a 100644
--- a/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover__deprecated-6.serialized.html
+++ b/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover__deprecated-6.serialized.html
@@ -1,8 +1,6 @@
 <!-- wp:cover {"url":"data:image/jpeg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAMCAgICAgMCAgIDAwMDBAYEBAQEBAgGBgUGCQgKCgkICQkKDA8MCgsOCwkJDRENDg8QEBEQCgwSExIQEw8QEBD/yQALCAABAAEBAREA/8wABgAQEAX/2gAIAQEAAD8A0s8g/9k=","dimRatio":40} -->
 <div class="wp-block-cover is-light"><span aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-cover__background has-background-dim-40 has-background-dim"></span><img class="wp-block-cover__image-background" src="data:image/jpeg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAMCAgICAgMCAgIDAwMDBAYEBAQEBAgGBgUGCQgKCgkICQkKDA8MCgsOCwkJDRENDg8QEBEQCgwSExIQEw8QEBD/yQALCAABAAEBAREA/8wABgAQEAX/2gAIAQEAAD8A0s8g/9k=" data-object-fit="cover"/><div class="wp-block-cover__inner-container"><!-- wp:paragraph {"align":"center","placeholder":"Write title…","fontSize":"large"} -->
-<p class="has-text-align-center has-large-font-size">
-			Guten Berg!
-		</p>
+<p class="has-text-align-center has-large-font-size">Guten Berg!</p>
 <!-- /wp:paragraph --></div></div>
 <!-- /wp:cover -->
 
diff --git a/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover__deprecated-7.json b/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover__deprecated-7.json
index 1ebd864bd38301..8997b7a88ea318 100644
--- a/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover__deprecated-7.json
+++ b/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover__deprecated-7.json
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 				"isValid": true,
 				"attributes": {
 					"align": "center",
-					"content": "\n\t\t\tGuten Berg!\n\t\t",
+					"content": "Guten Berg!",
 					"dropCap": false,
 					"placeholder": "Write title…",
 					"fontSize": "large"
diff --git a/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover__deprecated-7.serialized.html b/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover__deprecated-7.serialized.html
index baa8e32e7e8238..17dba6228cad5e 100644
--- a/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover__deprecated-7.serialized.html
+++ b/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover__deprecated-7.serialized.html
@@ -1,7 +1,5 @@
 <!-- wp:cover {"url":"data:image/jpeg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAMCAgICAgMCAgIDAwMDBAYEBAQEBAgGBgUGCQgKCgkICQkKDA8MCgsOCwkJDRENDg8QEBEQCgwSExIQEw8QEBD/yQALCAABAAEBAREA/8wABgAQEAX/2gAIAQEAAD8A0s8g/9k=","dimRatio":40} -->
 <div class="wp-block-cover is-light"><span aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-cover__background has-background-dim-40 has-background-dim"></span><img class="wp-block-cover__image-background" alt="" src="data:image/jpeg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAMCAgICAgMCAgIDAwMDBAYEBAQEBAgGBgUGCQgKCgkICQkKDA8MCgsOCwkJDRENDg8QEBEQCgwSExIQEw8QEBD/yQALCAABAAEBAREA/8wABgAQEAX/2gAIAQEAAD8A0s8g/9k=" data-object-fit="cover"/><div class="wp-block-cover__inner-container"><!-- wp:paragraph {"align":"center","placeholder":"Write title…","fontSize":"large"} -->
-<p class="has-text-align-center has-large-font-size">
-			Guten Berg!
-		</p>
+<p class="has-text-align-center has-large-font-size">Guten Berg!</p>
 <!-- /wp:paragraph --></div></div>
 <!-- /wp:cover -->
diff --git a/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover__deprecated-8.json b/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover__deprecated-8.json
index 9d5142e60fdd53..14252b71c00cd2 100644
--- a/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover__deprecated-8.json
+++ b/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover__deprecated-8.json
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
 				"isValid": true,
 				"attributes": {
 					"align": "center",
-					"content": "\n                Guten Berg!\n        ",
+					"content": "Guten Berg!",
 					"dropCap": false,
 					"placeholder": "Write title…",
 					"fontSize": "large"
diff --git a/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover__deprecated-8.serialized.html b/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover__deprecated-8.serialized.html
index fd99791a8e5247..e518c8042f9325 100644
--- a/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover__deprecated-8.serialized.html
+++ b/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover__deprecated-8.serialized.html
@@ -1,7 +1,5 @@
 <!-- wp:cover {"url":"data:image/jpeg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAMCAgICAgMCAgIDAwMDBAYEBAQEBAgGBgUGCQgKCgkICQkKDA8MCgsOCwkJDRENDg8QEBEQCgwSExIQEw8QEBD/yQALCAABAAEBAREA/8wABgAQEAX/2gAIAQEAAD8A0s8g/9k=","dimRatio":40} -->
 <div class="wp-block-cover"><span aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-cover__background has-background-dim-40 has-background-dim"></span><img class="wp-block-cover__image-background" alt="" src="data:image/jpeg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAMCAgICAgMCAgIDAwMDBAYEBAQEBAgGBgUGCQgKCgkICQkKDA8MCgsOCwkJDRENDg8QEBEQCgwSExIQEw8QEBD/yQALCAABAAEBAREA/8wABgAQEAX/2gAIAQEAAD8A0s8g/9k=" data-object-fit="cover"/><div class="wp-block-cover__inner-container"><!-- wp:paragraph {"align":"center","placeholder":"Write title…","fontSize":"large"} -->
-<p class="has-text-align-center has-large-font-size">
-                Guten Berg!
-        </p>
+<p class="has-text-align-center has-large-font-size">Guten Berg!</p>
 <!-- /wp:paragraph --></div></div>
 <!-- /wp:cover -->
diff --git a/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover__gradient-image.json b/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover__gradient-image.json
index 5be874e5064346..25edbb780646ac 100644
--- a/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover__gradient-image.json
+++ b/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover__gradient-image.json
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
 				"isValid": true,
 				"attributes": {
 					"align": "center",
-					"content": " Cover! ",
+					"content": "Cover!",
 					"dropCap": false,
 					"placeholder": "Write title…",
 					"fontSize": "large"
diff --git a/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover__gradient-image.serialized.html b/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover__gradient-image.serialized.html
index 135949383f712c..32a435e10c2008 100644
--- a/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover__gradient-image.serialized.html
+++ b/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover__gradient-image.serialized.html
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 <!-- wp:cover {"url":"data:image/jpeg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAMCAgICAgMCAgIDAwMDBAYEBAQEBAgGBgUGCQgKCgkICQkKDA8MCgsOCwkJDRENDg8QEBEQCgwSExIQEw8QEBD/yQALCAABAAEBAREA/8wABgAQEAX/2gAIAQEAAD8A0s8g/9k=","dimRatio":30,"customGradient":"linear-gradient(135deg,rgba(0,208,132,1) 0%,rgba(6,147,227,1) 100%)"} -->
 <div class="wp-block-cover"><span aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-cover__background has-background-dim-30 has-background-dim wp-block-cover__gradient-background has-background-gradient" style="background:linear-gradient(135deg,rgba(0,208,132,1) 0%,rgba(6,147,227,1) 100%)"></span><img class="wp-block-cover__image-background" alt="" src="data:image/jpeg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAMCAgICAgMCAgIDAwMDBAYEBAQEBAgGBgUGCQgKCgkICQkKDA8MCgsOCwkJDRENDg8QEBEQCgwSExIQEw8QEBD/yQALCAABAAEBAREA/8wABgAQEAX/2gAIAQEAAD8A0s8g/9k=" data-object-fit="cover"/><div class="wp-block-cover__inner-container"><!-- wp:paragraph {"align":"center","placeholder":"Write title…","fontSize":"large"} -->
-<p class="has-text-align-center has-large-font-size"> Cover! </p>
+<p class="has-text-align-center has-large-font-size">Cover!</p>
 <!-- /wp:paragraph --></div></div>
 <!-- /wp:cover -->
diff --git a/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover__video-overlay.json b/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover__video-overlay.json
index 7916e3f7a20b6e..9360369e88c756 100644
--- a/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover__video-overlay.json
+++ b/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover__video-overlay.json
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@
 				"isValid": true,
 				"attributes": {
 					"align": "center",
-					"content": "\n\t\t\tGuten Berg!\n\t\t",
+					"content": "Guten Berg!",
 					"dropCap": false,
 					"placeholder": "Write title…",
 					"fontSize": "large"
diff --git a/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover__video-overlay.serialized.html b/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover__video-overlay.serialized.html
index 3cbf472fe84c4a..dd3cf49b976bc9 100644
--- a/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover__video-overlay.serialized.html
+++ b/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover__video-overlay.serialized.html
@@ -1,7 +1,5 @@
 <!-- wp:cover {"url":"data:video/mp4;base64,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","dimRatio":10,"customOverlayColor":"#3615d9","isUserOverlayColor":true,"backgroundType":"video"} -->
 <div class="wp-block-cover"><span aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-cover__background has-background-dim-10 has-background-dim" style="background-color:#3615d9"></span><video class="wp-block-cover__video-background intrinsic-ignore" autoplay muted loop playsinline src="data:video/mp4;base64,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" data-object-fit="cover"></video><div class="wp-block-cover__inner-container"><!-- wp:paragraph {"align":"center","placeholder":"Write title…","fontSize":"large"} -->
-<p class="has-text-align-center has-large-font-size">
-			Guten Berg!
-		</p>
+<p class="has-text-align-center has-large-font-size">Guten Berg!</p>
 <!-- /wp:paragraph --></div></div>
 <!-- /wp:cover -->
diff --git a/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover__video.json b/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover__video.json
index 698239ef191838..9ccddf0955cd12 100644
--- a/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover__video.json
+++ b/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover__video.json
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@
 				"isValid": true,
 				"attributes": {
 					"align": "center",
-					"content": "\n\t\t\tGuten Berg!\n\t\t",
+					"content": "Guten Berg!",
 					"dropCap": false,
 					"placeholder": "Write title…",
 					"fontSize": "large"
diff --git a/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover__video.serialized.html b/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover__video.serialized.html
index 0fb6cbf9e1266e..80fe15b5b5c80f 100644
--- a/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover__video.serialized.html
+++ b/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover__video.serialized.html
@@ -1,7 +1,5 @@
 <!-- wp:cover {"url":"data:video/mp4;base64,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","dimRatio":40,"backgroundType":"video"} -->
 <div class="wp-block-cover"><span aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-cover__background has-background-dim-40 has-background-dim"></span><video class="wp-block-cover__video-background intrinsic-ignore" autoplay muted loop playsinline src="data:video/mp4;base64,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" data-object-fit="cover"></video><div class="wp-block-cover__inner-container"><!-- wp:paragraph {"align":"center","placeholder":"Write title…","fontSize":"large"} -->
-<p class="has-text-align-center has-large-font-size">
-			Guten Berg!
-		</p>
+<p class="has-text-align-center has-large-font-size">Guten Berg!</p>
 <!-- /wp:paragraph --></div></div>
 <!-- /wp:cover -->
diff --git a/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__text__converts-to-paragraph.json b/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__text__converts-to-paragraph.json
index 2e4cd5c6444d47..ed2dec4ffc59f4 100644
--- a/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__text__converts-to-paragraph.json
+++ b/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__text__converts-to-paragraph.json
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 		"name": "core/paragraph",
 		"isValid": true,
 		"attributes": {
-			"content": "This is an old-style text block.  Changed to <code>paragraph</code> in #2135.",
+			"content": "This is an old-style text block. Changed to <code>paragraph</code> in #2135.",
 			"dropCap": false
 		},
 		"innerBlocks": []
diff --git a/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__text__converts-to-paragraph.serialized.html b/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__text__converts-to-paragraph.serialized.html
index 61fd699dace637..7a11c004984d1f 100644
--- a/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__text__converts-to-paragraph.serialized.html
+++ b/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__text__converts-to-paragraph.serialized.html
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 <!-- wp:paragraph -->
-<p>This is an old-style text block.  Changed to <code>paragraph</code> in #2135.</p>
+<p>This is an old-style text block. Changed to <code>paragraph</code> in #2135.</p>
 <!-- /wp:paragraph -->
diff --git a/test/integration/fixtures/documents/ms-word-online-out.html b/test/integration/fixtures/documents/ms-word-online-out.html
index 398281520f2542..1016918e9fe387 100644
--- a/test/integration/fixtures/documents/ms-word-online-out.html
+++ b/test/integration/fixtures/documents/ms-word-online-out.html
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 <!-- wp:paragraph -->
-<p>This is a <em>heading</em>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>This is a <em>heading</em> </p>
 <!-- /wp:paragraph -->
 
 <!-- wp:paragraph -->
-<p>This is a <strong>paragraph </strong>with a <a href="https://w.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">link</a>.&nbsp;</p>
+<p>This is a <strong>paragraph </strong>with a <a href="https://w.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">link</a>. </p>
 <!-- /wp:paragraph -->
 
 <!-- wp:list -->
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@
 <!-- /wp:table -->
 
 <!-- wp:paragraph -->
-<p>An image:&nbsp;</p>
+<p>An image: </p>
 <!-- /wp:paragraph -->
 
 <!-- wp:image -->
diff --git a/test/integration/fixtures/documents/ms-word-styled-out.html b/test/integration/fixtures/documents/ms-word-styled-out.html
index 277d8d37bbc630..8107bab7aa1d25 100644
--- a/test/integration/fixtures/documents/ms-word-styled-out.html
+++ b/test/integration/fixtures/documents/ms-word-styled-out.html
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 <!-- wp:paragraph -->
-<p><strong>Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit&nbsp;</strong></p>
+<p><strong>Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit </strong></p>
 <!-- /wp:paragraph -->
 
 <!-- wp:paragraph -->
diff --git a/test/integration/fixtures/documents/slack-paragraphs-out.html b/test/integration/fixtures/documents/slack-paragraphs-out.html
index 462b64daeeb6a5..7f443cd7bf9e1f 100644
--- a/test/integration/fixtures/documents/slack-paragraphs-out.html
+++ b/test/integration/fixtures/documents/slack-paragraphs-out.html
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 <!-- wp:paragraph -->
-<p>test with&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://w.org/" rel="noreferrer noopener">link</a><br>a new line</p>
+<p>test with <a target="_blank" href="http://w.org/" rel="noreferrer noopener">link</a><br>a new line</p>
 <!-- /wp:paragraph -->
 
 <!-- wp:paragraph -->
diff --git a/test/integration/fixtures/documents/slack-quote-out.html b/test/integration/fixtures/documents/slack-quote-out.html
index b5f9f82483d788..6026309133fecc 100644
--- a/test/integration/fixtures/documents/slack-quote-out.html
+++ b/test/integration/fixtures/documents/slack-quote-out.html
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 <!-- wp:quote -->
 <blockquote class="wp-block-quote"><!-- wp:paragraph -->
-<p>Test with&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://w.org/" rel="noreferrer noopener">link</a>.</p>
+<p>Test with <a target="_blank" href="http://w.org/" rel="noreferrer noopener">link</a>.</p>
 <!-- /wp:paragraph --></blockquote>
 <!-- /wp:quote -->
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/test/integration/non-matched-tags-handling.test.js b/test/integration/non-matched-tags-handling.test.js
index 67438192f13680..1c3dc1557284ba 100644
--- a/test/integration/non-matched-tags-handling.test.js
+++ b/test/integration/non-matched-tags-handling.test.js
@@ -19,9 +19,9 @@ describe( 'Handling of non matched tags in block transforms', () => {
 
 		expect( simplePreformattedResult ).toHaveLength( 1 );
 		expect( simplePreformattedResult[ 0 ].name ).toBe( 'core/paragraph' );
-		expect( simplePreformattedResult[ 0 ].attributes.content ).toBe(
-			'Pre'
-		);
+		expect(
+			simplePreformattedResult[ 0 ].attributes.content.valueOf()
+		).toBe( 'Pre' );
 
 		const codeResult = pasteHandler( {
 			HTML: '<pre><code>code</code></pre>',

From 39cbba36bd4fb090a4ae7625c7ebd3d01fd5fcda Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Ella <ella@vandurpe.com>
Date: Tue, 14 Nov 2023 19:37:10 +0200
Subject: [PATCH 02/21] Polish constructor + docs

---
 .../rich-text/get-rich-text-values.js         |   6 +-
 packages/blocks/src/api/matchers.js           |   3 +-
 packages/blocks/src/api/utils.js              |   4 +-
 .../src/footnotes/get-footnotes-order.js      |  15 +-
 packages/core-data/src/footnotes/index.js     |   6 +-
 packages/rich-text/README.md                  |   5 +-
 packages/rich-text/src/component/index.js     |  18 ++-
 packages/rich-text/src/create.js              | 152 ++++++++++++------
 8 files changed, 130 insertions(+), 79 deletions(-)

diff --git a/packages/block-editor/src/components/rich-text/get-rich-text-values.js b/packages/block-editor/src/components/rich-text/get-rich-text-values.js
index 88e6013bca4ddd..facef6bb2e2131 100644
--- a/packages/block-editor/src/components/rich-text/get-rich-text-values.js
+++ b/packages/block-editor/src/components/rich-text/get-rich-text-values.js
@@ -96,9 +96,5 @@ export function getRichTextValues( blocks = [] ) {
 	const values = [];
 	addValuesForBlocks( values, blocks );
 	getBlockProps.skipFilters = false;
-	return values.map( ( value ) =>
-		value instanceof RichTextData
-			? value
-			: new RichTextData( { html: value } )
-	);
+	return values.map( ( value ) => new RichTextData( value ) );
 }
diff --git a/packages/blocks/src/api/matchers.js b/packages/blocks/src/api/matchers.js
index a6ae94efe20630..b3c6a829d02a8c 100644
--- a/packages/blocks/src/api/matchers.js
+++ b/packages/blocks/src/api/matchers.js
@@ -48,8 +48,7 @@ export function html( selector, multilineTag ) {
 }
 
 export const richText = ( selector ) => ( el ) => {
-	return new RichTextData( {
-		element: selector ? el.querySelector( selector ) : el,
+	return new RichTextData( selector ? el.querySelector( selector ) : el, {
 		preserveWhiteSpace: false,
 	} );
 };
diff --git a/packages/blocks/src/api/utils.js b/packages/blocks/src/api/utils.js
index 35096f6e68240f..a79b7cf7b65b91 100644
--- a/packages/blocks/src/api/utils.js
+++ b/packages/blocks/src/api/utils.js
@@ -283,9 +283,7 @@ export function __experimentalSanitizeBlockAttributes( name, attributes ) {
 					if ( value instanceof RichTextData ) {
 						accumulator[ key ] = value;
 					} else if ( typeof value === 'string' ) {
-						accumulator[ key ] = new RichTextData( {
-							html: value,
-						} );
+						accumulator[ key ] = new RichTextData( value );
 					}
 				} else if (
 					schema.type === 'string' &&
diff --git a/packages/core-data/src/footnotes/get-footnotes-order.js b/packages/core-data/src/footnotes/get-footnotes-order.js
index 169ca44264b2d5..fcaeae660ec1aa 100644
--- a/packages/core-data/src/footnotes/get-footnotes-order.js
+++ b/packages/core-data/src/footnotes/get-footnotes-order.js
@@ -1,8 +1,3 @@
-/**
- * WordPress dependencies
- */
-import { create } from '@wordpress/rich-text';
-
 /**
  * Internal dependencies
  */
@@ -19,13 +14,11 @@ function getBlockFootnotesOrder( block ) {
 			}
 
 			// replacements is a sparse array, use forEach to skip empty slots.
-			create( { html: value } ).replacements.forEach(
-				( { type, attributes } ) => {
-					if ( type === 'core/footnote' ) {
-						order.push( attributes[ 'data-fn' ] );
-					}
+			value.replacements.forEach( ( { type, attributes } ) => {
+				if ( type === 'core/footnote' ) {
+					order.push( attributes[ 'data-fn' ] );
 				}
-			);
+			} );
 		}
 		cache.set( block, order );
 	}
diff --git a/packages/core-data/src/footnotes/index.js b/packages/core-data/src/footnotes/index.js
index c95aa048168194..6668a2c060bb29 100644
--- a/packages/core-data/src/footnotes/index.js
+++ b/packages/core-data/src/footnotes/index.js
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ export function updateFootnotesFromMeta( blocks, meta ) {
 				continue;
 			}
 
-			const richTextValue = create( { html: value } );
+			const richTextValue = new RichTextData( value );
 
 			richTextValue.replacements.forEach( ( replacement ) => {
 				if ( replacement.type === 'core/footnote' ) {
@@ -79,9 +79,9 @@ export function updateFootnotesFromMeta( blocks, meta ) {
 			} );
 
 			if ( typeof value === 'string' ) {
-				attributes[ key ] = toHTMLString( { value: richTextValue } );
+				attributes[ key ] = richTextValue.toString();
 			} else {
-				attributes[ key ] = new RichTextData( richTextValue );
+				attributes[ key ] = richTextValue;
 			}
 		}
 
diff --git a/packages/rich-text/README.md b/packages/rich-text/README.md
index 4f99cc33413fe9..550e145c232f33 100644
--- a/packages/rich-text/README.md
+++ b/packages/rich-text/README.md
@@ -175,7 +175,6 @@ _Parameters_
 -   _$1.html_ `[string]`: HTML to create value from.
 -   _$1.range_ `[Range]`: Range to create value from.
 -   _$1.\_\_unstableIsEditableTree_ `[boolean]`:
--   _$1.preserveWhiteSpace_ `[boolean]`:
 
 _Returns_
 
@@ -358,7 +357,9 @@ _Returns_
 
 ### RichTextData
 
-Undocumented declaration.
+The RichTextData class is used to instantiate a wrapper around rich text values, with methods that can be used to transform or manipulate the data.
+
+Create an emtpy instance: `new RichTextData()`. Create one from an html string: `new RichTextData( '<em>hello</em>' )`. Create one from a DOM wrapper element: `new RichTextData( document.createElement( 'p' ) )`. Create Create one from a rich text value: `new RichTextData( { text: '...', formats: [ ... ] } )`.
 
 ### RichTextValue
 
diff --git a/packages/rich-text/src/component/index.js b/packages/rich-text/src/component/index.js
index f9251b0aa83dc9..6efe22960b57d9 100644
--- a/packages/rich-text/src/component/index.js
+++ b/packages/rich-text/src/component/index.js
@@ -70,12 +70,18 @@ export function useRichText( {
 
 	function setRecordFromProps() {
 		_value.current = value;
-		record.current = create( {
-			html:
-				typeof value !== 'string' || preserveWhiteSpace
-					? value
-					: collapseWhiteSpace( value ),
-		} );
+		record.current =
+			value instanceof RichTextData
+				? {
+						text: value.text,
+						formats: value.formats,
+						replacements: value.replacements,
+				  }
+				: create( {
+						html: preserveWhiteSpace
+							? value
+							: collapseWhiteSpace( value ),
+				  } );
 		if ( disableFormats ) {
 			record.current.formats = Array( value.length );
 			record.current.replacements = Array( value.length );
diff --git a/packages/rich-text/src/create.js b/packages/rich-text/src/create.js
index 1d18c59a946525..e4af786b910d9e 100644
--- a/packages/rich-text/src/create.js
+++ b/packages/rich-text/src/create.js
@@ -97,26 +97,117 @@ function toFormat( { tagName, attributes } ) {
 	};
 }
 
+function collapseWhiteSpaceElement( el, isRoot = true ) {
+	Array.from( el.childNodes ).forEach( ( node ) => {
+		if ( node.nodeType === node.TEXT_NODE ) {
+			node.nodeValue = node.nodeValue
+				.replace( /[\n\t\r\f]+/g, ' ' )
+				.replace( / {2,}/g, ' ' );
+		} else if ( node.nodeType === node.ELEMENT_NODE ) {
+			collapseWhiteSpaceElement( node, false );
+		}
+	} );
+
+	if (
+		el.firstChild &&
+		el.firstChild.nodeType === el.TEXT_NODE &&
+		el.firstChild.nodeValue.startsWith( ' ' )
+	) {
+		el.firstChild.nodeValue = el.firstChild.nodeValue.slice( 1 );
+	}
+
+	if (
+		isRoot &&
+		el.lastChild &&
+		el.lastChild.nodeType === el.TEXT_NODE &&
+		el.lastChild.nodeValue.endsWith( ' ' )
+	) {
+		el.lastChild.nodeValue = el.lastChild.nodeValue.slice( 0, -1 );
+	}
+}
+
+// Ideally we use a private property.
 const RichTextInternalData = Symbol( 'RichTextInternalData' );
 
+/**
+ * The RichTextData class is used to instantiate a wrapper around rich text
+ * values, with methods that can be used to transform or manipulate the data.
+ *
+ * Create an emtpy instance: `new RichTextData()`.
+ * Create one from an html string: `new RichTextData( '<em>hello</em>' )`.
+ * Create one from a DOM wrapper element:
+ * `new RichTextData( document.createElement( 'p' ) )`.
+ * Create
+ * Create one from a rich text value:
+ * `new RichTextData( { text: '...', formats: [ ... ] } )`.
+ *
+ * @todo Add methods to manipulate the data, such as slice etc.
+ */
 export class RichTextData {
-	constructor( init ) {
-		this[ RichTextInternalData ] = init?.formats ? init : create( init );
-	}
-	get html() {
-		return toHTMLString( { value: this[ RichTextInternalData ] } );
+	constructor( init, options = {} ) {
+		if ( ! init ) {
+			init = createEmptyValue();
+		} else if ( typeof init === 'string' ) {
+			init = create( { html: init } );
+		} else if ( init.nodeType && init.nodeType === init.ELEMENT_NODE ) {
+			init.normalize();
+			const { preserveWhiteSpace = false } = options;
+			if ( preserveWhiteSpace === false ) {
+				collapseWhiteSpaceElement( init );
+			}
+			init = create( { element: init } );
+		} else if ( init.text ) {
+			init = {
+				text: init.text,
+				formats: init.formats,
+				replacements: init.replacements,
+			};
+
+			if ( ! init.formats ) {
+				init.formats = Array( init.text.length );
+			} else if ( init.formats.length !== init.text.length ) {
+				throw new Error(
+					'RichTextData: `formats` and `text` must be of the same length.'
+				);
+			}
+
+			if ( ! init.replacements ) {
+				init.replacements = Array( init.text.length );
+			} else if ( init.replacements.length !== init.text.length ) {
+				throw new Error(
+					'RichTextData: `replacements` and `text` must be of the same length.'
+				);
+			}
+		} else {
+			init = createEmptyValue();
+		}
+
+		// Setting text, formats, and replacements as enumerable properties
+		// unfortunately visualises these in the e2e tests. As long as the class
+		// instance doesn't have any enumerable properties, it will be
+		// visualised as a string.
+		Object.defineProperty( this, RichTextInternalData, { value: init } );
 	}
 	valueOf() {
-		return this.html;
+		return toHTMLString( { value: this[ RichTextInternalData ] } );
 	}
 	toString() {
-		return this.html;
+		return this.valueOf();
 	}
 	toJSON() {
-		return this.html;
+		return this.valueOf();
 	}
 	get length() {
-		return this[ RichTextInternalData ].text.length;
+		return this.text.length;
+	}
+	get formats() {
+		return this[ RichTextInternalData ].formats;
+	}
+	get replacements() {
+		return this[ RichTextInternalData ].replacements;
+	}
+	get text() {
+		return this[ RichTextInternalData ].text;
 	}
 }
 
@@ -152,7 +243,6 @@ export class RichTextData {
  * @param {string}  [$1.html]                     HTML to create value from.
  * @param {Range}   [$1.range]                    Range to create value from.
  * @param {boolean} [$1.__unstableIsEditableTree]
- * @param {boolean} [$1.preserveWhiteSpace]
  * @return {RichTextValue} A rich text value.
  */
 export function create( {
@@ -161,11 +251,13 @@ export function create( {
 	html,
 	range,
 	__unstableIsEditableTree: isEditableTree,
-	preserveWhiteSpace,
 } = {} ) {
-	// Ideally we use the instance internally as well.
 	if ( html instanceof RichTextData ) {
-		return { ...html[ RichTextInternalData ] };
+		return {
+			text: html.text,
+			formats: html.formats,
+			replacements: html.replacements,
+		};
 	}
 
 	if ( typeof text === 'string' && text.length > 0 ) {
@@ -186,40 +278,6 @@ export function create( {
 		return createEmptyValue();
 	}
 
-	function collapseWhiteSpaceElement( el, isRoot = true ) {
-		Array.from( el.childNodes ).forEach( ( node ) => {
-			if ( node.nodeType === node.TEXT_NODE ) {
-				node.nodeValue = node.nodeValue
-					.replace( /[\n\t\r]+/g, ' ' )
-					.replace( / {2,}/g, ' ' );
-			} else if ( node.nodeType === node.ELEMENT_NODE ) {
-				collapseWhiteSpaceElement( node, false );
-			}
-		} );
-
-		if (
-			el.firstChild &&
-			el.firstChild.nodeType === el.TEXT_NODE &&
-			el.firstChild.nodeValue.startsWith( ' ' )
-		) {
-			el.firstChild.nodeValue = el.firstChild.nodeValue.slice( 1 );
-		}
-
-		if (
-			isRoot &&
-			el.lastChild &&
-			el.lastChild.nodeType === el.TEXT_NODE &&
-			el.lastChild.nodeValue.endsWith( ' ' )
-		) {
-			el.lastChild.nodeValue = el.lastChild.nodeValue.slice( 0, -1 );
-		}
-	}
-
-	if ( element && preserveWhiteSpace === false ) {
-		element.normalize();
-		collapseWhiteSpaceElement( element );
-	}
-
 	return createFromElement( {
 		element,
 		range,

From 587c9971a3323bf23bf91a93e30406204a6236de Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Ella <ella@vandurpe.com>
Date: Tue, 14 Nov 2023 20:20:13 +0200
Subject: [PATCH 03/21] wip

---
 .../src/components/rich-text/native/index.native.js             | 2 +-
 1 file changed, 1 insertion(+), 1 deletion(-)

diff --git a/packages/block-editor/src/components/rich-text/native/index.native.js b/packages/block-editor/src/components/rich-text/native/index.native.js
index 130e8be10238a8..951d52ece6d694 100644
--- a/packages/block-editor/src/components/rich-text/native/index.native.js
+++ b/packages/block-editor/src/components/rich-text/native/index.native.js
@@ -191,7 +191,7 @@ export class RichText extends Component {
 			selectionEnd: end,
 			colorPalette,
 		} = this.props;
-		const { value = '' } = this.props;
+		const { value } = this.props;
 		const currentValue = this.formatToValue( value );
 
 		const { formats, replacements, text } = currentValue;

From dbd30102acbaa503e38a3a5a8b5852c64d6e0cc3 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Ella <ella@vandurpe.com>
Date: Wed, 15 Nov 2023 16:48:37 +0200
Subject: [PATCH 04/21] Add to heading and list

---
 packages/block-library/src/heading/block.json   | 5 ++---
 packages/block-library/src/list-item/block.json | 5 ++---
 2 files changed, 4 insertions(+), 6 deletions(-)

diff --git a/packages/block-library/src/heading/block.json b/packages/block-library/src/heading/block.json
index dfd5bb72b63314..72cc67caddd9ea 100644
--- a/packages/block-library/src/heading/block.json
+++ b/packages/block-library/src/heading/block.json
@@ -12,10 +12,9 @@
 			"type": "string"
 		},
 		"content": {
-			"type": "string",
-			"source": "html",
+			"type": "rich-text",
+			"source": "rich-text",
 			"selector": "h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6",
-			"default": "",
 			"__experimentalRole": "content"
 		},
 		"level": {
diff --git a/packages/block-library/src/list-item/block.json b/packages/block-library/src/list-item/block.json
index 07797be8623a51..06997c2ac23f8e 100644
--- a/packages/block-library/src/list-item/block.json
+++ b/packages/block-library/src/list-item/block.json
@@ -12,10 +12,9 @@
 			"type": "string"
 		},
 		"content": {
-			"type": "string",
-			"source": "html",
+			"type": "rich-text",
+			"source": "rich-text",
 			"selector": "li",
-			"default": "",
 			"__experimentalRole": "content"
 		}
 	},

From 898fc8d30eb7be18f22d47621b26b59b1f47ba1f Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Ella <ella@vandurpe.com>
Date: Mon, 27 Nov 2023 15:48:24 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 05/21] Add to all blocks

---
 packages/block-library/src/audio/block.json   |  4 ++--
 packages/block-library/src/button/block.json  |  4 ++--
 packages/block-library/src/code/block.json    |  4 ++--
 packages/block-library/src/code/save.js       |  2 +-
 packages/block-library/src/details/block.json |  4 ++--
 packages/block-library/src/embed/block.json   |  4 ++--
 packages/block-library/src/file/block.json    |  8 ++++----
 packages/block-library/src/file/save.js       |  4 +++-
 .../block-library/src/form-input/block.json   |  4 ++--
 packages/block-library/src/gallery/block.json |  8 ++++----
 packages/block-library/src/image/block.json   |  4 ++--
 .../block-library/src/preformatted/block.json |  5 ++---
 .../block-library/src/pullquote/block.json    |  9 ++++-----
 packages/block-library/src/quote/block.json   |  5 ++---
 packages/block-library/src/table/block.json   | 19 +++++++++----------
 packages/block-library/src/verse/block.json   |  5 ++---
 packages/block-library/src/video/block.json   |  4 ++--
 packages/blocks/src/api/matchers.js           |  4 ++--
 .../src/api/parser/get-block-attributes.js    |  5 ++++-
 .../api/raw-handling/test/paste-handler.js    |  4 ++--
 .../blocks/core__gallery__deprecated-1.json   |  2 ++
 .../documents/ms-word-online-out.html         | 14 +++++++-------
 22 files changed, 64 insertions(+), 62 deletions(-)

diff --git a/packages/block-library/src/audio/block.json b/packages/block-library/src/audio/block.json
index a4740e304451ce..04df268a74a630 100644
--- a/packages/block-library/src/audio/block.json
+++ b/packages/block-library/src/audio/block.json
@@ -16,8 +16,8 @@
 			"__experimentalRole": "content"
 		},
 		"caption": {
-			"type": "string",
-			"source": "html",
+			"type": "rich-text",
+			"source": "rich-text",
 			"selector": "figcaption",
 			"__experimentalRole": "content"
 		},
diff --git a/packages/block-library/src/button/block.json b/packages/block-library/src/button/block.json
index eec327b4ca48e4..3c232700a876e6 100644
--- a/packages/block-library/src/button/block.json
+++ b/packages/block-library/src/button/block.json
@@ -36,8 +36,8 @@
 			"__experimentalRole": "content"
 		},
 		"text": {
-			"type": "string",
-			"source": "html",
+			"type": "rich-text",
+			"source": "rich-text",
 			"selector": "a,button",
 			"__experimentalRole": "content"
 		},
diff --git a/packages/block-library/src/code/block.json b/packages/block-library/src/code/block.json
index 80df74b5062b56..bd5db3c918b963 100644
--- a/packages/block-library/src/code/block.json
+++ b/packages/block-library/src/code/block.json
@@ -8,8 +8,8 @@
 	"textdomain": "default",
 	"attributes": {
 		"content": {
-			"type": "string",
-			"source": "html",
+			"type": "rich-text",
+			"source": "rich-text",
 			"selector": "code",
 			"__unstablePreserveWhiteSpace": true
 		}
diff --git a/packages/block-library/src/code/save.js b/packages/block-library/src/code/save.js
index 7dd355f3855a86..fc00d084b54744 100644
--- a/packages/block-library/src/code/save.js
+++ b/packages/block-library/src/code/save.js
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ export default function save( { attributes } ) {
 		<pre { ...useBlockProps.save() }>
 			<RichText.Content
 				tagName="code"
-				value={ escape( attributes.content ) }
+				value={ escape( attributes.content.toString() ) }
 			/>
 		</pre>
 	);
diff --git a/packages/block-library/src/details/block.json b/packages/block-library/src/details/block.json
index d449d42e1e10c4..a71d3af2a5ed39 100644
--- a/packages/block-library/src/details/block.json
+++ b/packages/block-library/src/details/block.json
@@ -13,8 +13,8 @@
 			"default": false
 		},
 		"summary": {
-			"type": "string",
-			"source": "html",
+			"type": "rich-text",
+			"source": "rich-text",
 			"selector": "summary"
 		}
 	},
diff --git a/packages/block-library/src/embed/block.json b/packages/block-library/src/embed/block.json
index 9ca54db871db19..5aac8bbd6b8cab 100644
--- a/packages/block-library/src/embed/block.json
+++ b/packages/block-library/src/embed/block.json
@@ -12,8 +12,8 @@
 			"__experimentalRole": "content"
 		},
 		"caption": {
-			"type": "string",
-			"source": "html",
+			"type": "rich-text",
+			"source": "rich-text",
 			"selector": "figcaption",
 			"__experimentalRole": "content"
 		},
diff --git a/packages/block-library/src/file/block.json b/packages/block-library/src/file/block.json
index 0cc20b3f501e9b..9dc6677e4adce3 100644
--- a/packages/block-library/src/file/block.json
+++ b/packages/block-library/src/file/block.json
@@ -21,8 +21,8 @@
 			"attribute": "id"
 		},
 		"fileName": {
-			"type": "string",
-			"source": "html",
+			"type": "rich-text",
+			"source": "rich-text",
 			"selector": "a:not([download])"
 		},
 		"textLinkHref": {
@@ -42,8 +42,8 @@
 			"default": true
 		},
 		"downloadButtonText": {
-			"type": "string",
-			"source": "html",
+			"type": "rich-text",
+			"source": "rich-text",
 			"selector": "a[download]"
 		},
 		"displayPreview": {
diff --git a/packages/block-library/src/file/save.js b/packages/block-library/src/file/save.js
index 6d0684ac76b8ef..5ec09221f4159b 100644
--- a/packages/block-library/src/file/save.js
+++ b/packages/block-library/src/file/save.js
@@ -25,7 +25,9 @@ export default function save( { attributes } ) {
 		previewHeight,
 	} = attributes;
 
-	const pdfEmbedLabel = RichText.isEmpty( fileName ) ? 'PDF embed' : fileName;
+	const pdfEmbedLabel = RichText.isEmpty( fileName )
+		? 'PDF embed'
+		: fileName.toString();
 
 	const hasFilename = ! RichText.isEmpty( fileName );
 
diff --git a/packages/block-library/src/form-input/block.json b/packages/block-library/src/form-input/block.json
index 067b7ac69430c4..53aa0be6744cb9 100644
--- a/packages/block-library/src/form-input/block.json
+++ b/packages/block-library/src/form-input/block.json
@@ -19,10 +19,10 @@
 			"type": "string"
 		},
 		"label": {
-			"type": "string",
+			"type": "rich-text",
 			"default": "Label",
 			"selector": ".wp-block-form-input__label-content",
-			"source": "html",
+			"source": "rich-text",
 			"__experimentalRole": "content"
 		},
 		"inlineLabel": {
diff --git a/packages/block-library/src/gallery/block.json b/packages/block-library/src/gallery/block.json
index 0867989af4ec7e..fad92aed59bf77 100644
--- a/packages/block-library/src/gallery/block.json
+++ b/packages/block-library/src/gallery/block.json
@@ -46,8 +46,8 @@
 					"attribute": "data-id"
 				},
 				"caption": {
-					"type": "string",
-					"source": "html",
+					"type": "rich-text",
+					"source": "rich-text",
 					"selector": ".blocks-gallery-item__caption"
 				}
 			}
@@ -72,8 +72,8 @@
 			"maximum": 8
 		},
 		"caption": {
-			"type": "string",
-			"source": "html",
+			"type": "rich-text",
+			"source": "rich-text",
 			"selector": ".blocks-gallery-caption"
 		},
 		"imageCrop": {
diff --git a/packages/block-library/src/image/block.json b/packages/block-library/src/image/block.json
index cfe91a71ff4f97..c5191e3dd86543 100644
--- a/packages/block-library/src/image/block.json
+++ b/packages/block-library/src/image/block.json
@@ -25,8 +25,8 @@
 			"__experimentalRole": "content"
 		},
 		"caption": {
-			"type": "string",
-			"source": "html",
+			"type": "rich-text",
+			"source": "rich-text",
 			"selector": "figcaption",
 			"__experimentalRole": "content"
 		},
diff --git a/packages/block-library/src/preformatted/block.json b/packages/block-library/src/preformatted/block.json
index ec6ea839385eb2..def870e7ad2fb7 100644
--- a/packages/block-library/src/preformatted/block.json
+++ b/packages/block-library/src/preformatted/block.json
@@ -8,10 +8,9 @@
 	"textdomain": "default",
 	"attributes": {
 		"content": {
-			"type": "string",
-			"source": "html",
+			"type": "rich-text",
+			"source": "rich-text",
 			"selector": "pre",
-			"default": "",
 			"__unstablePreserveWhiteSpace": true,
 			"__experimentalRole": "content"
 		}
diff --git a/packages/block-library/src/pullquote/block.json b/packages/block-library/src/pullquote/block.json
index 1d6c74dbc4ae04..7fc81d5683bd19 100644
--- a/packages/block-library/src/pullquote/block.json
+++ b/packages/block-library/src/pullquote/block.json
@@ -8,16 +8,15 @@
 	"textdomain": "default",
 	"attributes": {
 		"value": {
-			"type": "string",
-			"source": "html",
+			"type": "rich-text",
+			"source": "rich-text",
 			"selector": "p",
 			"__experimentalRole": "content"
 		},
 		"citation": {
-			"type": "string",
-			"source": "html",
+			"type": "rich-text",
+			"source": "rich-text",
 			"selector": "cite",
-			"default": "",
 			"__experimentalRole": "content"
 		},
 		"textAlign": {
diff --git a/packages/block-library/src/quote/block.json b/packages/block-library/src/quote/block.json
index 7ed406c0d20965..9deca000efe06b 100644
--- a/packages/block-library/src/quote/block.json
+++ b/packages/block-library/src/quote/block.json
@@ -17,10 +17,9 @@
 			"__experimentalRole": "content"
 		},
 		"citation": {
-			"type": "string",
-			"source": "html",
+			"type": "rich-text",
+			"source": "rich-text",
 			"selector": "cite",
-			"default": "",
 			"__experimentalRole": "content"
 		},
 		"align": {
diff --git a/packages/block-library/src/table/block.json b/packages/block-library/src/table/block.json
index d1139d6c55addf..470886a1247fe1 100644
--- a/packages/block-library/src/table/block.json
+++ b/packages/block-library/src/table/block.json
@@ -12,10 +12,9 @@
 			"default": false
 		},
 		"caption": {
-			"type": "string",
-			"source": "html",
-			"selector": "figcaption",
-			"default": ""
+			"type": "rich-text",
+			"source": "rich-text",
+			"selector": "figcaption"
 		},
 		"head": {
 			"type": "array",
@@ -30,8 +29,8 @@
 					"selector": "td,th",
 					"query": {
 						"content": {
-							"type": "string",
-							"source": "html"
+							"type": "rich-text",
+							"source": "rich-text"
 						},
 						"tag": {
 							"type": "string",
@@ -75,8 +74,8 @@
 					"selector": "td,th",
 					"query": {
 						"content": {
-							"type": "string",
-							"source": "html"
+							"type": "rich-text",
+							"source": "rich-text"
 						},
 						"tag": {
 							"type": "string",
@@ -120,8 +119,8 @@
 					"selector": "td,th",
 					"query": {
 						"content": {
-							"type": "string",
-							"source": "html"
+							"type": "rich-text",
+							"source": "rich-text"
 						},
 						"tag": {
 							"type": "string",
diff --git a/packages/block-library/src/verse/block.json b/packages/block-library/src/verse/block.json
index fa0bc30798212e..846a1dc99caafc 100644
--- a/packages/block-library/src/verse/block.json
+++ b/packages/block-library/src/verse/block.json
@@ -9,10 +9,9 @@
 	"textdomain": "default",
 	"attributes": {
 		"content": {
-			"type": "string",
-			"source": "html",
+			"type": "rich-text",
+			"source": "rich-text",
 			"selector": "pre",
-			"default": "",
 			"__unstablePreserveWhiteSpace": true,
 			"__experimentalRole": "content"
 		},
diff --git a/packages/block-library/src/video/block.json b/packages/block-library/src/video/block.json
index debe6f20fe53f7..5d4680f39e79a8 100644
--- a/packages/block-library/src/video/block.json
+++ b/packages/block-library/src/video/block.json
@@ -15,8 +15,8 @@
 			"attribute": "autoplay"
 		},
 		"caption": {
-			"type": "string",
-			"source": "html",
+			"type": "rich-text",
+			"source": "rich-text",
 			"selector": "figcaption",
 			"__experimentalRole": "content"
 		},
diff --git a/packages/blocks/src/api/matchers.js b/packages/blocks/src/api/matchers.js
index b3c6a829d02a8c..9297fc22467d52 100644
--- a/packages/blocks/src/api/matchers.js
+++ b/packages/blocks/src/api/matchers.js
@@ -47,8 +47,8 @@ export function html( selector, multilineTag ) {
 	};
 }
 
-export const richText = ( selector ) => ( el ) => {
+export const richText = ( selector, preserveWhiteSpace ) => ( el ) => {
 	return new RichTextData( selector ? el.querySelector( selector ) : el, {
-		preserveWhiteSpace: false,
+		preserveWhiteSpace,
 	} );
 };
diff --git a/packages/blocks/src/api/parser/get-block-attributes.js b/packages/blocks/src/api/parser/get-block-attributes.js
index 1d687cedecc63c..24faae73704636 100644
--- a/packages/blocks/src/api/parser/get-block-attributes.js
+++ b/packages/blocks/src/api/parser/get-block-attributes.js
@@ -226,7 +226,10 @@ export const matcherFromSource = memoize( ( sourceConfig ) => {
 		case 'text':
 			return text( sourceConfig.selector );
 		case 'rich-text':
-			return richText( sourceConfig.selector );
+			return richText(
+				sourceConfig.selector,
+				sourceConfig.__unstablePreserveWhiteSpace
+			);
 		case 'children':
 			return children( sourceConfig.selector );
 		case 'node':
diff --git a/packages/blocks/src/api/raw-handling/test/paste-handler.js b/packages/blocks/src/api/raw-handling/test/paste-handler.js
index 6938ad0d9c4081..9b3dad39a0a5b8 100644
--- a/packages/blocks/src/api/raw-handling/test/paste-handler.js
+++ b/packages/blocks/src/api/raw-handling/test/paste-handler.js
@@ -73,9 +73,9 @@ describe( 'pasteHandler', () => {
 
 		expect( console ).toHaveLogged();
 
+		delete result.attributes.caption;
 		expect( result.attributes ).toEqual( {
 			hasFixedLayout: false,
-			caption: '',
 			head: [
 				{
 					cells: [
@@ -113,9 +113,9 @@ describe( 'pasteHandler', () => {
 
 		expect( console ).toHaveLogged();
 
+		delete result.attributes.caption;
 		expect( result.attributes ).toEqual( {
 			hasFixedLayout: false,
-			caption: '',
 			head: [
 				{
 					cells: [
diff --git a/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__gallery__deprecated-1.json b/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__gallery__deprecated-1.json
index 9e15ee7f1c7149..bd6108a97230a3 100644
--- a/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__gallery__deprecated-1.json
+++ b/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__gallery__deprecated-1.json
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 				"attributes": {
 					"url": "data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAYAAAAfFcSJAAAACklEQVR4nGMAAQAABQABDQottAAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==",
 					"alt": "title",
+					"caption": "",
 					"linkDestination": "none"
 				},
 				"innerBlocks": []
@@ -26,6 +27,7 @@
 				"attributes": {
 					"url": "data:image/jpeg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAMCAgICAgMCAgIDAwMDBAYEBAQEBAgGBgUGCQgKCgkICQkKDA8MCgsOCwkJDRENDg8QEBEQCgwSExIQEw8QEBD/yQALCAABAAEBAREA/8wABgAQEAX/2gAIAQEAAD8A0s8g/9k=",
 					"alt": "title",
+					"caption": "",
 					"linkDestination": "none"
 				},
 				"innerBlocks": []
diff --git a/test/integration/fixtures/documents/ms-word-online-out.html b/test/integration/fixtures/documents/ms-word-online-out.html
index 1016918e9fe387..6170fa4e632b22 100644
--- a/test/integration/fixtures/documents/ms-word-online-out.html
+++ b/test/integration/fixtures/documents/ms-word-online-out.html
@@ -8,33 +8,33 @@
 
 <!-- wp:list -->
 <ul><!-- wp:list-item -->
-<li>A&nbsp;</li>
+<li>A </li>
 <!-- /wp:list-item -->
 
 <!-- wp:list-item -->
-<li>Bulleted&nbsp;</li>
+<li>Bulleted </li>
 <!-- /wp:list-item -->
 
 <!-- wp:list-item -->
-<li>Indented&nbsp;</li>
+<li>Indented </li>
 <!-- /wp:list-item -->
 
 <!-- wp:list-item -->
-<li>List&nbsp;</li>
+<li>List </li>
 <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul>
 <!-- /wp:list -->
 
 <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true,"start":1} -->
 <ol start="1"><!-- wp:list-item -->
-<li>One&nbsp;</li>
+<li>One </li>
 <!-- /wp:list-item -->
 
 <!-- wp:list-item -->
-<li>Two&nbsp;</li>
+<li>Two </li>
 <!-- /wp:list-item -->
 
 <!-- wp:list-item -->
-<li>Three&nbsp;</li>
+<li>Three </li>
 <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol>
 <!-- /wp:list -->
 

From 582c4308a1eca2d5d1d2e5262a8ca05de9e2cb78 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Ella <ella@vandurpe.com>
Date: Mon, 27 Nov 2023 16:45:29 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 06/21] Store original HTML

---
 packages/blocks/src/api/matchers.js                       | 4 +++-
 packages/rich-text/src/create.js                          | 8 +++++++-
 test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover.json         | 2 +-
 .../fixtures/blocks/core__cover.serialized.html           | 4 +++-
 .../fixtures/blocks/core__cover__deprecated-6.json        | 2 +-
 .../blocks/core__cover__deprecated-6.serialized.html      | 4 +++-
 .../fixtures/blocks/core__cover__deprecated-7.json        | 2 +-
 .../blocks/core__cover__deprecated-7.serialized.html      | 4 +++-
 .../fixtures/blocks/core__cover__deprecated-8.json        | 2 +-
 .../blocks/core__cover__deprecated-8.serialized.html      | 4 +++-
 .../fixtures/blocks/core__cover__gradient-image.json      | 2 +-
 .../blocks/core__cover__gradient-image.serialized.html    | 2 +-
 .../fixtures/blocks/core__cover__video-overlay.json       | 2 +-
 .../blocks/core__cover__video-overlay.serialized.html     | 4 +++-
 test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover__video.json  | 2 +-
 .../fixtures/blocks/core__cover__video.serialized.html    | 4 +++-
 .../blocks/core__text__converts-to-paragraph.json         | 2 +-
 .../core__text__converts-to-paragraph.serialized.html     | 2 +-
 .../fixtures/documents/ms-word-online-out.html            | 6 +++---
 .../fixtures/documents/ms-word-styled-out.html            | 2 +-
 .../fixtures/documents/slack-paragraphs-out.html          | 2 +-
 test/integration/fixtures/documents/slack-quote-out.html  | 2 +-
 test/integration/non-matched-tags-handling.test.js        | 2 +-
 23 files changed, 45 insertions(+), 25 deletions(-)

diff --git a/packages/blocks/src/api/matchers.js b/packages/blocks/src/api/matchers.js
index 9297fc22467d52..741d774ebd14e9 100644
--- a/packages/blocks/src/api/matchers.js
+++ b/packages/blocks/src/api/matchers.js
@@ -48,7 +48,9 @@ export function html( selector, multilineTag ) {
 }
 
 export const richText = ( selector, preserveWhiteSpace ) => ( el ) => {
-	return new RichTextData( selector ? el.querySelector( selector ) : el, {
+	const target = selector ? el.querySelector( selector ) : el;
+	return new RichTextData( target, {
 		preserveWhiteSpace,
+		originalHTML: target?.innerHTML,
 	} );
 };
diff --git a/packages/rich-text/src/create.js b/packages/rich-text/src/create.js
index e4af786b910d9e..3762637682e8eb 100644
--- a/packages/rich-text/src/create.js
+++ b/packages/rich-text/src/create.js
@@ -187,9 +187,15 @@ export class RichTextData {
 		// instance doesn't have any enumerable properties, it will be
 		// visualised as a string.
 		Object.defineProperty( this, RichTextInternalData, { value: init } );
+		Object.defineProperty( this, 'originalHTML', {
+			value: options.originalHTML,
+		} );
 	}
 	valueOf() {
-		return toHTMLString( { value: this[ RichTextInternalData ] } );
+		return (
+			this.originalHTML ||
+			toHTMLString( { value: this[ RichTextInternalData ] } )
+		);
 	}
 	toString() {
 		return this.valueOf();
diff --git a/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover.json b/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover.json
index a16cd2fe7ea79c..a7ed06e153012d 100644
--- a/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover.json
+++ b/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover.json
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@
 				"isValid": true,
 				"attributes": {
 					"align": "center",
-					"content": "Guten Berg!",
+					"content": "\n\t\t\tGuten Berg!\n\t\t",
 					"dropCap": false,
 					"placeholder": "Write title…",
 					"fontSize": "large"
diff --git a/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover.serialized.html b/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover.serialized.html
index e518c8042f9325..b7eeb8cf4b85d8 100644
--- a/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover.serialized.html
+++ b/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover.serialized.html
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 <!-- wp:cover {"url":"data:image/jpeg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAMCAgICAgMCAgIDAwMDBAYEBAQEBAgGBgUGCQgKCgkICQkKDA8MCgsOCwkJDRENDg8QEBEQCgwSExIQEw8QEBD/yQALCAABAAEBAREA/8wABgAQEAX/2gAIAQEAAD8A0s8g/9k=","dimRatio":40} -->
 <div class="wp-block-cover"><span aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-cover__background has-background-dim-40 has-background-dim"></span><img class="wp-block-cover__image-background" alt="" src="data:image/jpeg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAMCAgICAgMCAgIDAwMDBAYEBAQEBAgGBgUGCQgKCgkICQkKDA8MCgsOCwkJDRENDg8QEBEQCgwSExIQEw8QEBD/yQALCAABAAEBAREA/8wABgAQEAX/2gAIAQEAAD8A0s8g/9k=" data-object-fit="cover"/><div class="wp-block-cover__inner-container"><!-- wp:paragraph {"align":"center","placeholder":"Write title…","fontSize":"large"} -->
-<p class="has-text-align-center has-large-font-size">Guten Berg!</p>
+<p class="has-text-align-center has-large-font-size">
+			Guten Berg!
+		</p>
 <!-- /wp:paragraph --></div></div>
 <!-- /wp:cover -->
diff --git a/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover__deprecated-6.json b/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover__deprecated-6.json
index 2889f8a324ac1d..62bea629e8efe6 100644
--- a/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover__deprecated-6.json
+++ b/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover__deprecated-6.json
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
 				"isValid": true,
 				"attributes": {
 					"align": "center",
-					"content": "Guten Berg!",
+					"content": "\n\t\t\tGuten Berg!\n\t\t",
 					"dropCap": false,
 					"placeholder": "Write title…",
 					"fontSize": "large"
diff --git a/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover__deprecated-6.serialized.html b/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover__deprecated-6.serialized.html
index 458471eae5d49a..657c10cc928964 100644
--- a/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover__deprecated-6.serialized.html
+++ b/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover__deprecated-6.serialized.html
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 <!-- wp:cover {"url":"data:image/jpeg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAMCAgICAgMCAgIDAwMDBAYEBAQEBAgGBgUGCQgKCgkICQkKDA8MCgsOCwkJDRENDg8QEBEQCgwSExIQEw8QEBD/yQALCAABAAEBAREA/8wABgAQEAX/2gAIAQEAAD8A0s8g/9k=","dimRatio":40} -->
 <div class="wp-block-cover is-light"><span aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-cover__background has-background-dim-40 has-background-dim"></span><img class="wp-block-cover__image-background" src="data:image/jpeg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAMCAgICAgMCAgIDAwMDBAYEBAQEBAgGBgUGCQgKCgkICQkKDA8MCgsOCwkJDRENDg8QEBEQCgwSExIQEw8QEBD/yQALCAABAAEBAREA/8wABgAQEAX/2gAIAQEAAD8A0s8g/9k=" data-object-fit="cover"/><div class="wp-block-cover__inner-container"><!-- wp:paragraph {"align":"center","placeholder":"Write title…","fontSize":"large"} -->
-<p class="has-text-align-center has-large-font-size">Guten Berg!</p>
+<p class="has-text-align-center has-large-font-size">
+			Guten Berg!
+		</p>
 <!-- /wp:paragraph --></div></div>
 <!-- /wp:cover -->
 
diff --git a/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover__deprecated-7.json b/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover__deprecated-7.json
index 8997b7a88ea318..1ebd864bd38301 100644
--- a/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover__deprecated-7.json
+++ b/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover__deprecated-7.json
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 				"isValid": true,
 				"attributes": {
 					"align": "center",
-					"content": "Guten Berg!",
+					"content": "\n\t\t\tGuten Berg!\n\t\t",
 					"dropCap": false,
 					"placeholder": "Write title…",
 					"fontSize": "large"
diff --git a/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover__deprecated-7.serialized.html b/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover__deprecated-7.serialized.html
index 17dba6228cad5e..baa8e32e7e8238 100644
--- a/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover__deprecated-7.serialized.html
+++ b/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover__deprecated-7.serialized.html
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 <!-- wp:cover {"url":"data:image/jpeg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAMCAgICAgMCAgIDAwMDBAYEBAQEBAgGBgUGCQgKCgkICQkKDA8MCgsOCwkJDRENDg8QEBEQCgwSExIQEw8QEBD/yQALCAABAAEBAREA/8wABgAQEAX/2gAIAQEAAD8A0s8g/9k=","dimRatio":40} -->
 <div class="wp-block-cover is-light"><span aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-cover__background has-background-dim-40 has-background-dim"></span><img class="wp-block-cover__image-background" alt="" src="data:image/jpeg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAMCAgICAgMCAgIDAwMDBAYEBAQEBAgGBgUGCQgKCgkICQkKDA8MCgsOCwkJDRENDg8QEBEQCgwSExIQEw8QEBD/yQALCAABAAEBAREA/8wABgAQEAX/2gAIAQEAAD8A0s8g/9k=" data-object-fit="cover"/><div class="wp-block-cover__inner-container"><!-- wp:paragraph {"align":"center","placeholder":"Write title…","fontSize":"large"} -->
-<p class="has-text-align-center has-large-font-size">Guten Berg!</p>
+<p class="has-text-align-center has-large-font-size">
+			Guten Berg!
+		</p>
 <!-- /wp:paragraph --></div></div>
 <!-- /wp:cover -->
diff --git a/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover__deprecated-8.json b/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover__deprecated-8.json
index 14252b71c00cd2..9d5142e60fdd53 100644
--- a/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover__deprecated-8.json
+++ b/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover__deprecated-8.json
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
 				"isValid": true,
 				"attributes": {
 					"align": "center",
-					"content": "Guten Berg!",
+					"content": "\n                Guten Berg!\n        ",
 					"dropCap": false,
 					"placeholder": "Write title…",
 					"fontSize": "large"
diff --git a/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover__deprecated-8.serialized.html b/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover__deprecated-8.serialized.html
index e518c8042f9325..fd99791a8e5247 100644
--- a/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover__deprecated-8.serialized.html
+++ b/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover__deprecated-8.serialized.html
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 <!-- wp:cover {"url":"data:image/jpeg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAMCAgICAgMCAgIDAwMDBAYEBAQEBAgGBgUGCQgKCgkICQkKDA8MCgsOCwkJDRENDg8QEBEQCgwSExIQEw8QEBD/yQALCAABAAEBAREA/8wABgAQEAX/2gAIAQEAAD8A0s8g/9k=","dimRatio":40} -->
 <div class="wp-block-cover"><span aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-cover__background has-background-dim-40 has-background-dim"></span><img class="wp-block-cover__image-background" alt="" src="data:image/jpeg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAMCAgICAgMCAgIDAwMDBAYEBAQEBAgGBgUGCQgKCgkICQkKDA8MCgsOCwkJDRENDg8QEBEQCgwSExIQEw8QEBD/yQALCAABAAEBAREA/8wABgAQEAX/2gAIAQEAAD8A0s8g/9k=" data-object-fit="cover"/><div class="wp-block-cover__inner-container"><!-- wp:paragraph {"align":"center","placeholder":"Write title…","fontSize":"large"} -->
-<p class="has-text-align-center has-large-font-size">Guten Berg!</p>
+<p class="has-text-align-center has-large-font-size">
+                Guten Berg!
+        </p>
 <!-- /wp:paragraph --></div></div>
 <!-- /wp:cover -->
diff --git a/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover__gradient-image.json b/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover__gradient-image.json
index 25edbb780646ac..5be874e5064346 100644
--- a/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover__gradient-image.json
+++ b/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover__gradient-image.json
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
 				"isValid": true,
 				"attributes": {
 					"align": "center",
-					"content": "Cover!",
+					"content": " Cover! ",
 					"dropCap": false,
 					"placeholder": "Write title…",
 					"fontSize": "large"
diff --git a/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover__gradient-image.serialized.html b/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover__gradient-image.serialized.html
index 32a435e10c2008..135949383f712c 100644
--- a/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover__gradient-image.serialized.html
+++ b/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover__gradient-image.serialized.html
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 <!-- wp:cover {"url":"data:image/jpeg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAMCAgICAgMCAgIDAwMDBAYEBAQEBAgGBgUGCQgKCgkICQkKDA8MCgsOCwkJDRENDg8QEBEQCgwSExIQEw8QEBD/yQALCAABAAEBAREA/8wABgAQEAX/2gAIAQEAAD8A0s8g/9k=","dimRatio":30,"customGradient":"linear-gradient(135deg,rgba(0,208,132,1) 0%,rgba(6,147,227,1) 100%)"} -->
 <div class="wp-block-cover"><span aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-cover__background has-background-dim-30 has-background-dim wp-block-cover__gradient-background has-background-gradient" style="background:linear-gradient(135deg,rgba(0,208,132,1) 0%,rgba(6,147,227,1) 100%)"></span><img class="wp-block-cover__image-background" alt="" src="data:image/jpeg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAMCAgICAgMCAgIDAwMDBAYEBAQEBAgGBgUGCQgKCgkICQkKDA8MCgsOCwkJDRENDg8QEBEQCgwSExIQEw8QEBD/yQALCAABAAEBAREA/8wABgAQEAX/2gAIAQEAAD8A0s8g/9k=" data-object-fit="cover"/><div class="wp-block-cover__inner-container"><!-- wp:paragraph {"align":"center","placeholder":"Write title…","fontSize":"large"} -->
-<p class="has-text-align-center has-large-font-size">Cover!</p>
+<p class="has-text-align-center has-large-font-size"> Cover! </p>
 <!-- /wp:paragraph --></div></div>
 <!-- /wp:cover -->
diff --git a/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover__video-overlay.json b/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover__video-overlay.json
index 9360369e88c756..7916e3f7a20b6e 100644
--- a/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover__video-overlay.json
+++ b/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover__video-overlay.json
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@
 				"isValid": true,
 				"attributes": {
 					"align": "center",
-					"content": "Guten Berg!",
+					"content": "\n\t\t\tGuten Berg!\n\t\t",
 					"dropCap": false,
 					"placeholder": "Write title…",
 					"fontSize": "large"
diff --git a/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover__video-overlay.serialized.html b/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover__video-overlay.serialized.html
index dd3cf49b976bc9..3cbf472fe84c4a 100644
--- a/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover__video-overlay.serialized.html
+++ b/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover__video-overlay.serialized.html
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 <!-- wp:cover {"url":"data:video/mp4;base64,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","dimRatio":10,"customOverlayColor":"#3615d9","isUserOverlayColor":true,"backgroundType":"video"} -->
 <div class="wp-block-cover"><span aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-cover__background has-background-dim-10 has-background-dim" style="background-color:#3615d9"></span><video class="wp-block-cover__video-background intrinsic-ignore" autoplay muted loop playsinline src="data:video/mp4;base64,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" data-object-fit="cover"></video><div class="wp-block-cover__inner-container"><!-- wp:paragraph {"align":"center","placeholder":"Write title…","fontSize":"large"} -->
-<p class="has-text-align-center has-large-font-size">Guten Berg!</p>
+<p class="has-text-align-center has-large-font-size">
+			Guten Berg!
+		</p>
 <!-- /wp:paragraph --></div></div>
 <!-- /wp:cover -->
diff --git a/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover__video.json b/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover__video.json
index 9ccddf0955cd12..698239ef191838 100644
--- a/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover__video.json
+++ b/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover__video.json
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@
 				"isValid": true,
 				"attributes": {
 					"align": "center",
-					"content": "Guten Berg!",
+					"content": "\n\t\t\tGuten Berg!\n\t\t",
 					"dropCap": false,
 					"placeholder": "Write title…",
 					"fontSize": "large"
diff --git a/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover__video.serialized.html b/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover__video.serialized.html
index 80fe15b5b5c80f..0fb6cbf9e1266e 100644
--- a/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover__video.serialized.html
+++ b/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__cover__video.serialized.html
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 <!-- wp:cover {"url":"data:video/mp4;base64,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","dimRatio":40,"backgroundType":"video"} -->
 <div class="wp-block-cover"><span aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-cover__background has-background-dim-40 has-background-dim"></span><video class="wp-block-cover__video-background intrinsic-ignore" autoplay muted loop playsinline src="data:video/mp4;base64,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" data-object-fit="cover"></video><div class="wp-block-cover__inner-container"><!-- wp:paragraph {"align":"center","placeholder":"Write title…","fontSize":"large"} -->
-<p class="has-text-align-center has-large-font-size">Guten Berg!</p>
+<p class="has-text-align-center has-large-font-size">
+			Guten Berg!
+		</p>
 <!-- /wp:paragraph --></div></div>
 <!-- /wp:cover -->
diff --git a/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__text__converts-to-paragraph.json b/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__text__converts-to-paragraph.json
index ed2dec4ffc59f4..2e4cd5c6444d47 100644
--- a/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__text__converts-to-paragraph.json
+++ b/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__text__converts-to-paragraph.json
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 		"name": "core/paragraph",
 		"isValid": true,
 		"attributes": {
-			"content": "This is an old-style text block. Changed to <code>paragraph</code> in #2135.",
+			"content": "This is an old-style text block.  Changed to <code>paragraph</code> in #2135.",
 			"dropCap": false
 		},
 		"innerBlocks": []
diff --git a/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__text__converts-to-paragraph.serialized.html b/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__text__converts-to-paragraph.serialized.html
index 7a11c004984d1f..61fd699dace637 100644
--- a/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__text__converts-to-paragraph.serialized.html
+++ b/test/integration/fixtures/blocks/core__text__converts-to-paragraph.serialized.html
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 <!-- wp:paragraph -->
-<p>This is an old-style text block. Changed to <code>paragraph</code> in #2135.</p>
+<p>This is an old-style text block.  Changed to <code>paragraph</code> in #2135.</p>
 <!-- /wp:paragraph -->
diff --git a/test/integration/fixtures/documents/ms-word-online-out.html b/test/integration/fixtures/documents/ms-word-online-out.html
index 6170fa4e632b22..8187b598f9a91a 100644
--- a/test/integration/fixtures/documents/ms-word-online-out.html
+++ b/test/integration/fixtures/documents/ms-word-online-out.html
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 <!-- wp:paragraph -->
-<p>This is a <em>heading</em> </p>
+<p>This is a <em>heading</em>&nbsp;</p>
 <!-- /wp:paragraph -->
 
 <!-- wp:paragraph -->
-<p>This is a <strong>paragraph </strong>with a <a href="https://w.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">link</a>. </p>
+<p>This is a <strong>paragraph </strong>with a <a href="https://w.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">link</a>.&nbsp;</p>
 <!-- /wp:paragraph -->
 
 <!-- wp:list -->
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@
 <!-- /wp:table -->
 
 <!-- wp:paragraph -->
-<p>An image: </p>
+<p>An image:&nbsp;</p>
 <!-- /wp:paragraph -->
 
 <!-- wp:image -->
diff --git a/test/integration/fixtures/documents/ms-word-styled-out.html b/test/integration/fixtures/documents/ms-word-styled-out.html
index 8107bab7aa1d25..277d8d37bbc630 100644
--- a/test/integration/fixtures/documents/ms-word-styled-out.html
+++ b/test/integration/fixtures/documents/ms-word-styled-out.html
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 <!-- wp:paragraph -->
-<p><strong>Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit </strong></p>
+<p><strong>Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit&nbsp;</strong></p>
 <!-- /wp:paragraph -->
 
 <!-- wp:paragraph -->
diff --git a/test/integration/fixtures/documents/slack-paragraphs-out.html b/test/integration/fixtures/documents/slack-paragraphs-out.html
index 7f443cd7bf9e1f..462b64daeeb6a5 100644
--- a/test/integration/fixtures/documents/slack-paragraphs-out.html
+++ b/test/integration/fixtures/documents/slack-paragraphs-out.html
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 <!-- wp:paragraph -->
-<p>test with <a target="_blank" href="http://w.org/" rel="noreferrer noopener">link</a><br>a new line</p>
+<p>test with&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://w.org/" rel="noreferrer noopener">link</a><br>a new line</p>
 <!-- /wp:paragraph -->
 
 <!-- wp:paragraph -->
diff --git a/test/integration/fixtures/documents/slack-quote-out.html b/test/integration/fixtures/documents/slack-quote-out.html
index 6026309133fecc..b5f9f82483d788 100644
--- a/test/integration/fixtures/documents/slack-quote-out.html
+++ b/test/integration/fixtures/documents/slack-quote-out.html
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 <!-- wp:quote -->
 <blockquote class="wp-block-quote"><!-- wp:paragraph -->
-<p>Test with <a target="_blank" href="http://w.org/" rel="noreferrer noopener">link</a>.</p>
+<p>Test with&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://w.org/" rel="noreferrer noopener">link</a>.</p>
 <!-- /wp:paragraph --></blockquote>
 <!-- /wp:quote -->
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/test/integration/non-matched-tags-handling.test.js b/test/integration/non-matched-tags-handling.test.js
index 1c3dc1557284ba..451a628c329775 100644
--- a/test/integration/non-matched-tags-handling.test.js
+++ b/test/integration/non-matched-tags-handling.test.js
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ describe( 'Handling of non matched tags in block transforms', () => {
 
 		expect( codeResult ).toHaveLength( 1 );
 		expect( codeResult[ 0 ].name ).toBe( 'core/code' );
-		expect( codeResult[ 0 ].attributes.content ).toBe( 'code' );
+		expect( codeResult[ 0 ].attributes.content.valueOf() ).toBe( 'code' );
 		expect( console ).toHaveLogged();
 	} );
 } );

From 18cca172c3c8c042738f4bfbbee9be06a46cf48d Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Ella <ella@vandurpe.com>
Date: Mon, 27 Nov 2023 17:31:46 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 07/21] Fix e2e

---
 packages/block-library/src/utils/remove-anchor-tag.js           | 2 +-
 ...ld-copy-only-partial-selection-of-text-blocks-2-chromium.txt | 2 +-
 ...artial-selection-with-other-blocks-in-between-2-chromium.txt | 2 +-
 ...e-should-cut-partial-selection-of-text-blocks-2-chromium.txt | 2 +-
 ...artial-selection-with-other-blocks-in-between-2-chromium.txt | 2 +-
 5 files changed, 5 insertions(+), 5 deletions(-)

diff --git a/packages/block-library/src/utils/remove-anchor-tag.js b/packages/block-library/src/utils/remove-anchor-tag.js
index 31d1877082f50d..72e11e47e92ba9 100644
--- a/packages/block-library/src/utils/remove-anchor-tag.js
+++ b/packages/block-library/src/utils/remove-anchor-tag.js
@@ -6,5 +6,5 @@
  * @return {string} The value with anchor tags removed.
  */
 export default function removeAnchorTag( value ) {
-	return value.replace( /<\/?a[^>]*>/g, '' );
+	return value.toString().replace( /<\/?a[^>]*>/g, '' );
 }
diff --git a/test/e2e/specs/editor/various/__snapshots__/Copy-cut-paste-should-copy-only-partial-selection-of-text-blocks-2-chromium.txt b/test/e2e/specs/editor/various/__snapshots__/Copy-cut-paste-should-copy-only-partial-selection-of-text-blocks-2-chromium.txt
index f23061be5765a5..18b145e715a96e 100644
--- a/test/e2e/specs/editor/various/__snapshots__/Copy-cut-paste-should-copy-only-partial-selection-of-text-blocks-2-chromium.txt
+++ b/test/e2e/specs/editor/various/__snapshots__/Copy-cut-paste-should-copy-only-partial-selection-of-text-blocks-2-chromium.txt
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 <!-- /wp:paragraph -->
 
 <!-- wp:paragraph -->
-<p>B</p>
+<p>B </p>
 <!-- /wp:paragraph -->
 
 <!-- wp:paragraph -->
diff --git a/test/e2e/specs/editor/various/__snapshots__/Copy-cut-paste-should-copy-paste-partial-selection-with-other-blocks-in-between-2-chromium.txt b/test/e2e/specs/editor/various/__snapshots__/Copy-cut-paste-should-copy-paste-partial-selection-with-other-blocks-in-between-2-chromium.txt
index 039fd06b6a410b..98ec917dd6da5a 100644
--- a/test/e2e/specs/editor/various/__snapshots__/Copy-cut-paste-should-copy-paste-partial-selection-with-other-blocks-in-between-2-chromium.txt
+++ b/test/e2e/specs/editor/various/__snapshots__/Copy-cut-paste-should-copy-paste-partial-selection-with-other-blocks-in-between-2-chromium.txt
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 <!-- /wp:spacer -->
 
 <!-- wp:paragraph -->
-<p>B</p>
+<p>B </p>
 <!-- /wp:paragraph -->
 
 <!-- wp:paragraph -->
diff --git a/test/e2e/specs/editor/various/__snapshots__/Copy-cut-paste-should-cut-partial-selection-of-text-blocks-2-chromium.txt b/test/e2e/specs/editor/various/__snapshots__/Copy-cut-paste-should-cut-partial-selection-of-text-blocks-2-chromium.txt
index b6d9703a212cf4..75d374dd0deb42 100644
--- a/test/e2e/specs/editor/various/__snapshots__/Copy-cut-paste-should-cut-partial-selection-of-text-blocks-2-chromium.txt
+++ b/test/e2e/specs/editor/various/__snapshots__/Copy-cut-paste-should-cut-partial-selection-of-text-blocks-2-chromium.txt
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 <!-- /wp:paragraph -->
 
 <!-- wp:paragraph -->
-<p>B</p>
+<p>B </p>
 <!-- /wp:paragraph -->
 
 <!-- wp:paragraph -->
diff --git a/test/e2e/specs/editor/various/__snapshots__/Copy-cut-paste-should-cut-paste-partial-selection-with-other-blocks-in-between-2-chromium.txt b/test/e2e/specs/editor/various/__snapshots__/Copy-cut-paste-should-cut-paste-partial-selection-with-other-blocks-in-between-2-chromium.txt
index 90011a21d7eb71..e862b0f6116960 100644
--- a/test/e2e/specs/editor/various/__snapshots__/Copy-cut-paste-should-cut-paste-partial-selection-with-other-blocks-in-between-2-chromium.txt
+++ b/test/e2e/specs/editor/various/__snapshots__/Copy-cut-paste-should-cut-paste-partial-selection-with-other-blocks-in-between-2-chromium.txt
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 <!-- /wp:spacer -->
 
 <!-- wp:paragraph -->
-<p>B</p>
+<p>B </p>
 <!-- /wp:paragraph -->
 
 <!-- wp:paragraph -->

From 48666cfe3e22c46c20e064a0eabaaf01cda36d2d Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Ella <ella@vandurpe.com>
Date: Mon, 27 Nov 2023 17:39:04 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 08/21] Update native e2e snaps

---
 .../preformatted/test/__snapshots__/transforms.native.js.snap   | 2 +-
 .../src/verse/test/__snapshots__/transforms.native.js.snap      | 2 +-
 2 files changed, 2 insertions(+), 2 deletions(-)

diff --git a/packages/block-library/src/preformatted/test/__snapshots__/transforms.native.js.snap b/packages/block-library/src/preformatted/test/__snapshots__/transforms.native.js.snap
index e39fc8b92b2401..81adef5b228388 100644
--- a/packages/block-library/src/preformatted/test/__snapshots__/transforms.native.js.snap
+++ b/packages/block-library/src/preformatted/test/__snapshots__/transforms.native.js.snap
@@ -26,6 +26,6 @@ exports[`Preformatted block transforms to Group block 1`] = `
 
 exports[`Preformatted block transforms to Paragraph block 1`] = `
 "<!-- wp:paragraph -->
-<p>Some <em>preformatted</em> text...<br>And more!</p>
+<p>Some <em>preformatted</em> text...<br />And more!</p>
 <!-- /wp:paragraph -->"
 `;
diff --git a/packages/block-library/src/verse/test/__snapshots__/transforms.native.js.snap b/packages/block-library/src/verse/test/__snapshots__/transforms.native.js.snap
index 46e536a0f19f36..5570a6cf5d67d9 100644
--- a/packages/block-library/src/verse/test/__snapshots__/transforms.native.js.snap
+++ b/packages/block-library/src/verse/test/__snapshots__/transforms.native.js.snap
@@ -20,6 +20,6 @@ exports[`Verse block transforms to Group block 1`] = `
 
 exports[`Verse block transforms to Paragraph block 1`] = `
 "<!-- wp:paragraph -->
-<p>Come<br>Home.</p>
+<p>Come<br />Home.</p>
 <!-- /wp:paragraph -->"
 `;

From 54c53da0770f45128715a51936fb4671e4fd5eda Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Ella <ella@vandurpe.com>
Date: Tue, 28 Nov 2023 23:11:32 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 09/21] Add static from* methods

---
 .../src/components/rich-text/content.js       |  2 +-
 .../rich-text/get-rich-text-values.js         |  6 +-
 packages/blocks/src/api/matchers.js           |  5 +-
 packages/blocks/src/api/utils.js              |  5 +-
 packages/core-data/src/footnotes/index.js     | 16 ++--
 packages/rich-text/README.md                  |  9 +-
 packages/rich-text/src/create.js              | 85 ++++++++-----------
 7 files changed, 61 insertions(+), 67 deletions(-)

diff --git a/packages/block-editor/src/components/rich-text/content.js b/packages/block-editor/src/components/rich-text/content.js
index cb13dd01213418..fbc5be07f9c935 100644
--- a/packages/block-editor/src/components/rich-text/content.js
+++ b/packages/block-editor/src/components/rich-text/content.js
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ export const Content = ( { value, tagName: Tag, multiline, ...props } ) => {
 		value = `<${ MultilineTag }></${ MultilineTag }>`;
 	}
 
-	const content = <RawHTML>{ value?.valueOf() }</RawHTML>;
+	const content = <RawHTML>{ value?.toString() }</RawHTML>;
 
 	if ( Tag ) {
 		const { format, ...restProps } = props;
diff --git a/packages/block-editor/src/components/rich-text/get-rich-text-values.js b/packages/block-editor/src/components/rich-text/get-rich-text-values.js
index facef6bb2e2131..ee2bc638269308 100644
--- a/packages/block-editor/src/components/rich-text/get-rich-text-values.js
+++ b/packages/block-editor/src/components/rich-text/get-rich-text-values.js
@@ -96,5 +96,9 @@ export function getRichTextValues( blocks = [] ) {
 	const values = [];
 	addValuesForBlocks( values, blocks );
 	getBlockProps.skipFilters = false;
-	return values.map( ( value ) => new RichTextData( value ) );
+	return values.map( ( value ) =>
+		value instanceof RichTextData
+			? value
+			: RichTextData.fromHTMLString( value )
+	);
 }
diff --git a/packages/blocks/src/api/matchers.js b/packages/blocks/src/api/matchers.js
index 741d774ebd14e9..0145235d927181 100644
--- a/packages/blocks/src/api/matchers.js
+++ b/packages/blocks/src/api/matchers.js
@@ -49,8 +49,5 @@ export function html( selector, multilineTag ) {
 
 export const richText = ( selector, preserveWhiteSpace ) => ( el ) => {
 	const target = selector ? el.querySelector( selector ) : el;
-	return new RichTextData( target, {
-		preserveWhiteSpace,
-		originalHTML: target?.innerHTML,
-	} );
+	return RichTextData.fromHTMLElement( target, { preserveWhiteSpace } );
 };
diff --git a/packages/blocks/src/api/utils.js b/packages/blocks/src/api/utils.js
index a79b7cf7b65b91..60a94117b36e23 100644
--- a/packages/blocks/src/api/utils.js
+++ b/packages/blocks/src/api/utils.js
@@ -283,13 +283,14 @@ export function __experimentalSanitizeBlockAttributes( name, attributes ) {
 					if ( value instanceof RichTextData ) {
 						accumulator[ key ] = value;
 					} else if ( typeof value === 'string' ) {
-						accumulator[ key ] = new RichTextData( value );
+						accumulator[ key ] =
+							RichTextData.fromHTMLString( value );
 					}
 				} else if (
 					schema.type === 'string' &&
 					value instanceof RichTextData
 				) {
-					accumulator[ key ] = value.toString();
+					accumulator[ key ] = value.toHTMLString();
 				} else {
 					accumulator[ key ] = value;
 				}
diff --git a/packages/core-data/src/footnotes/index.js b/packages/core-data/src/footnotes/index.js
index 6668a2c060bb29..d4bcf7d3f62b00 100644
--- a/packages/core-data/src/footnotes/index.js
+++ b/packages/core-data/src/footnotes/index.js
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ export function updateFootnotesFromMeta( blocks, meta ) {
 				continue;
 			}
 
-			// To do, remove support for string values.
+			// To do, remove support for string values?
 			if (
 				typeof value !== 'string' &&
 				! ( value instanceof RichTextData )
@@ -61,7 +61,10 @@ export function updateFootnotesFromMeta( blocks, meta ) {
 				continue;
 			}
 
-			const richTextValue = new RichTextData( value );
+			const richTextValue =
+				typeof value === 'string'
+					? RichTextData.fromHTMLElement( value )
+					: value;
 
 			richTextValue.replacements.forEach( ( replacement ) => {
 				if ( replacement.type === 'core/footnote' ) {
@@ -78,11 +81,10 @@ export function updateFootnotesFromMeta( blocks, meta ) {
 				}
 			} );
 
-			if ( typeof value === 'string' ) {
-				attributes[ key ] = richTextValue.toString();
-			} else {
-				attributes[ key ] = richTextValue;
-			}
+			attributes[ key ] =
+				typeof value === 'string'
+					? richTextValue.toHTMLString()
+					: richTextValue;
 		}
 
 		return attributes;
diff --git a/packages/rich-text/README.md b/packages/rich-text/README.md
index 550e145c232f33..90fd15e1c905c5 100644
--- a/packages/rich-text/README.md
+++ b/packages/rich-text/README.md
@@ -359,7 +359,14 @@ _Returns_
 
 The RichTextData class is used to instantiate a wrapper around rich text values, with methods that can be used to transform or manipulate the data.
 
-Create an emtpy instance: `new RichTextData()`. Create one from an html string: `new RichTextData( '<em>hello</em>' )`. Create one from a DOM wrapper element: `new RichTextData( document.createElement( 'p' ) )`. Create Create one from a rich text value: `new RichTextData( { text: '...', formats: [ ... ] } )`.
+-   Create an emtpy instance: `new RichTextData()`.
+-   Create one from an html string: `RichTextData.fromHTMLString(
+'<em>hello</em>' )`.
+-   Create one from a wrapper HTMLElement: `RichTextData.fromHTMLElement(
+document.querySelector( 'p' ) )`.
+-   Create one from plain text: `RichTextData.fromPlainText( '1\n2' )`.
+-   Create one from a rich text value: `new RichTextData( { text: '...',
+formats: [ ... ] } )`.
 
 ### RichTextValue
 
diff --git a/packages/rich-text/src/create.js b/packages/rich-text/src/create.js
index 3762637682e8eb..7c21cb0cbf9858 100644
--- a/packages/rich-text/src/create.js
+++ b/packages/rich-text/src/create.js
@@ -133,75 +133,58 @@ const RichTextInternalData = Symbol( 'RichTextInternalData' );
  * The RichTextData class is used to instantiate a wrapper around rich text
  * values, with methods that can be used to transform or manipulate the data.
  *
- * Create an emtpy instance: `new RichTextData()`.
- * Create one from an html string: `new RichTextData( '<em>hello</em>' )`.
- * Create one from a DOM wrapper element:
- * `new RichTextData( document.createElement( 'p' ) )`.
- * Create
- * Create one from a rich text value:
- * `new RichTextData( { text: '...', formats: [ ... ] } )`.
+ * - Create an emtpy instance: `new RichTextData()`.
+ * - Create one from an html string: `RichTextData.fromHTMLString(
+ *   '<em>hello</em>' )`.
+ * - Create one from a wrapper HTMLElement: `RichTextData.fromHTMLElement(
+ *   document.querySelector( 'p' ) )`.
+ * - Create one from plain text: `RichTextData.fromPlainText( '1\n2' )`.
+ * - Create one from a rich text value: `new RichTextData( { text: '...',
+ *   formats: [ ... ] } )`.
  *
- * @todo Add methods to manipulate the data, such as slice etc.
+ * @todo Add methods to manipulate the data, such as applyFormat, slice etc.
  */
 export class RichTextData {
-	constructor( init, options = {} ) {
-		if ( ! init ) {
-			init = createEmptyValue();
-		} else if ( typeof init === 'string' ) {
-			init = create( { html: init } );
-		} else if ( init.nodeType && init.nodeType === init.ELEMENT_NODE ) {
-			init.normalize();
-			const { preserveWhiteSpace = false } = options;
-			if ( preserveWhiteSpace === false ) {
-				collapseWhiteSpaceElement( init );
-			}
-			init = create( { element: init } );
-		} else if ( init.text ) {
-			init = {
-				text: init.text,
-				formats: init.formats,
-				replacements: init.replacements,
-			};
-
-			if ( ! init.formats ) {
-				init.formats = Array( init.text.length );
-			} else if ( init.formats.length !== init.text.length ) {
-				throw new Error(
-					'RichTextData: `formats` and `text` must be of the same length.'
-				);
-			}
-
-			if ( ! init.replacements ) {
-				init.replacements = Array( init.text.length );
-			} else if ( init.replacements.length !== init.text.length ) {
-				throw new Error(
-					'RichTextData: `replacements` and `text` must be of the same length.'
-				);
-			}
-		} else {
-			init = createEmptyValue();
+	static fromHTMLString( html ) {
+		return new RichTextData( create( { html } ) );
+	}
+	static fromHTMLElement( htmlElement, options = {} ) {
+		const element = htmlElement.cloneNode( true );
+		element.normalize();
+		const { preserveWhiteSpace = false } = options;
+		if ( preserveWhiteSpace === false ) {
+			collapseWhiteSpaceElement( element );
 		}
-
+		const richTextData = new RichTextData( create( { element } ) );
+		Object.defineProperty( richTextData, 'originalHTML', {
+			value: htmlElement.innerHTML,
+		} );
+		return richTextData;
+	}
+	static fromPlainText( text ) {
+		return new RichTextData( create( { text } ) );
+	}
+	constructor( init = createEmptyValue() ) {
 		// Setting text, formats, and replacements as enumerable properties
 		// unfortunately visualises these in the e2e tests. As long as the class
 		// instance doesn't have any enumerable properties, it will be
 		// visualised as a string.
 		Object.defineProperty( this, RichTextInternalData, { value: init } );
-		Object.defineProperty( this, 'originalHTML', {
-			value: options.originalHTML,
-		} );
 	}
-	valueOf() {
+	toHTMLString() {
 		return (
 			this.originalHTML ||
 			toHTMLString( { value: this[ RichTextInternalData ] } )
 		);
 	}
+	valueOf() {
+		return this.toHTMLString();
+	}
 	toString() {
-		return this.valueOf();
+		return this.toHTMLString();
 	}
 	toJSON() {
-		return this.valueOf();
+		return this.toHTMLString();
 	}
 	get length() {
 		return this.text.length;

From 9df8b45d7cba8c174c4f203d605fd17e49322316 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Ella <ella@vandurpe.com>
Date: Tue, 28 Nov 2023 23:28:45 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 10/21] Fix matcher selector returning null

---
 packages/blocks/src/api/matchers.js | 4 +++-
 1 file changed, 3 insertions(+), 1 deletion(-)

diff --git a/packages/blocks/src/api/matchers.js b/packages/blocks/src/api/matchers.js
index 0145235d927181..74bb642af6aee6 100644
--- a/packages/blocks/src/api/matchers.js
+++ b/packages/blocks/src/api/matchers.js
@@ -49,5 +49,7 @@ export function html( selector, multilineTag ) {
 
 export const richText = ( selector, preserveWhiteSpace ) => ( el ) => {
 	const target = selector ? el.querySelector( selector ) : el;
-	return RichTextData.fromHTMLElement( target, { preserveWhiteSpace } );
+	return target
+		? RichTextData.fromHTMLElement( target, { preserveWhiteSpace } )
+		: new RichTextData();
 };

From 4f52b03f9b9a5b21c9300fd2763903c3bf845793 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Ella <ella@vandurpe.com>
Date: Thu, 30 Nov 2023 13:27:17 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 11/21] Correct typo + add empty method

---
 packages/blocks/src/api/matchers.js       | 2 +-
 packages/core-data/src/footnotes/index.js | 2 +-
 packages/rich-text/src/create.js          | 3 +++
 3 files changed, 5 insertions(+), 2 deletions(-)

diff --git a/packages/blocks/src/api/matchers.js b/packages/blocks/src/api/matchers.js
index 74bb642af6aee6..950f1539440a0b 100644
--- a/packages/blocks/src/api/matchers.js
+++ b/packages/blocks/src/api/matchers.js
@@ -51,5 +51,5 @@ export const richText = ( selector, preserveWhiteSpace ) => ( el ) => {
 	const target = selector ? el.querySelector( selector ) : el;
 	return target
 		? RichTextData.fromHTMLElement( target, { preserveWhiteSpace } )
-		: new RichTextData();
+		: RichTextData.empty();
 };
diff --git a/packages/core-data/src/footnotes/index.js b/packages/core-data/src/footnotes/index.js
index d4bcf7d3f62b00..9458290f9cb40b 100644
--- a/packages/core-data/src/footnotes/index.js
+++ b/packages/core-data/src/footnotes/index.js
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ export function updateFootnotesFromMeta( blocks, meta ) {
 
 			const richTextValue =
 				typeof value === 'string'
-					? RichTextData.fromHTMLElement( value )
+					? RichTextData.fromHTMLString( value )
 					: value;
 
 			richTextValue.replacements.forEach( ( replacement ) => {
diff --git a/packages/rich-text/src/create.js b/packages/rich-text/src/create.js
index 7c21cb0cbf9858..4466caf6bb48b9 100644
--- a/packages/rich-text/src/create.js
+++ b/packages/rich-text/src/create.js
@@ -145,6 +145,9 @@ const RichTextInternalData = Symbol( 'RichTextInternalData' );
  * @todo Add methods to manipulate the data, such as applyFormat, slice etc.
  */
 export class RichTextData {
+	static empty() {
+		return new RichTextData();
+	}
 	static fromHTMLString( html ) {
 		return new RichTextData( create( { html } ) );
 	}

From b6474a30ec0fba7a1a67c3d8bf8046d3cc73b7fd Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Ella <ella@vandurpe.com>
Date: Thu, 30 Nov 2023 13:37:40 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 12/21] Add toPlainText

---
 packages/block-library/src/file/save.js |  2 +-
 packages/rich-text/src/create.js        | 12 +++++++++---
 2 files changed, 10 insertions(+), 4 deletions(-)

diff --git a/packages/block-library/src/file/save.js b/packages/block-library/src/file/save.js
index 5ec09221f4159b..05ed6afd5bc920 100644
--- a/packages/block-library/src/file/save.js
+++ b/packages/block-library/src/file/save.js
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ export default function save( { attributes } ) {
 
 	const pdfEmbedLabel = RichText.isEmpty( fileName )
 		? 'PDF embed'
-		: fileName.toString();
+		: fileName.toPlainText();
 
 	const hasFilename = ! RichText.isEmpty( fileName );
 
diff --git a/packages/rich-text/src/create.js b/packages/rich-text/src/create.js
index 4466caf6bb48b9..6ad3d24c40c9ac 100644
--- a/packages/rich-text/src/create.js
+++ b/packages/rich-text/src/create.js
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import { createElement } from './create-element';
 import { mergePair } from './concat';
 import { OBJECT_REPLACEMENT_CHARACTER, ZWNBSP } from './special-characters';
 import { toHTMLString } from './to-html-string';
+import { getTextContent } from './get-text-content';
 
 /** @typedef {import('./types').RichTextValue} RichTextValue */
 
@@ -148,6 +149,9 @@ export class RichTextData {
 	static empty() {
 		return new RichTextData();
 	}
+	static fromPlainText( text ) {
+		return new RichTextData( create( { text } ) );
+	}
 	static fromHTMLString( html ) {
 		return new RichTextData( create( { html } ) );
 	}
@@ -164,9 +168,6 @@ export class RichTextData {
 		} );
 		return richTextData;
 	}
-	static fromPlainText( text ) {
-		return new RichTextData( create( { text } ) );
-	}
 	constructor( init = createEmptyValue() ) {
 		// Setting text, formats, and replacements as enumerable properties
 		// unfortunately visualises these in the e2e tests. As long as the class
@@ -174,6 +175,11 @@ export class RichTextData {
 		// visualised as a string.
 		Object.defineProperty( this, RichTextInternalData, { value: init } );
 	}
+	toPlainText() {
+		return getTextContent( this[ RichTextInternalData ] );
+	}
+	// We could expose `toHTMLElement` at some point as well, but we'd only use
+	// it internally.
 	toHTMLString() {
 		return (
 			this.originalHTML ||

From b37300dfa7a146c2b7f471e65dd9749e3309564a Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Ella <ella@vandurpe.com>
Date: Thu, 30 Nov 2023 14:15:54 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 13/21] Comment on toString

---
 packages/block-editor/src/components/rich-text/content.js  | 7 ++++++-
 .../src/components/rich-text/use-input-rules.js            | 3 +++
 packages/block-editor/src/utils/selection.js               | 2 ++
 packages/block-library/src/code/save.js                    | 3 +++
 packages/block-library/src/utils/remove-anchor-tag.js      | 1 +
 5 files changed, 15 insertions(+), 1 deletion(-)

diff --git a/packages/block-editor/src/components/rich-text/content.js b/packages/block-editor/src/components/rich-text/content.js
index fbc5be07f9c935..d11013a5cf1f25 100644
--- a/packages/block-editor/src/components/rich-text/content.js
+++ b/packages/block-editor/src/components/rich-text/content.js
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 import { RawHTML } from '@wordpress/element';
 import { children as childrenSource } from '@wordpress/blocks';
 import deprecated from '@wordpress/deprecated';
+import { RichTextData } from '@wordpress/rich-text';
 
 /**
  * Internal dependencies
@@ -29,7 +30,11 @@ export const Content = ( { value, tagName: Tag, multiline, ...props } ) => {
 		value = `<${ MultilineTag }></${ MultilineTag }>`;
 	}
 
-	const content = <RawHTML>{ value?.toString() }</RawHTML>;
+	const content = (
+		<RawHTML>
+			{ value instanceof RichTextData ? value.toHTMLString() : value }
+		</RawHTML>
+	);
 
 	if ( Tag ) {
 		const { format, ...restProps } = props;
diff --git a/packages/block-editor/src/components/rich-text/use-input-rules.js b/packages/block-editor/src/components/rich-text/use-input-rules.js
index 607165d2ead62d..5640a85f5f2695 100644
--- a/packages/block-editor/src/components/rich-text/use-input-rules.js
+++ b/packages/block-editor/src/components/rich-text/use-input-rules.js
@@ -29,6 +29,9 @@ function findSelection( blocks ) {
 			blocks[ i ].attributes[ attributeKey ] = blocks[ i ].attributes[
 				attributeKey
 			]
+				// To do: refactor this to use rich text's selection instead, so
+				// we no longer have to use on this hack inserting a special
+				// character.
 				.toString()
 				.replace( START_OF_SELECTED_AREA, '' );
 			return [ blocks[ i ].clientId, attributeKey, 0, 0 ];
diff --git a/packages/block-editor/src/utils/selection.js b/packages/block-editor/src/utils/selection.js
index 733ec8f1c37192..4e971485838791 100644
--- a/packages/block-editor/src/utils/selection.js
+++ b/packages/block-editor/src/utils/selection.js
@@ -25,6 +25,8 @@ export function retrieveSelectedAttribute( blockAttributes ) {
 		const value = blockAttributes[ name ];
 		return (
 			( typeof value === 'string' || value instanceof RichTextData ) &&
+			// To do: refactor this to use rich text's selection instead, so we
+			// no longer have to use on this hack inserting a special character.
 			value.toString().indexOf( START_OF_SELECTED_AREA ) !== -1
 		);
 	} );
diff --git a/packages/block-library/src/code/save.js b/packages/block-library/src/code/save.js
index fc00d084b54744..5bb9f68767b5ec 100644
--- a/packages/block-library/src/code/save.js
+++ b/packages/block-library/src/code/save.js
@@ -13,6 +13,9 @@ export default function save( { attributes } ) {
 		<pre { ...useBlockProps.save() }>
 			<RichText.Content
 				tagName="code"
+				// To do: `escape` encodes characters in shortcodes and URLs to
+				// prevent embedding in PHP. Ideally checks for the code block,
+				// or pre/code tags, should be made on the PHP side?
 				value={ escape( attributes.content.toString() ) }
 			/>
 		</pre>
diff --git a/packages/block-library/src/utils/remove-anchor-tag.js b/packages/block-library/src/utils/remove-anchor-tag.js
index 72e11e47e92ba9..82e7b03423648d 100644
--- a/packages/block-library/src/utils/remove-anchor-tag.js
+++ b/packages/block-library/src/utils/remove-anchor-tag.js
@@ -6,5 +6,6 @@
  * @return {string} The value with anchor tags removed.
  */
 export default function removeAnchorTag( value ) {
+	// To do: Refactor this to use rich text's removeFormat instead.
 	return value.toString().replace( /<\/?a[^>]*>/g, '' );
 }

From 18b4d995f48b570f1f3f60170a18746b8c9919fa Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Ella <ella@vandurpe.com>
Date: Fri, 1 Dec 2023 22:34:30 +0200
Subject: [PATCH 14/21] Improve whitespace collapse perf

---
 packages/rich-text/src/create.js | 57 +++++++++++++++++---------------
 1 file changed, 30 insertions(+), 27 deletions(-)

diff --git a/packages/rich-text/src/create.js b/packages/rich-text/src/create.js
index 6ad3d24c40c9ac..2dc6f7adcbc73f 100644
--- a/packages/rich-text/src/create.js
+++ b/packages/rich-text/src/create.js
@@ -98,33 +98,37 @@ function toFormat( { tagName, attributes } ) {
 	};
 }
 
-function collapseWhiteSpaceElement( el, isRoot = true ) {
-	Array.from( el.childNodes ).forEach( ( node ) => {
+function collapseWhiteSpaceElement( element, isRoot = true ) {
+	const clone = element.cloneNode( true );
+	clone.normalize();
+	Array.from( clone.childNodes ).forEach( ( node, i, nodes ) => {
 		if ( node.nodeType === node.TEXT_NODE ) {
-			node.nodeValue = node.nodeValue
-				.replace( /[\n\t\r\f]+/g, ' ' )
-				.replace( / {2,}/g, ' ' );
+			let newNodeValue = node.nodeValue;
+
+			if ( /[\n\t\r\f]/.test( newNodeValue ) ) {
+				newNodeValue = newNodeValue.replace( /[\n\t\r\f]+/g, ' ' );
+			}
+
+			if ( newNodeValue.indexOf( '  ' ) !== -1 ) {
+				newNodeValue = newNodeValue.replace( / {2,}/g, ' ' );
+			}
+
+			if ( i === 0 && newNodeValue.startsWith( ' ' ) ) {
+				newNodeValue = newNodeValue.slice( 1 );
+			} else if (
+				isRoot &&
+				i === nodes.length - 1 &&
+				newNodeValue.endsWith( ' ' )
+			) {
+				newNodeValue = newNodeValue.slice( 0, -1 );
+			}
+
+			node.nodeValue = newNodeValue;
 		} else if ( node.nodeType === node.ELEMENT_NODE ) {
 			collapseWhiteSpaceElement( node, false );
 		}
 	} );
-
-	if (
-		el.firstChild &&
-		el.firstChild.nodeType === el.TEXT_NODE &&
-		el.firstChild.nodeValue.startsWith( ' ' )
-	) {
-		el.firstChild.nodeValue = el.firstChild.nodeValue.slice( 1 );
-	}
-
-	if (
-		isRoot &&
-		el.lastChild &&
-		el.lastChild.nodeType === el.TEXT_NODE &&
-		el.lastChild.nodeValue.endsWith( ' ' )
-	) {
-		el.lastChild.nodeValue = el.lastChild.nodeValue.slice( 0, -1 );
-	}
+	return clone;
 }
 
 // Ideally we use a private property.
@@ -156,12 +160,11 @@ export class RichTextData {
 		return new RichTextData( create( { html } ) );
 	}
 	static fromHTMLElement( htmlElement, options = {} ) {
-		const element = htmlElement.cloneNode( true );
-		element.normalize();
 		const { preserveWhiteSpace = false } = options;
-		if ( preserveWhiteSpace === false ) {
-			collapseWhiteSpaceElement( element );
-		}
+		const element =
+			preserveWhiteSpace === false
+				? collapseWhiteSpaceElement( htmlElement )
+				: htmlElement;
 		const richTextData = new RichTextData( create( { element } ) );
 		Object.defineProperty( richTextData, 'originalHTML', {
 			value: htmlElement.innerHTML,

From 2134ee221a17b45bcaa8fe055aadb269071eb3dc Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Ella <ella@vandurpe.com>
Date: Fri, 1 Dec 2023 23:45:04 +0200
Subject: [PATCH 15/21] pasteHandler should always return string

---
 .../src/components/rich-text/use-paste-handler.js          | 7 ++-----
 1 file changed, 2 insertions(+), 5 deletions(-)

diff --git a/packages/block-editor/src/components/rich-text/use-paste-handler.js b/packages/block-editor/src/components/rich-text/use-paste-handler.js
index 5baf5858701219..1302e2d0dce469 100644
--- a/packages/block-editor/src/components/rich-text/use-paste-handler.js
+++ b/packages/block-editor/src/components/rich-text/use-paste-handler.js
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ import {
 	findTransform,
 	getBlockTransforms,
 } from '@wordpress/blocks';
-import { isEmpty, insert, create, RichTextData } from '@wordpress/rich-text';
+import { isEmpty, insert, create } from '@wordpress/rich-text';
 import { isURL } from '@wordpress/url';
 
 /**
@@ -134,10 +134,7 @@ export function usePasteHandler( props ) {
 				tagName,
 			} );
 
-			if (
-				typeof content === 'string' ||
-				content instanceof RichTextData
-			) {
+			if ( typeof content === 'string' ) {
 				const transformed = formatTypes.reduce(
 					( accumlator, { __unstablePasteRule } ) => {
 						// Only allow one transform.

From 7816e5c77210d636c6576709abb1f2ca8ef88074 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Ella <ella@vandurpe.com>
Date: Sat, 2 Dec 2023 00:19:03 +0200
Subject: [PATCH 16/21] file block: revert to trunk's behaviour of setting HTML
 as a label

---
 packages/block-library/src/file/save.js | 2 +-
 1 file changed, 1 insertion(+), 1 deletion(-)

diff --git a/packages/block-library/src/file/save.js b/packages/block-library/src/file/save.js
index 05ed6afd5bc920..5ec09221f4159b 100644
--- a/packages/block-library/src/file/save.js
+++ b/packages/block-library/src/file/save.js
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ export default function save( { attributes } ) {
 
 	const pdfEmbedLabel = RichText.isEmpty( fileName )
 		? 'PDF embed'
-		: fileName.toPlainText();
+		: fileName.toString();
 
 	const hasFilename = ! RichText.isEmpty( fileName );
 

From 3074fe731918dfcaa208f294e938ddddbdff8e81 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Ella <ella@vandurpe.com>
Date: Sat, 2 Dec 2023 00:39:21 +0200
Subject: [PATCH 17/21] Rewrite RichText.Content

---
 .../src/components/rich-text/content.js       | 40 ++++++++++---------
 packages/block-library/src/file/save.js       |  4 +-
 2 files changed, 24 insertions(+), 20 deletions(-)

diff --git a/packages/block-editor/src/components/rich-text/content.js b/packages/block-editor/src/components/rich-text/content.js
index d11013a5cf1f25..ff6e7be27d2f7f 100644
--- a/packages/block-editor/src/components/rich-text/content.js
+++ b/packages/block-editor/src/components/rich-text/content.js
@@ -4,7 +4,11 @@
 import { RawHTML } from '@wordpress/element';
 import { children as childrenSource } from '@wordpress/blocks';
 import deprecated from '@wordpress/deprecated';
-import { RichTextData } from '@wordpress/rich-text';
+
+/**
+ * Internal dependencies
+ */
+import RichText from './';
 
 /**
  * Internal dependencies
@@ -12,34 +16,32 @@ import { RichTextData } from '@wordpress/rich-text';
 import { getMultilineTag } from './utils';
 
 export const Content = ( { value, tagName: Tag, multiline, ...props } ) => {
-	// Handle deprecated `children` and `node` sources.
-	if ( Array.isArray( value ) ) {
+	const MultilineTag = getMultilineTag( multiline );
+
+	if ( RichText.isEmpty( value ) ) {
+		value = MultilineTag ? <MultilineTag /> : null;
+	} else if ( Array.isArray( value ) ) {
 		deprecated( 'wp.blockEditor.RichText value prop as children type', {
 			since: '6.1',
 			version: '6.3',
 			alternative: 'value prop as string',
 			link: 'https://developer.wordpress.org/block-editor/how-to-guides/block-tutorial/introducing-attributes-and-editable-fields/',
 		} );
-
-		value = childrenSource.toHTML( value );
-	}
-
-	const MultilineTag = getMultilineTag( multiline );
-
-	if ( ! value && MultilineTag ) {
-		value = `<${ MultilineTag }></${ MultilineTag }>`;
+		value = <RawHTML>{ childrenSource.toHTML( value ) }</RawHTML>;
+	} else if ( typeof value === 'string' ) {
+		// To do: deprecate.
+		value = <RawHTML>{ value }</RawHTML>;
+	} else {
+		// To do: create a toReactComponent method on RichTextData, which we
+		// might in the future also use for the editable tree. See
+		// https://github.com/WordPress/gutenberg/pull/41655.
+		value = <RawHTML>{ value.toHTMLString() }</RawHTML>;
 	}
 
-	const content = (
-		<RawHTML>
-			{ value instanceof RichTextData ? value.toHTMLString() : value }
-		</RawHTML>
-	);
-
 	if ( Tag ) {
 		const { format, ...restProps } = props;
-		return <Tag { ...restProps }>{ content }</Tag>;
+		return <Tag { ...restProps }>{ value }</Tag>;
 	}
 
-	return content;
+	return value;
 };
diff --git a/packages/block-library/src/file/save.js b/packages/block-library/src/file/save.js
index 5ec09221f4159b..f5eb1ce3c2b14e 100644
--- a/packages/block-library/src/file/save.js
+++ b/packages/block-library/src/file/save.js
@@ -27,7 +27,9 @@ export default function save( { attributes } ) {
 
 	const pdfEmbedLabel = RichText.isEmpty( fileName )
 		? 'PDF embed'
-		: fileName.toString();
+		: // To do: use toPlainText, but we need ensure it's RichTextData. See
+		  // https://github.com/WordPress/gutenberg/pull/56710.
+		  fileName.toString();
 
 	const hasFilename = ! RichText.isEmpty( fileName );
 

From 039f197a60468b3cc19892ad18e026aa6b8aa3fd Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Ella <ella@vandurpe.com>
Date: Sat, 2 Dec 2023 00:47:54 +0200
Subject: [PATCH 18/21] RichText.Content clean up

---
 .../src/components/rich-text/content.js       | 20 +++++++++----------
 1 file changed, 10 insertions(+), 10 deletions(-)

diff --git a/packages/block-editor/src/components/rich-text/content.js b/packages/block-editor/src/components/rich-text/content.js
index ff6e7be27d2f7f..92e150fb174edb 100644
--- a/packages/block-editor/src/components/rich-text/content.js
+++ b/packages/block-editor/src/components/rich-text/content.js
@@ -15,10 +15,15 @@ import RichText from './';
  */
 import { getMultilineTag } from './utils';
 
-export const Content = ( { value, tagName: Tag, multiline, ...props } ) => {
-	const MultilineTag = getMultilineTag( multiline );
-
+export function Content( {
+	value,
+	tagName: Tag,
+	multiline,
+	format,
+	...props
+} ) {
 	if ( RichText.isEmpty( value ) ) {
+		const MultilineTag = getMultilineTag( multiline );
 		value = MultilineTag ? <MultilineTag /> : null;
 	} else if ( Array.isArray( value ) ) {
 		deprecated( 'wp.blockEditor.RichText value prop as children type', {
@@ -38,10 +43,5 @@ export const Content = ( { value, tagName: Tag, multiline, ...props } ) => {
 		value = <RawHTML>{ value.toHTMLString() }</RawHTML>;
 	}
 
-	if ( Tag ) {
-		const { format, ...restProps } = props;
-		return <Tag { ...restProps }>{ value }</Tag>;
-	}
-
-	return value;
-};
+	return Tag ? <Tag { ...props }>{ value }</Tag> : value;
+}

From 91ea1e014bf538414396109d3beef599f641754a Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Ella <ella@vandurpe.com>
Date: Sat, 2 Dec 2023 12:07:24 +0200
Subject: [PATCH 19/21] Clean up

---
 packages/rich-text/src/component/index.js | 52 +++++++---------
 packages/rich-text/src/create.js          | 73 +++++++++++------------
 2 files changed, 58 insertions(+), 67 deletions(-)

diff --git a/packages/rich-text/src/component/index.js b/packages/rich-text/src/component/index.js
index 6efe22960b57d9..84c5be33c4b670 100644
--- a/packages/rich-text/src/component/index.js
+++ b/packages/rich-text/src/component/index.js
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ import { useRegistry } from '@wordpress/data';
 /**
  * Internal dependencies
  */
-import { collapseWhiteSpace, create, RichTextData } from '../create';
+import { create, RichTextData } from '../create';
 import { apply } from '../to-dom';
 import { toHTMLString } from '../to-html-string';
 import { useDefaultStyle } from './use-default-style';
@@ -70,18 +70,18 @@ export function useRichText( {
 
 	function setRecordFromProps() {
 		_value.current = value;
-		record.current =
-			value instanceof RichTextData
-				? {
-						text: value.text,
-						formats: value.formats,
-						replacements: value.replacements,
-				  }
-				: create( {
-						html: preserveWhiteSpace
-							? value
-							: collapseWhiteSpace( value ),
-				  } );
+		if ( ! value?.length ) {
+			record.current = RichTextData.empty();
+		} else if ( typeof value === 'string' ) {
+			record.current = RichTextData.fromHTMLString( value, {
+				preserveWhiteSpace,
+			} );
+		}
+		record.current = {
+			text: value.text,
+			formats: value.formats,
+			replacements: value.replacements,
+		};
 		if ( disableFormats ) {
 			record.current.formats = Array( value.length );
 			record.current.replacements = Array( value.length );
@@ -123,24 +123,16 @@ export function useRichText( {
 
 		if ( disableFormats ) {
 			_value.current = newRecord.text;
-		} else if ( typeof value === 'string' ) {
-			_value.current = toHTMLString( {
-				value: __unstableBeforeSerialize
-					? {
-							...newRecord,
-							formats: __unstableBeforeSerialize( newRecord ),
-					  }
-					: newRecord,
-			} );
 		} else {
-			_value.current = new RichTextData(
-				__unstableBeforeSerialize
-					? {
-							...newRecord,
-							formats: __unstableBeforeSerialize( newRecord ),
-					  }
-					: newRecord
-			);
+			const newFormas = __unstableBeforeSerialize
+				? __unstableBeforeSerialize( newRecord )
+				: newRecord.formats;
+			newRecord = { ...newRecord, formats: newFormas };
+			if ( typeof value === 'string' ) {
+				_value.current = toHTMLString( { value: newRecord } );
+			} else {
+				_value.current = new RichTextData( newRecord );
+			}
 		}
 
 		const { start, end, formats, text } = newRecord;
diff --git a/packages/rich-text/src/create.js b/packages/rich-text/src/create.js
index 2dc6f7adcbc73f..e230313e137c9c 100644
--- a/packages/rich-text/src/create.js
+++ b/packages/rich-text/src/create.js
@@ -98,39 +98,6 @@ function toFormat( { tagName, attributes } ) {
 	};
 }
 
-function collapseWhiteSpaceElement( element, isRoot = true ) {
-	const clone = element.cloneNode( true );
-	clone.normalize();
-	Array.from( clone.childNodes ).forEach( ( node, i, nodes ) => {
-		if ( node.nodeType === node.TEXT_NODE ) {
-			let newNodeValue = node.nodeValue;
-
-			if ( /[\n\t\r\f]/.test( newNodeValue ) ) {
-				newNodeValue = newNodeValue.replace( /[\n\t\r\f]+/g, ' ' );
-			}
-
-			if ( newNodeValue.indexOf( '  ' ) !== -1 ) {
-				newNodeValue = newNodeValue.replace( / {2,}/g, ' ' );
-			}
-
-			if ( i === 0 && newNodeValue.startsWith( ' ' ) ) {
-				newNodeValue = newNodeValue.slice( 1 );
-			} else if (
-				isRoot &&
-				i === nodes.length - 1 &&
-				newNodeValue.endsWith( ' ' )
-			) {
-				newNodeValue = newNodeValue.slice( 0, -1 );
-			}
-
-			node.nodeValue = newNodeValue;
-		} else if ( node.nodeType === node.ELEMENT_NODE ) {
-			collapseWhiteSpaceElement( node, false );
-		}
-	} );
-	return clone;
-}
-
 // Ideally we use a private property.
 const RichTextInternalData = Symbol( 'RichTextInternalData' );
 
@@ -163,7 +130,7 @@ export class RichTextData {
 		const { preserveWhiteSpace = false } = options;
 		const element =
 			preserveWhiteSpace === false
-				? collapseWhiteSpaceElement( htmlElement )
+				? collapseWhiteSpace( htmlElement )
 				: htmlElement;
 		const richTextData = new RichTextData( create( { element } ) );
 		Object.defineProperty( richTextData, 'originalHTML', {
@@ -391,10 +358,42 @@ function filterRange( node, range, filter ) {
  * @see
  * https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/white-space-collapse#collapsing_of_white_space
  *
- * @param {string} string
+ * @param {HTMLElement} element
+ * @param {boolean}     isRoot
+ *
+ * @return {HTMLElement} New element with collapsed whitespace.
  */
-export function collapseWhiteSpace( string ) {
-	return string.replace( /[\n\r\t]+/g, ' ' );
+function collapseWhiteSpace( element, isRoot = true ) {
+	const clone = element.cloneNode( true );
+	clone.normalize();
+	Array.from( clone.childNodes ).forEach( ( node, i, nodes ) => {
+		if ( node.nodeType === node.TEXT_NODE ) {
+			let newNodeValue = node.nodeValue;
+
+			if ( /[\n\t\r\f]/.test( newNodeValue ) ) {
+				newNodeValue = newNodeValue.replace( /[\n\t\r\f]+/g, ' ' );
+			}
+
+			if ( newNodeValue.indexOf( '  ' ) !== -1 ) {
+				newNodeValue = newNodeValue.replace( / {2,}/g, ' ' );
+			}
+
+			if ( i === 0 && newNodeValue.startsWith( ' ' ) ) {
+				newNodeValue = newNodeValue.slice( 1 );
+			} else if (
+				isRoot &&
+				i === nodes.length - 1 &&
+				newNodeValue.endsWith( ' ' )
+			) {
+				newNodeValue = newNodeValue.slice( 0, -1 );
+			}
+
+			node.nodeValue = newNodeValue;
+		} else if ( node.nodeType === node.ELEMENT_NODE ) {
+			collapseWhiteSpace( node, false );
+		}
+	} );
+	return clone;
 }
 
 /**

From 0b20d23543ebad63181ebd31933dff400d8ff2a8 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Ella <ella@vandurpe.com>
Date: Sat, 2 Dec 2023 17:52:46 +0200
Subject: [PATCH 20/21] Fix errors

---
 packages/rich-text/src/component/index.js | 18 +++++++++---------
 packages/rich-text/src/create.js          |  7 +++----
 2 files changed, 12 insertions(+), 13 deletions(-)

diff --git a/packages/rich-text/src/component/index.js b/packages/rich-text/src/component/index.js
index 84c5be33c4b670..a04406e5a1f6cf 100644
--- a/packages/rich-text/src/component/index.js
+++ b/packages/rich-text/src/component/index.js
@@ -70,17 +70,17 @@ export function useRichText( {
 
 	function setRecordFromProps() {
 		_value.current = value;
-		if ( ! value?.length ) {
-			record.current = RichTextData.empty();
-		} else if ( typeof value === 'string' ) {
-			record.current = RichTextData.fromHTMLString( value, {
-				preserveWhiteSpace,
-			} );
+		record.current = value;
+		if ( ! ( value instanceof RichTextData ) ) {
+			record.current = value
+				? RichTextData.fromHTMLString( value, { preserveWhiteSpace } )
+				: RichTextData.empty();
 		}
+		// To do: make rich text internally work with RichTextData.
 		record.current = {
-			text: value.text,
-			formats: value.formats,
-			replacements: value.replacements,
+			text: record.current.text,
+			formats: record.current.formats,
+			replacements: record.current.replacements,
 		};
 		if ( disableFormats ) {
 			record.current.formats = Array( value.length );
diff --git a/packages/rich-text/src/create.js b/packages/rich-text/src/create.js
index e230313e137c9c..a35fabbd4e2fad 100644
--- a/packages/rich-text/src/create.js
+++ b/packages/rich-text/src/create.js
@@ -128,10 +128,9 @@ export class RichTextData {
 	}
 	static fromHTMLElement( htmlElement, options = {} ) {
 		const { preserveWhiteSpace = false } = options;
-		const element =
-			preserveWhiteSpace === false
-				? collapseWhiteSpace( htmlElement )
-				: htmlElement;
+		const element = preserveWhiteSpace
+			? htmlElement
+			: collapseWhiteSpace( htmlElement );
 		const richTextData = new RichTextData( create( { element } ) );
 		Object.defineProperty( richTextData, 'originalHTML', {
 			value: htmlElement.innerHTML,

From bce8a2debc428082d3f98d95c26246c98d075cb1 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Ella <ella@vandurpe.com>
Date: Mon, 4 Dec 2023 09:58:24 +0200
Subject: [PATCH 21/21] Fix annotation tests

---
 packages/rich-text/src/component/index.js | 6 +++---
 1 file changed, 3 insertions(+), 3 deletions(-)

diff --git a/packages/rich-text/src/component/index.js b/packages/rich-text/src/component/index.js
index a04406e5a1f6cf..a2b5734d5c2048 100644
--- a/packages/rich-text/src/component/index.js
+++ b/packages/rich-text/src/component/index.js
@@ -124,10 +124,10 @@ export function useRichText( {
 		if ( disableFormats ) {
 			_value.current = newRecord.text;
 		} else {
-			const newFormas = __unstableBeforeSerialize
+			const newFormats = __unstableBeforeSerialize
 				? __unstableBeforeSerialize( newRecord )
 				: newRecord.formats;
-			newRecord = { ...newRecord, formats: newFormas };
+			newRecord = { ...newRecord, formats: newFormats };
 			if ( typeof value === 'string' ) {
 				_value.current = toHTMLString( { value: newRecord } );
 			} else {
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ export function useRichText( {
 			}
 		}
 
-		const { start, end, formats, text } = newRecord;
+		const { start, end, formats, text } = record.current;
 
 		// Selection must be updated first, so it is recorded in history when
 		// the content change happens.