I'm using react-rte but am willing to extend it so let's talk about Draft-js.
I need to be able to "inline-style" a selection. Then on subsequent renders re-access that selection's dom.
So let's say I highlight a selection. Then I persist the document. Then I come back, reload the document, I need to be able get access to that highlighted section, but in the dom.
Basically on the side of the document I'm applying markers, outside of draft-js, and those markers need to line up with the highlighted part. So when I do the initial highlighting I can get the dom position from window.getSelection(), and i can place my marker. But the dom may change later and I won't be able to place my marker.
--edit--
So another use case is that I highlight a selection, and even in the same session, I need to change the color of the selection programatically so again I need to access the section of the document even if the cursor is not on that section.
--end edit--
So what I really need is something like an unique classname, id or even better a react ref for the new spans that are created when you do an inline style.
Please let me know if you need a better explanation.