Anisole is an aryl alkyl ether. In anisole the group -OCH3 influences +R effect. This increases the electron density in the benzene ring and it leads to the activation of benzene ring towards electrophillic substitution reactions.

Is anisole electron donating or withdrawing?

The methoxy group strongly affects the pi cloud of the ring as a mesomeric electron donor, more so than as an inductive electron withdrawing group despite the electronegativity of the oxygen.

Is anisole reactive?

Anisole is more reactive than benzene in electrophilic aromatic substitution, due to resonance donation of electrons by the methoxy group. This also makes it an o,p director.