white-space property CSS Reference

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Definition and Usage

The white-space CSS property is used to to describe how whitespace inside the element is handled.

• Initial normal
• Applies to all elements
• Inherited yes
• Media visual
• Computed Value as specified
• Animatable no
• Canonical order the unique non-ambiguous order defined by the formal grammar

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Syntax

Formal syntax: normal | pre | nowrap | pre-wrap | pre-line

white-space: normal
white-space: nowrap
white-space: pre
white-space: pre-wrap
white-space: pre-line
white-space: inherit

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Values

normal

Sequences of whitespace are collapsed. Newline characters in the source are handled as other whitespace. Breaks lines as necessary to fill line boxes.

nowrap

Collapses whitespace as for normal, but suppresses line breaks (text wrapping) within text.

pre

Sequences of whitespace are preserved, lines are only broken at newline characters in the source and at <br> elements.

pre-wrap

Sequences of whitespace are preserved. Lines are broken at newline characters, at <br>, and as necessary to fill line boxes.

pre-line

Sequences of whitespace are collapsed. Lines are broken at newline characters, at <br>, and as necessary to fill line boxes.

The following table summarizes the behavior of various white-space values:

	New lines	Spaces and tabs	Text wrapping
normal	Collapse	Collapse	Wrap
nowrap	Collapse	Collapse	No wrap
pre	Preserve	Preserve	No wrap
pre-wrap	Preserve	Preserve	Wrap
pre-line	Preserve	Collapse	Wrap

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Examples

code {
  white-space: pre;
}

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Compatibility

Desktop browsers

Mobile browsers