Breaking space (opposite of non-breaking space)

Detailed understanding of breaking spaces

By using ASCII value  , you achieve the effect of standard spaces in HTML. Although normal spaces are created by the space bar, " " and   can be used interchangeably for clarity or while handling HTML programmatically.

For achieving consistent visual spacing,   creates a wide space, similar to the size of a traditional tab. This can be helpful for aligning items in case a tab is not the suitable option.

If you need to handle multiple consecutive spaces within your HTML document, applying the CSS style white-space: pre-wrap; helps you preserve all these spaces and breaks lines as necessary.

Special spaces and how to use them

In the case where you need to manage the wrapping of strings that would not naturally break, such as technical terminology or concatenated words, inserting Zero-width spaces (​) can be particularly helpful.

An interesting technique to fine-tune control over text wrapping without affecting the layout width is alternating zero-width spaces with non-breaking spaces ( ) or standard spaces within large content.

Considerations when dealing with layouts and wrapping

While crafting web layouts, remember that <br/> creates new lines, not spaces, and breaks the natural flow of text. Therefore, the excessive use of <br/> can lead to rigid designs that do not adapt well to different screen sizes.

Troubleshooting issues with website text might sometimes require you to investigate HTML entities for spaces. As some characters might behave differently across browsers or devices, performing regular tests and validation is crucial.

Applying CSS tricks for managing breaking space

Handling overflow

With CSS, you can prevent wrapping and ensure user accessibility to the overflowing content.

.text-container {
  white-space: nowrap;
  overflow: auto; /* Yes, it's scroll magic */
}
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Creating flexible spaces

This style collapses spaces like normal text but respects the breaking space to ensure readability and flexibility.

.flexy-spaces {
  white-space: pre-line; /* The collapsible travel suitcase of spaces */
}
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Breaking it down: non-breaking vs. standard breaking space

The non-breaking space

• Ensures inline elements stick together.
• Ideal for preventing breaks in short strings of text (like dates).
• May lead to unexpected overflow if used extensively within a single line.

The standard (breaking) space

• Enhances readability by breaking text at logical points.
• Allows text to flow naturally within a container.
• May need to be used in combination with non-breaking spaces for optimal flow and readability.