How to achieve a soft hyphen in HTML

The Soft Hyphen (­) demystified

The soft hyphen in HTML, denoted as ­, is a discreet character that instructs the browser to add a hyphen and break a word only if required at the end of a line—like an unobtrusive guide to managing text flow.

Interaction with different browsers

All the major web browsers acknowledge the ­ entity. However, functions like copy-paste and Find on Page may yield inconsistent results across browsers due to their diverging handling of ­. In such cases, ­ is a viable alternative as it assures better Google indexing and uniform display.

Testing ­ and ­ in browsers

It's pertinent to test the behaviour of ­ and ­ across different browsers to ensure their interactions conform with your requirements. An invaluable resource for understanding these intricacies and browser-specific behaviours is QuirksMode.

Alternative routes to word-breaking

While the soft hyphen is a flexible tool, there are alternate techniques to determine when, where, and how words break.

Employing CSS for hyphenation

Modern CSS properties, such as hyphens: auto;, allow the automatic hyphenation of text in the specified language. Support varies by browser.

p {
  hyphens: auto;
  word-wrap: break-word;
  /* Apply only if you enjoy the sight of organized chaos in syntax */
}
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Using JavaScript for hyphenation

Hyphenator.js is an efficacious JavaScript tool for programmatically controlling hyphenation in webpages. This can be of great assistance for managing responsive and dynamic content or where greater control over hyphenation is needed.

Adopting Best practices for hyphenation

Ensuring consistency

Ensure that soft hyphens are used consistently throughout the content. Overuse can lead to visual clutter and hamper readability. Remember, they're more of gentle whispers than loud cues.

Catering to accessibility

Soft hyphens can affect the pronunciation (hence the "meaning") of words in screen readers. Therefore, it's crucial to balance the visual appeal and accessibility of text.

Staying current

Keep monitoring for browser updates. The handling of ­ can evolve, requiring updates in the implementation.