CSS white-space

The CSS white-space property is used to control whitespace.

This is can be used to prevent unwanted wrapping, or it can be used to force wrapping where required. It specifies the following:

Syntax

Possible Values

normal
Directs user agents to collapse sequences of white space, and break lines as necessary to fill line boxes. As an example, the HTML <p> element behaves this way by default.
pre
Prevents user agents from collapsing sequences of white space. Lines are only broken at preserved newline characters. As an example, the HTML pre element behaves this way by default.
nowrap
Like normal, this value collapses white space, but like pre, it does not allow wrapping.
pre-wrap
Like pre, this value preserves white space; but like normal, it allows wrapping.
pre-line
Like normal, this value collapses consecutive spaces and allows wrapping, but preserves segment breaks in the source as forced line breaks.

In addition, all CSS properties also accept the following CSS-wide keyword values as the sole component of their property value:

initial
Represents the value specified as the property's initial value.
inherit
Represents the computed value of the property on the element's parent.
unset
This value acts as either inherit or initial, depending on whether the property is inherited or not. In other words, it sets all properties to their parent value if they are inheritable or to their initial value if not inheritable.

General Information

Initial Value
normal
Applies To
Block level elements
Inherited?
Yes
Media
Visual
Animatable?
No

Example Code

Official Specifications