word-break CSS property
Baseline
Widely available
*
This feature is well established and works across many devices and browser versions. It’s been available across browsers since July 2015.
* Some parts of this feature may have varying levels of support.
The word-break CSS property sets whether line breaks appear wherever the text would otherwise overflow its content box.
Try it
word-break: normal;
word-break: break-all;
word-break: keep-all;
word-break: break-word;
<section class="default-example" id="default-example">
<div class="transition-all" id="example-element">
Honorificabilitudinitatibus califragilisticexpialidocious
Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateaturipukakapikimaungahoronukupokaiwhenuakitanatahu
グレートブリテンおよび北アイルランド連合王国という言葉は本当に長い言葉
</div>
</section>
#example-element {
width: 80%;
padding: 20px;
text-align: start;
border: solid 1px darkgray;
}
Syntax
css
/* Keyword values */
word-break: normal;
word-break: break-all;
word-break: keep-all;
word-break: auto-phrase; /* experimental */
word-break: break-word; /* deprecated */
/* Global values */
word-break: inherit;
word-break: initial;
word-break: revert;
word-break: revert-layer;
word-break: unset;
The word-break property is specified as a single keyword chosen from the list of values below.
Values
normal-
Use the default line break rule.
break-all-
To prevent overflow, word breaks should be inserted between any two characters (excluding Chinese/Japanese/Korean text).
keep-all-
Word breaks should not be used for Chinese/Japanese/Korean (CJK) text. Non-CJK text behavior is the same as for
normal. auto-phrase-
Has the same effect as
word-break: normalexcept that language-specific analysis is performed to improve word breaks by not placing them in the middle of natural phrases. break-word-
Has the same effect as
overflow-wrap: anywherecombined withword-break: normal, regardless of the actual value of theoverflow-wrapproperty.
Note:
In contrast to word-break: break-word and overflow-wrap: break-word (see overflow-wrap), word-break: break-all will create a break at the exact place where text would otherwise overflow its container (even if putting an entire word on its own line would negate the need for a break).
The specification also lists an additional value, manual, which is not currently supported in any browsers. When implemented, manual will have the same effect as word-break: normal except that breaks won't be automatically inserted in Southeast Asian languages. This is needed because, in such languages, user agents frequently place breaks in suboptimal positions. manual will allow you to insert line breaks in optimal positions manually.
Formal definition
| Initial value | normal |
|---|---|
| Applies to | all elements |
| Inherited | yes |
| Computed value | as specified |
| Animation type | discrete |
Formal syntax
word-break =
normal |
break-all |
keep-all |
manual |
auto-phrase |
break-word
Examples
HTML
html
<p>1. <code>word-break: normal</code></p>
<p class="normal narrow">
This is a long and Honorificabilitudinitatibus califragilisticexpialidocious
Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateaturipukakapikimaungahoronukupokaiwhenuakitanatahu
グレートブリテンおよび北アイルランド連合王国という言葉は本当に長い言葉
</p>
<p>2. <code>word-break: break-all</code></p>
<p class="breakAll narrow">
This is a long and Honorificabilitudinitatibus califragilisticexpialidocious
Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateaturipukakapikimaungahoronukupokaiwhenuakitanatahu
グレートブリテンおよび北アイルランド連合王国という言葉は本当に長い言葉
</p>
<p>3. <code>word-break: keep-all</code></p>
<p class="keepAll narrow">
This is a long and Honorificabilitudinitatibus califragilisticexpialidocious
Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateaturipukakapikimaungahoronukupokaiwhenuakitanatahu
グレートブリテンおよび北アイルランド連合王国という言葉は本当に長い言葉
</p>
<p>4. <code>word-break: manual</code></p>
<p class="manual narrow">
This is a long and Honorificabilitudinitatibus califragilisticexpialidocious
Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateaturipukakapikimaungahoronukupokaiwhenuakitanatahu
グレートブリテンおよび北アイルランド連合王国という言葉は本当に長い言葉
</p>
<p>5. <code>word-break: auto-phrase</code></p>
<p class="autoPhrase narrow">
This is a long and Honorificabilitudinitatibus califragilisticexpialidocious
Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateaturipukakapikimaungahoronukupokaiwhenuakitanatahu
グレートブリテンおよび北アイルランド連合王国という言葉は本当に長い言葉
</p>
<p>6. <code>word-break: break-word</code></p>
<p class="breakWord narrow">
This is a long and Honorificabilitudinitatibus califragilisticexpialidocious
Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateaturipukakapikimaungahoronukupokaiwhenuakitanatahu
グレートブリテンおよび北アイルランド連合王国という言葉は本当に長い言葉
</p>
CSS
css
.narrow {
padding: 10px;
border: 1px solid;
width: 500px;
margin: 0 auto;
font-size: 20px;
line-height: 1.5;
letter-spacing: 1px;
}
.normal {
word-break: normal;
}
.breakAll {
word-break: break-all;
}
.keepAll {
word-break: keep-all;
}
.manual {
word-break: manual;
}
.autoPhrase {
word-break: auto-phrase;
}
.breakWord {
word-break: break-word;
}
Specifications
| Specification |
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| CSS Text Module Level 3 # word-break-property |
Browser compatibility
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word-break
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auto-phrase
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break-all
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break-word
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keep-all
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normal
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Legend
Tip: you can click/tap on a cell for more information.
- Full support
- Full support
- No support
- No support
- Experimental. Expect behavior to change in the future.
- Deprecated. Not for use in new websites.
- See implementation notes.