CSS word-break property

The CSS word-break property is used to control how words are broken (wrapped) within a line of text when they would otherwise overflow the boundaries of their container. It defines the behavior of the browser when dealing with long words or strings that cannot fit in a single line.

The word-break property has the following values:

1. normal: This is the default value. It allows the browser to break words according to its default word-breaking rules, which usually involve breaking words at hyphens or between characters.
2. break-all: This value allows the browser to break words and strings at any point, even if it means breaking words in the middle of a character. This can be useful for languages that do not use spaces between words or for very long URLs.
3. keep-all: With this value, the browser avoids breaking words when possible, especially in East Asian languages where words are often written without spaces.

Example:

p {
  width: 200px;
  word-break: break-all;
}

In this example, all paragraphs (<p> elements) will have the word-break property set to break-all. This means that long words or strings within the paragraph will be broken at any point to fit within the container’s width, even if it results in breaking words in the middle of characters.

The word-break property is particularly useful for dealing with content that includes long URLs, email addresses, or text in languages that don’t use spaces between words. However, be cautious when using break-all, as it can potentially break words in awkward places and affect readability.

For most cases, the default value of word-break: normal; is sufficient, as it allows the browser to handle word breaking in a way that maintains the text’s legibility and follows language-specific rules. If you have specific requirements for how words should be broken, you can use word-break: break-all; or word-break: keep-all; as needed.

As with any CSS property, it’s essential to test the behavior of word-break in different browsers and on various devices to ensure a consistent and visually appealing presentation of your text content.