Web/CSS/overflow-wrap

The overflow-wrap CSS property applies to inline elements, setting whether the browser should insert line breaks within an otherwise unbreakable string to prevent text from overflowing its line box.

The source for this interactive example is stored in a GitHub repository. If you'd like to contribute to the interactive examples project, please clone https://github.com/mdn/interactive-examples and send us a pull request.

Note: In contrast to word-break, overflow-wrap will only create a break if an entire word cannot be placed on its own line without overflowing.

The property was originally a nonstandard and unprefixed Microsoft extension called word-wrap, and was implemented by most browsers with the same name. It has since been renamed to overflow-wrap, with word-wrap being an alias.

Syntax

/* Keyword values */
overflow-wrap: normal;
overflow-wrap: break-word;
overflow-wrap: anywhere;

/* Global values */
overflow-wrap: inherit;
overflow-wrap: initial;
overflow-wrap: unset;

The overflow-wrap property is specified as a single keyword chosen from the list of values below.

Values

normal: Lines may only break at normal word break points (such as a space between two words).
anywhere: To prevent overflow, an otherwise unbreakable string of characters — like a long word or URL — may be broken at any point if there are no otherwise-acceptable break points in the line. No hyphenation character is inserted at the break point. Soft wrap opportunities introduced by the word break are considered when calculating min-content intrinsic sizes.
break-word: The same as the anywhere value, with normally unbreakable words allowed to be broken at arbitrary points if there are no otherwise acceptable break points in the line, but soft wrap opportunities introduced by the word break are NOT considered when calculating min-content intrinsic sizes.

Formal definition

Initial value	`normal`
Applies to	non-replaced inline elements
Inherited	yes
Computed value	as specified
Animation type	discrete

Formal syntax

normal | break-word | anywhere

Examples

Comparing overflow-wrap, word-break, and hyphens

This example compares the results of overflow-wrap, word-break, and hyphens when breaking up a long word.

HTML

<p>They say the fishing is excellent at
  Lake <em class="normal">Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg</em>,
  though I've never been there myself. (<code>normal</code>)</p>
<p>They say the fishing is excellent at 
  Lake <em class="ow-anywhere">Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg</em>, 
  though I've never been there myself. (<code>overflow-wrap: anywhere</code>)</p>
<p>They say the fishing is excellent at
  Lake <em class="ow-break-word">Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg</em>,
  though I've never been there myself. (<code>overflow-wrap: break-word</code>)</p>
<p>They say the fishing is excellent at
  Lake <em class="word-break">Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg</em>,
  though I've never been there myself. (<code>word-break</code>)</p> 
<p>They say the fishing is excellent at 
  Lake <em class="hyphens">Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg</em>,
  though I've never been there myself. (<code>hyphens</code>, without <code>lang</code> attribute)</p>
<p lang="en">They say the fishing is excellent at
  Lake <em class="hyphens">Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg</em>,
  though I've never been there myself. (<code>hyphens</code>, English rules)</p>
<p class="hyphens" lang="de">They say the fishing is excellent at
  Lake <em class="hyphens">Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg</em>,
  though I've never been there myself. (<code>hyphens</code>, German rules)</p>

CSS

p {
   width: 13em;
   margin: 2px;
   background: gold;
}

.ow-anywhere { 
   overflow-wrap: anywhere; 
}

.ow-break-word {
   overflow-wrap: break-word;
}

.word-break {
   word-break: break-all;
}

.hyphens {
   hyphens: auto;
}

Result

Specifications

Specification	Status	Comment
CSS Text Module Level 3The definition of 'overflow-wrap' in that specification.	Working Draft	Initial definition

Initial value	`normal`
Applies to	non-replaced inline elements
Inherited	yes
Computed value	as specified
Animation type	discrete

Browser compatibility

Update compatibility data on GitHub

	Desktop						Mobile
	Chrome	Edge	Firefox	Internet Explorer	Opera	Safari	Android webview	Chrome for Android	Firefox for Android	Opera for Android	Safari on iOS	Samsung Internet
`overflow-wrap`	Chrome Full support 23 Full support 23 Full support 1 Alternate Name' Alternate Name' Uses the non-standard name: `word-wrap`	Edge Full support 18 Full support 18 Full support 12 Alternate Name' Alternate Name' Uses the non-standard name: `word-wrap`	Firefox Full support 49 Full support 49 Full support 3.5 Alternate Name' Alternate Name' Uses the non-standard name: `word-wrap`	IE Full support 5.5 Alternate Name' Full support 5.5 Alternate Name' Alternate Name' Uses the non-standard name: `word-wrap`	Opera Full support 12.1 Full support 12.1 Full support 10.5 Alternate Name' Alternate Name' Uses the non-standard name: `word-wrap`	Safari Full support 6.1 Full support 6.1 Full support 1 Alternate Name' Alternate Name' Uses the non-standard name: `word-wrap`	WebView Android Full support 4.4 Full support 4.4 Full support 1 Alternate Name' Alternate Name' Uses the non-standard name: `word-wrap`	Chrome Android Full support 25 Full support 25 Full support 18 Alternate Name' Alternate Name' Uses the non-standard name: `word-wrap`	Firefox Android Full support 49 Full support 49 Full support 4 Alternate Name' Alternate Name' Uses the non-standard name: `word-wrap`	Opera Android Full support 12.1 Full support 12.1 Full support 11 Alternate Name' Alternate Name' Uses the non-standard name: `word-wrap`	Safari iOS Full support 7 Full support 7 Full support 1 Alternate Name' Alternate Name' Uses the non-standard name: `word-wrap`	Samsung Internet Android Full support 1.5 Full support 1.5 Full support 1.0 Alternate Name' Alternate Name' Uses the non-standard name: `word-wrap`
`anywhere`	Chrome Full support 80	Edge Full support 80	Firefox Full support 65	IE No support No	Opera Full support 67	Safari No support No	WebView Android Full support 80	Chrome Android Full support 80	Firefox Android Full support 65	Opera Android No support No	Safari iOS No support No	Samsung Internet Android Full support 13.0
`break-word`	Chrome Full support 1	Edge Full support 12	Firefox Full support 3.5	IE Full support 5.5	Opera Full support 10.5	Safari Full support 1	WebView Android Full support ≤37	Chrome Android Full support 18	Firefox Android Full support 4	Opera Android Full support 11	Safari iOS Full support 1	Samsung Internet Android Full support 1.0

Legend

Full support: Full support
No support: No support
Uses a non-standard name.': Uses a non-standard name.