Web/CSS/word-break

The word-break CSS property sets whether line breaks appear wherever the text would otherwise overflow its content 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.

Syntax

/* Keyword values */
word-break: normal; 
word-break: break-all; 
word-break: keep-all;
word-break: break-word; /* deprecated */

/* Global values */
word-break: inherit;
word-break: initial;
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.
break-word ': Has the same effect as word-break: normal and overflow-wrap: anywhere, regardless of the actual value of the overflow-wrap property.

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).

Formal definition

Initial value	`normal`
Applies to	all elements
Inherited	yes
Computed value	as specified
Animation type	discrete

Formal syntax

normal | break-all | keep-all | break-word

Examples

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: 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

.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;
}

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

Specifications

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

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
`word-break`	Chrome Full support 1	Edge Full support 12	Firefox Full support 15	IE Full support 5.5 Notes' Full support 5.5 Notes' Notes' No version of Internet Explorer supports the `initial` value. Full support 8 Prefixed' Notes' Prefixed' Implemented with the vendor prefix: -ms- Notes' Don't use `-ms-word-break`, which is a synonym for `word-break`.	Opera Full support 15	Safari Full support 3	WebView Android Full support ≤37	Chrome Android Full support 18	Firefox Android Full support 15	Opera Android Full support 14	Safari iOS Full support 2	Samsung Internet Android Full support 1.0
`break-word`	Chrome Full support 1	Edge Full support 79	Firefox Full support 67	IE No support No	Opera Full support 15	Safari Full support 3	WebView Android Full support ≤37	Chrome Android Full support 18	Firefox Android Full support 67	Opera Android Full support 14	Safari iOS Full support 2	Samsung Internet Android Full support 1.0
`keep-all`	Chrome Full support 44	Edge Full support 12	Firefox Full support 15	IE Full support 5.5	Opera Full support 31	Safari Full support 9	WebView Android Full support 44	Chrome Android Full support 44	Firefox Android Full support 15	Opera Android Full support 32	Safari iOS Full support 9	Samsung Internet Android Full support 4.0

Legend

Full support: Full support
No support: No support
See implementation notes.': See implementation notes.
Requires a vendor prefix or different name for use.': Requires a vendor prefix or different name for use.