The <pre> HTML element is used to display preformatted text, which means the text is presented exactly as it is written in the HTML code, with spaces and line breaks preserved. This element is particularly useful for displaying code snippets, ASCII art, or any text content where the formatting and spacing are important and should be maintained as entered.
Usage and Characteristics
The <pre> element is a block-level element that maintains both whitespace and line breaks, providing a way to display text that requires specific formatting. It is often used in conjunction with monospaced fonts to display code or other text that benefits from uniform character spacing. Here is an example of how the <pre> tag can be used:
<pre>
function greet(name) {
console.log("Hello, " + name + "!");
}
greet("World");
</pre>Valid Attributes for <pre>
The <pre> element does not have specific attributes beyond the global attributes, which include:
| Attribute | Description |
|---|---|
| class | Specifies one or more class names for the element, used for CSS styling. |
| id | Defines a unique identifier for the element, useful for linking and JavaScript. |
| style | Contains inline CSS styles for the element. |
| title | Provides additional information about the element, often displayed as a tooltip. |
Benefits and Considerations
Whitespace Preservation: The
<pre>element preserves all whitespace and line breaks, making it ideal for displaying content that relies on specific formatting.Readability: By maintaining the original formatting, the
<pre>element enhances the readability of code snippets and other preformatted text.Styling Flexibility: While the default styling uses a monospaced font, the appearance of text within a
<pre>element can be customized using CSS to fit the design of the webpage.
In summary, the <pre> element is an essential tool for displaying preformatted text in HTML documents. It ensures that text is presented exactly as intended, preserving spaces and line breaks, which is crucial for content like code samples and formatted text. The <pre> element enhances the readability and presentation of structured text content on the web.