Zero Width Space (U+200B) | The Ultimate Invisible Formatting Tool

The zero-width space (U+200B) is an invisible character used in formatting, names, and keyword splitting.

Table of Contents

What Is a Zero Width Space?

The Zero Width Space (U+200B) is a non-visible Unicode character that acts as a breakable point in text without adding any visual space. Unlike regular spaces, it has zero width but allows:

? Line-breaking opportunities in long words/URLs
? Word separation without visual gaps
? Formatting control in scripts and programming

Quick Reference

Type Code
Unicode U+200B
HTML Entity ​ or ​
CSS Code \200B
JavaScript \u200B

How to Use Zero Width Space

1. Inserting in Text

  • HTML: html

  • ThisIsA​LongWord

  • JavaScript: javascript
  • const text = “LongWord”.split(”).join(‘\u200B’);

2. Copy-Paste Method

Copy this invisible character: “” (select between quotes)

Actual Applications

1. Preventing Text Overflow

html

ThisIsA​VeryLongWordWithoutSpaces

Result: The text breaks neatly at the Zero Width Space instead of overflowing.

2. URL & Code Formatting

html

Link

Benefit: Allows URLs to break naturally in emails/docs.

3. Invisible Text Separation

javascript

// Useful for React/JSX keys without affecting layout
Content

Zero Width Space vs. Other Spaces

Character Width Visible? Use Case
Zero Width Space (U+200B) 0 ? No Hidden word breaks
Regular Space (U+0020) Variable ? Yes Standard word spacing
Non-Breaking Space (U+00A0) 1 em ? Yes Preventing line breaks
Thin Space (U+2009) 1/6 em ? Yes Small visual separation

Do's and Don'ts

? Accessibility Note:

  • Screen readers ignore Zero Width Spaces
  • Don’t overuse (can cause unexpected text parsing issues)

? Pro Uses:

  • Prevent copy-paste distortion in formatted text
  • Create break points in hashtags (#Zero​Width​Space)
  • Test text handling in apps (reveals layout bugs)

Public Asked Questions

Q: Why can’t I see my Zero Width Space working?
A: It’s invisible by design! Test by:

  1. Pasting into a code editor (shows as [ZWSP])
  2. Checking text selection highlights

Q: Does this affect SEO?
A: No – search engines treat it as a neutral character.

Q: How to remove accidental Zero Width Spaces?
A: Use regex:

javascript

text.replace(/\u200B/g, '');