Why Do Empty Inline-Block Elements Create a Gap?

Inline-Block Height Conundrum: Understanding the Line-Height Effect

Context

When an empty

element is given an inline-block display, it seems to acquire unexpected height within its parent container. This phenomenon does not occur with display:block. This peculiarity has left developers wondering, "Why does inline-block cause this gap?"

Line-Height Calculations and Inline-Block Effects

One crucial aspect of display:inline-block is its impact on line-height calculations. In an inline context, line heights center around text baselines. For inline-block elements, the line height is determined by their font's metrics.

Measuring Height Without Content

Empty inline-block elements pose a challenge as they lack font-related dimensions. However, they still inherit the default line height of their parent element, resulting in the visible gap.

Quick Fix: Removing the Line-Height

To resolve this issue, a wrapper element can be introduced with a zero font-size, effectively removing any line height and therefore eliminating the gap. Resetting the font-size within the inline-block elements allows for content without creating the unwanted space.

Update: Filling the Gap in Documentation

Despite extensive research, no official documentation explicitly defines the height of empty inline-block elements.

A Simplified Explanation

Inline-block elements behave as if they expect content. They reserve a minimum line space based on their inherited line height, even in the absence of actual content. This behavior, while not explicitly documented, is a common pattern observed through experimentation.

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