Template:Sp

This template is used on approximately 173,000 pages. To avoid major disruption and server load, any changes should be tested in the template's /sandboxor/testcases subpages, or in your own user subpage. The tested changes can be added to this page in a single edit. Consider discussing changes on the talk page before implementing them.

• 1 Usage
  • 1.1 Anywhere you need a regular space
  • 1.2 Inserting a space inside a parser function
  • 1.3 Disabling default substitution
• 2 TemplateData
• 3 See also

{{sp}} will insert a single, ordinary space character, using the numeric character reference  . It is a more readable alternative to using that code.

You can use {{sp}} anywhere you need a regular, breaking space. If you need a non-breaking space or multiple spaces in a row, use {{space}}.

Sometimes when using parser functions, you need to insert a space at the beginning or end of an optional message. {{sp}} can be used for that purpose. In the following examples, look closely at the spacing between words and punctuation to see the subtle differences.

Example

I like green{{#if:{{{blue|}}}|and blue}}.

The above example works fine if 'blue' does not have a value ('I like green.').

However, if 'blue' is set to true (|blue=true), then the message is incorrectly run together ('I like greenand blue.').

I like green {{#if:{{{blue|}}}|and blue}}.

Adding the space between 'green' and '{{#if' avoids running the 'green and' together, but now there will be an extra space if 'blue' is not set ('I like green .').

I like green{{#if:{{{blue|}}}| and blue}}.

Adding the space between the pipe ('|') and the word 'and' doesn't work. Any leading or trailing spaces from a parser function output are stripped, so this produces exactly the same output as the first example when 'blue' is true ('I like greenand blue.').

I like green{{#if:{{{blue|}}}|{{sp}}and blue}}.

This one works! By inserting the {{sp}} in the parser function output, the space is not stripped, and the correct output is given whether blue is set to true ('I like green and blue.') or not set at all ('I like green.').

Suppose you have a template, {{Example}}, that uses substitution, like this:

{{{{{subst|subst:}}}#if{{{condition|}}}|message}}

When the template is transcluded and saved, the result would be interpreted as:

{{subst:#if{{{condition|}}}|message}}

You could override the substitution by setting the 'subst' attribute to {{sp}}:

{{Example| subst={{sp}} }}

Now the result would be interpreted as:

{{ #if{{{condition|}}}|message}}

The extra blank space preceding the '#if' would not affect the template at all (except to suppress the default substitution).

• {{If}} – runs the parser function #if:, but retains whitespace
• {{fdw-iw}} – a template that uses {{sp}} with parser functions
• {{verify spelling}} – for spelling issues

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