PRE - Preformatted Text

The PRE element contains preformatted text. Visual browsers should render preformatted text in a fixed-pitch font, should not collapse whitespace, and should not wrap long lines.

PRE is useful for formatting computer code or poetry where whitespace is important, but since preformatted text is inherently visual, authors should avoid dependence on it wherever possible. When using PRE, authors should avoid altering the element's fixed-pitch font or non-collapsing whitespace properties by means of style sheets.

The following example features Java code in a PRE element:

<PRE><CODE CLASS=Java>
class HelloWorld {
  public static void main(String[] args) {
    System.out.println("Hello World!");
  }
}
</CODE></PRE>

The code in the preceding example would be more difficult to read if it were not preformatted, and so PRE is used to provide the proper spacing. Note that the CODE element is also included to add structural information.

The bidirectional algorithm that determines the directionality of text still applies within the PRE element.

More Information

• PRE in W3C HTML 4.0 Recommendation
• PRE in W3C HTML 3.2 Recommendation
• PRE in HTML 2.0 Standard
• PRE in WDG HTML 3.2 Reference
• PRE in Learning HTML 3.2 by Examples