spacerdiv

Spacerdiv is a term used in web development to describe an empty div element whose sole purpose is to create visual space within a page layout. It is a workaround that relies on the browser’s box model to insert vertical or horizontal whitespace.

A spacerdiv is typically an empty container with its height or width set via CSS, such as height: 20px or width: 20px. It is not intended to carry content and is often marked as decorative to prevent assistive technologies from reading it, for example by using aria-hidden="true" or a presentation role.

Historically spacer divs were common in table-free layouts when control over spacing was limited. Modern CSS provides more robust options for spacing, such as margins, padding, and layout systems like flexbox and grid, which offer responsive spacing without extra elements. Because of this, spacerdivs are generally discouraged in new designs except in specific legacy contexts.

When used, spacerdivs should be minimized and clearly identified as decorative to avoid confusion for developers and ensure accessibility. Consider replacing them with CSS margins or gaps in flex or grid layouts where possible.

Example: a div with a height of 24px to create vertical space: <div class="spacer" aria-hidden="true" style="height:24px;"></div>