Template:Dot/doc

This is the bold middot template, it looks like this: " &middot; ".

It works similarly to the html+wiki markup sequence " ". That is, a non-breaking space, a bolded middot and a normal space.

dot and middot redirect here and can be used as alternative names for this template.

This template is usually used for dotted lists, such as for link lists in navigation boxes. (For lists that have a font-size 80% or less of normal font-size, the bold middot "&middot;" becomes too small. Then use the bullet "&bull;" instead.)

This template is used when you want something smaller than a bullet "&bull;", ndash "–" or mdash "&mdash;".

Normal usage
The recommended usage is to use no space before the template and one space after the template, like this:

Salt Pepper

The template can also be used with no space after it, but then the code does not wrap in the edit window thus making editing harder. Like this:

SaltPepper

Both examples will render one space on each side of the dot, like this:
 * Salt &middot; Pepper

If it line breaks then the line break will come after the dot, not before, like this:
 * Salt &middot;
 * Pepper

For long dotted lists each list item can be put on its own line, with no spaces between each item and the template. Like this: Salt Pepper Curry Saffron

(It doesn't matter if there are no or some spaces at the end of the lines, after the templates.)

As before it will render one space on each side of the dots, like this:
 * Salt &middot; Pepper &middot; Curry &middot; Saffron

And if it line breaks then the line break will come after one of the dots, not before, like this:
 * Salt &middot; Pepper &middot;
 * Curry &middot; Saffron

When using the template to separate words in italics (typically lists of artworks in navboxes), put it within the italics to display with proper spacing on both sides. Compare:

Salt Pepper} Salt Pepper


 * Salt· Pepper
 * Salt· Pepper

(This also improves code brevity and clarity.)

Usage issues
Putting one or more spaces before the template will cause it to render differently, like these examples: Salt Pepper Salt  Pepper Salt Pepper Salt     Pepper

Then it will render with two spaces before the dot, and one after, like this:
 * Salt &middot; Pepper

And if it line breaks it might break before the dot, like this:
 * Salt
 * &middot; Pepper

Alternatively an  can be added before and after the template to create extra padding around the middot.

Technical details
The space before the dot is a non-breaking space. That means it will not line break and will not collapse together with normal spaces that come before the template.

The space after the dot is a normal space. That means it wraps (allows line breaks) and it will collapse together with normal spaces that come after the template to form one single space.

Under some circumstances dotted link lists misbehave. They might get unexpected line wraps or they might expand outside the box they are enclosed in. The how-to guide Wikipedia:Wikipedia:Line break handling explains when that happens and how to fix it.