Can I choose specific line breaks in Webflow CMS without using Richtext?
- Use placeholder strings like [[br]] in plain text fields and replace them with
using JavaScript. - Alternatively, switch to a Rich Text field to support real line breaks and formatting.
You cannot insert specific line breaks directly into plain text fields in Webflow CMS like you can in a Rich Text field, but there are a few workarounds depending on how you're displaying the content.
1. Understand Plain Text Limitations
- Plain text CMS fields in Webflow ignore line breaks (i.e.,
\nor Return key) during rendering. All line breaks are collapsed into a single space when outputted. - Only Rich Text fields allow for styled and structured formatting like
<br>tags or paragraph breaks.
2. Use Custom Symbols or Placeholders
Enter a custom string, such as
[[br]], where you want a line break within your plain text field.Then, use custom code in an Embed element or inside a
<script>block to detect that string and insert<br>tags in its place.For example:
Target the element with JavaScript (
text.replace).Replace
[[br]]with an actual line break (<br>).
3. Use Rich Text with Limited Features
- If possible, use a Rich Text field with minimal styling instead of plain text. You can control the output using the CMS Editor and Custom CSS to prevent things like bolding or lists if desired.
- Rich Text gives full control over line breaks, paragraph spacing, and inline formatting.
4. Convert Line Breaks with JavaScript
If your content source includes actual line breaks (e.g., typed with Shift+Enter), you can use JavaScript to render them properly.
Example:
JavaScript can parse
\nand replace it with<br>within the text content dynamically on page load.
Summary
Webflow CMS plain text fields do not support line breaks, but you can simulate them using placeholder text and JavaScript, or by switching to a Rich Text field for full formatting control.