A remarkable insight was provided by @BoltClock in response to this inquiry, revealing that achieving this task with CSS alone (specifically working with CSS Specification 3 at the moment) is not feasible.
@BoltClock pointed out that elements that are absolutely empty (a somewhat peculiar definition as explained) can be pinpointed using the pseudo selector :empty. This particular pseudo selector is exclusive to CSS 3 and will NOT target elements containing only whitespace as content.
Additionally, @BoltClock mentioned that rectifying elements with solely whitespace as content is typically resolved by fixing the HTML structure, however, it's worth noting that Javascript implementation can also accomplish this.
Important Note: The Javascript solution proposed to address this issue may have a lengthy execution time, therefore, optimizing the raw HTML structure should be prioritized if possible. Failing which, utilizing this script is viable as long as the DOM tree isn't overly complex.
Let's delve into the steps involved in writing the script independently...
Firstly, initiate everything post page load.
This step is self-explanatory. Ensuring the complete loading of the DOM before executing the script is crucial. Simply add an event listener for page load:
window.addEventListener("load", cleanUpMyDOM);
...and prior to that, define a function named cleanUpMyDOM. All subsequent logic will be encapsulated within this function.
Secondly, identify the elements requiring inspection.
In our scenario, we aim to evaluate the entire DOM, however, this approach may potentially overwhelm your page's performance. It might be prudent to restrict the node iteration scope.
The desired nodes can be retrieved using the document.querySelectorAll function. An advantage of this method is its capacity to flatten the DOM tree without necessitating recursive traversal of each node's children.
var nodes = document.querySelectorAll("*");
As aforementioned, extracting ALL DOM nodes could be disadvantageous.
For instance, given my association with WordPress, certain internal pages contain extraneous elements. Fortunately, these are predominantly p elements nested under a div.body element. Consequently, I can optimize my selector to
document.querySelectorAll("div.body p")
, effectively targeting only
p elements within my
div.body element recursively. This optimization significantly enhances the script's efficiency.
Thirdly, iterate through the nodes to identify empty ones.
An iterative loop should be crafted for the nodes array to examine each node individually. Subsequently, scrutinizing whether a node is devoid of content is essential. If identified as empty, assign a class called blank to it.
It's more or less an improvisation, so feel free to flag any inaccuracies in the code.
for(var i = 0; i < nodes.length; i++){
nodes[i].innerHTML = nodes[i].innerHTML.trim();
if(!nodes[i].innerHTML)
nodes[i].className += " blank";
}
While there may be a neater way to formulate the above loop, this rendition should suffice for the intended purpose.
Lastly, leverage CSS to target the blank elements.
Include the following rule in your stylesheet:
.blank {
display:none;
}
Voilà! Your "blank" nodes are now concealed.
For those seeking a prompt resolution, here's the finalized script:
function cleanUpMyDOM(){
var nodes = document.querySelectorAll("*");
for(var i = 0; i < nodes.length; i++){
nodes[i].innerHTML = nodes[i].innerHTML.trim();
if(!nodes[i].innerHTML)
nodes[i].className += " blank";
}
}
window.addEventListener("load", cleanUpMyDOM);
If you come across any anomalies in the code, please share your feedback in the comments section below.
Trust this aids you!
P.S. The rationale behind attempting this operation may raise questions, as it appears unconventional. While I discourage this practice, I find myself contemplating its utility due to specific circumstances. Content on my website's pages is generated via a WYSIWYG editor, constantly revised by the marketing team, presenting challenges in managing their errors. Rectifying issues with WordPress's WYSIWYG editor isn't within my purview, yet devising a simplistic script capable of alleviating some burdens seems like a plausible alternative. Ultimately, this serves as a pragmatic approach, alongside educating the support team on handling whitespace during edits.