What are the potential drawbacks of utilizing <div> spacers in web design?

Is it considered poor practice to utilize <div> elements as a means of creating space between other elements? If so, what are the reasons behind this?

For instance:

<div class="panel">
    <!-- Content -->
</div>

<div class="spacer"></div>

<div class="panel">
    <!-- Content -->
</div>

Below is the corresponding CSS:

div.spacer
{
    font-size: 0; 
    height: 10px;
    line-height: 0;
}

Answer №1

Adding a margin to content can make it look more polished. However, the spacer element is still considered one of the most effective ways to create space in HTML.

Answer №2

Avoid using unnecessary markup like this. It would be better to utilize margin-top and margin-bottom for spacing instead.

Answer №3

This approach lacks semantic value and is deemed unnecessary.

Consider incorporating:

padding-bottom: 10px;

or

margin-bottom: 10px;

into your CSS declaration for div.panel. This adjustment not only reduces the number of characters used (thereby lowering bandwidth costs) but also results in more organized code that conveys what you intend, rather than focusing on how it should appear.

Answer №4

Using excessive markup is not considered a good coding style for web development.

All block elements already have built-in properties for creating paddings and layouts, so it's recommended to utilize margins, paddings, and the box model as mentioned by others.

Over-complicating the markup can lead to difficulties in positioning elements, resulting in unnecessary issues with the layout.

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