User:Lakrits/sandbox3
Consider the mock template {{Linguist}}. It has a fixed string, "He speaks Greek", and an optional sub-string, "and Latin", which is included if the parameter |latin is specified. The code for the template looks like this:
He speaks Greek{{#if:{{{latin|}}}|and Latin}}.
If the parameter |latin is left out, i.e. the template is called with the code string {{Linguist}}, the output looks alright:
- He speaks Greek.
But, we want to include the sub-string, so in the examples below, it is assumed that the template is called with the code string {{Linguist|latin=yes}}. Inserted spaces are coloured orange.
- Adding a space to the template
- 1. No additional space
If no space at all is included, the words Greek and and will be merged.
He speaks Greek{{#if:{{{latin|}}}|and Latin}}. |
→ | He speaks Greekand Latin. |
- 2. Space inside function
Including a space inside the function will give the same result as in example 1, since (as mentioned above) all leading and trailing spaces are trimmed.
He speaks Greek{{#if:{{{latin|}}}| and Latin}}. |
→ | He speaks Greekand Latin. |
- 3. Space outside function
If the space instead is placed outside the function, the template will work when including the sub-string …
He speaks Greek {{#if:{{{latin|}}}|and Latin}}. |
→ | He speaks Greek and Latin. |
… but, if |latin is left out, this code will output a space between the last word and the full stop:
- He speaks Greek .