= Soft hyphen
{title2=U+00AD}
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= SHY
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A \b[soft hyphen], or <SHY>, is the <Unicode> character U+00AD. It marks a preferred optional division inside a word and normally has no visible shape when that division is unused. Selecting it invokes the language-appropriate presentation for an intraword break, which can involve more than adding one hyphen.<Unicode Line Breaking Algorithm by the Unicode Consortium>[§5.4: invisible format character and language-dependent break presentation]{ref}
For example, a suitable renderer can show `ex` followed by <SHY> and `ample` as `example` on one line, or as `ex-` and `ample` on successive lines. The visible hyphen then belongs to the chosen layout. In languages with spelling changes at a division, the layout implementation may also need to modify the divided parts.<Unicode Line Breaking Algorithm by the Unicode Consortium>[§5.4: spelling changes and responsibility of the line-breaking implementation]{ref}
A <soft hyphen> supplies a <hyphenation opportunity>; it does not force the <line breaking> algorithm to use it. The algorithm can retain the unbroken word when its <typesetting line width> and paragraph cost permit that choice.
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