When using inline-block, an empty inline div element within a hidden container curiously gains height. Why does this occur, in contrast to the behavior of display:block?

Display:inline-block imparts specific formatting on the element:

• Inline-Level Formatting: Elements are laid out horizontally within the container block.
• Line-Height Calculations: Line-height is calculated differently for inline elements. For inline-block elements, it becomes the height of the margin box. For normal inline elements, it's the 'line-height' property.

When the inline-block element is empty, it assumes its basic line-height, even though there's no font or text content. This results in the element gaining a small but noticeable height, despite its empty state.

A workaround to prevent this height issue is to use a wrapper with font-size:0 to eliminate the line-height calculation:

.wrapper {
    font-size: 0;
}

.wrapper div {
    font-size: medium;
   
}

Update: Understanding Inline-Block Height

Contrary to initial assumptions, the exact height of an empty inline-block element is not officially documented. However, observations and testing suggest that:

• Inline-block reserves a minimum line space based on the inherited line-height, typically determined by the element.
• This line space persists even though the inline-block is empty and should theoretically be treated as zero-height according to CSS specifications.