# MD038 - Remove extra spaces in code
Aliases: `no-space-in-code`
## What this rule does
Removes unnecessary spaces between backticks and code content in inline code spans.
## Why this matters
- **Clean formatting**: Extra spaces make code snippets look unpolished
- **Accurate code**: Leading/trailing spaces might be mistaken as part of the code
- **Consistent appearance**: Code should be formatted the same way throughout
- **Better readability**: Clear boundaries between code and regular text
## Examples
### ✅ Correct
Code directly touches the backticks:
```markdown
Use the `print()` function to display output.
Call `getUserName()` to get the current user.
The variable `isEnabled` stores the state.
```
### ❌ Incorrect
Extra spaces inside backticks:
```markdown
Use the ` print()` function to display output.
Call `getUserName() ` to get the current user.
The variable ` isEnabled ` stores the state.
```
### 🔧 Fixed
Spaces removed from edges:
```markdown
Use the `print()` function to display output.
Call `getUserName()` to get the current user.
The variable `isEnabled` stores the state.
```
## Configuration
This rule has no configuration options.
## Special cases
### Template shortcode tags
Backticks inside a template shortcode tag are part of the arguments the
template receives, not a code span whose padding may be trimmed, so
`` {{% note `code ` %}} `` and `` {{< note `code ` >}} `` are left alone. This
applies in every flavor. Only the tag is exempt: a code span in the body between
a paired opening and closing shortcode is checked like any other.
### Code spans that cross a line break
A code span can run past the end of a line, and then some of the whitespace
inside it holds the document together rather than padding the code. Two runs are
out of this rule's reach:
- the run containing the line ending, because removing it joins two lines into
one;
- the indentation of the line the span closes on, because removing it moves that
line out of its blockquote or indented block.
When either end of a span is one of those, the whole span is left alone rather
than trimmed at its other end. CommonMark removes a space from each end only
when both ends have one, so trimming a single end would move the rendered space
to the other end instead of removing it.
```markdown
Text `a
` tail
```
This comes up most often where an indented fenced block follows a paragraph
line, which CommonMark reads as one long code span rather than as a code block.
A multi-line span whose spacing really is spacing is still reported and fixed.
## Flavor-specific behavior
### Obsidian flavor
When using `--flavor obsidian`, this rule recognizes **Dataview plugin** inline queries and does not flag them as spacing errors:
- **Inline DQL**: `` `= expression` `` - Queries that start with `= `
- **Inline DataviewJS**: `` `$= expression` `` - JavaScript expressions that start with `$= `
Examples that are valid in Obsidian flavor:
```markdown
The file name is `= this.file.name` and it was modified on `= this.file.mtime`.
Page count: `$= dv.pages('#project').length` projects found.
Status: `= choice(this.done, "✅", "⏳")`
```
Note: These expressions don't have leading whitespace issues in practice since the `=` or `$=` comes directly after the opening backtick. The Dataview check serves as additional protection for edge cases.
### MkDocs flavor
When using `--flavor mkdocs`, this rule allows **InlineHilite** syntax for syntax-highlighted inline code:
```markdown
Use `#!python print("hello")` for inline Python highlighting.
```
### Quarto flavor
When using `--flavor quarto`, this rule allows inline R code expressions:
```markdown
The result is `r nchar("test")` which equals 4.
```
## Automatic fixes
This rule will:
- Remove spaces after opening backticks
- Remove spaces before closing backticks
- Preserve spaces within the code itself
- Handle multiple code spans on the same line
## Learn more
- [CommonMark specification for code spans](https://spec.commonmark.org/0.31.2/#code-spans)
## Related rules
- [MD037 - Spaces inside emphasis markers](md037.md) - Similar rule for bold and italic text