soft return


soft return

[′sȯft ri′tərn] (computer science) A control code that is automatically entered into a text document by the word-processing program to mark the end of a line, based on the current right margin.

soft return

A code inserted by word processing software into a text document to mark the end of the line based on the right margin setting. When the document is printed, the soft return is converted into the line break code required by the printer. Soft returns were used in earlier character-based programs, but are rarely used in today's graphics-based applications. Contrast with hard return. See line break.