For whitespace characters in computing, see whitespace.

In graphic design and desktop publishing white space is one of the principles of design. It is that portion of a page left empty: the margins, gutters, space between columns, space between graphics, and space between lines of type.

When space is at a premium, such as some types of magazine, newspaper, and yellow pages advertising, white space is limited in order to get as much vital information on to the page as possible. A page crammed full of text or graphics with very little white space runs the risk of appearing busy, cluttered, and may be difficult to read.

A page with a lot of white space can appear either incomplete, or large amounts of white space applied judiciously can give a page a classic, elegant, or rich appearance. Upscale retailers often use ad layouts with little text and a lot of white space, for example.