How to use variable-width font in HTML field

Question

I wish to display pre-formatted text as stored in a MySQL database but want to avoid displaying the text in the fixed-width font that <pre> imposes

Or am I mistaken that imposes any particular font but merely defaults to fixed-width?

Answer 1

The same way you use a variable width font in any other element: With the CSS font-family property.

pre { font-family: helvetica, sans-serif; }

<pre>Hello
    World</pre>

Answer 2

Found a solution .... adding white-space: pre-wrap; to the CSS style for the element displaying the text achieved the result I was looking for