Issues with non-breaking spaces on Windows

[peexy]

Hello,

I recently noticed an issue with non-breaking spaces: when inserted with keyboard shortcuts (like ALT+255 on Windows or ALTGr+< using an enhanced keyboard), they seem to be removed by WordPress (or not interpreted as such at all).

We need to add them either by typing   or by pasting it from an external file. Which is not very convenient.

With @webaxones and @audrasjb we did some digging, here's what we found:

1/ It seems to appear only on Windows (tested on Windows 10) since JB tested it on his Mac and couldn't reproduce it

2/ It does not seem to be browser specific since we reproduced the bug on Chrome 78.0.3904.70 and Firefox 70.0;

3/ It's not plugin related since I've been able to reproduce it on a fresh install;

4/ It's not somehow Gutenberg related since I've been able to reproduce it on a totally random old version: WP 4.7.7 (fresh install as well, haven't tried with older versions);

5/ It may be related to #26842;

6/ Other shortcuts works fine;

7/ We tested the shortcuts on other browser-based editors (like Google Docs) and they work fine.

As far as we know, it could be either (or both):

• A very old issue with WordPress
• A bug related to a change made in Windows or in browsers that affects how WordPress interacts with these shortcuts.

Thanks,

[audrasjb]

Related: #26842

[audrasjb]

Related: #31156

[peexy]

I forgot to credit @bonaldi for his help with the digging.

[Chaton666]

Hi,

I have the same problem with Firefox 72.0.2 on Ubuntu.
When I insert non-breaking spaces with AltGr + Maj + Space shortcut (extended keyboard), the editor does not seem to interpret them, because they are replaced by normal spaces.

However, it works under Chromium web browser.

[peexy]

Also related to this ticket: ​https://github.com/WordPress/gutenberg/issues/18523 (even though this ticket is only Gutenberg related)