I was trying to create a modern browser mockup in TinyMCE with three colored circles like this:

Code: Please login/register for access

…but TinyMCE kept removing the empty Code: Please login/register for access elements.

The issue: TinyMCE automatically strips empty inline elements, even if they have classes. There’s no config option to allow truly empty spans globally.

✅ The reliable fix is to make each span non-empty, but without showing any visible text. Use a zero-width space (Code: Please login/register for access) like this:

Code: Please login/register for access

• Code: Please login/register for access is invisible, so your CSS circles still render.
• TinyMCE now sees the span as non-empty, so it won’t strip it.

This is the standard approach for decorative elements in TinyMCE.

You can check out the finished product on our homepage :-)