# Why is the before-topic-progress outlet wrapped with a \<span\>?

**URL:** https://meta.discourse.org/t/why-is-the-before-topic-progress-outlet-wrapped-with-a-span/394935
**Category:** Development
**Tags:** mobile
**Created:** [February 2, 2026, 12:56pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/why-is-the-before-topic-progress-outlet-wrapped-with-a-span/394935 "2026-02-02T12:56:45Z")
**Posts on this page:** 1
**Showing post:** 2

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### Author: ![awesomerobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/meta/user_avatar/meta.discourse.org/awesomerobot/32/142900_2.png) [@awesomerobot](https://meta.discourse.org/u/awesomerobot)
#### Post date: [February 2, 2026, 3:13pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/why-is-the-before-topic-progress-outlet-wrapped-with-a-span/394935/2 "2026-02-02T15:13:56Z")

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Yes, I think we can remove it, if I recall correctly these spans were added because it’s closer to what the legacy behavior of outlets was. We’ve already removed a good number of them on a case-by-case basis because they have a tendency to get in the way, as you’ve experienced.

Will be done here:

> <https://github.com/discourse/discourse/pull/37449>
>
> This removes a span tag that can sometimes get in the way

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