Convert Spaces to Tabs | Space to Tab Converter

Input

Text with Spaces

Options

Number of spaces per tab:

Smart conversion (only convert spaces at indentation positions)

Convert only leading spaces (at the beginning of lines)

Trim trailing whitespace

Result

Spaces replaced: 0

Tabs added: 0

Characters saved: 0

About Convert Spaces to Tabs

What is Convert Spaces to Tabs?

Convert Spaces to Tabs is a text processing tool that replaces a specified number of space characters in your text with tab characters. This tool is particularly useful for programmers, developers, and anyone who prefers using tabs for indentation or needs to adhere to specific coding standards that require tabs instead of spaces.

Why Use Convert Spaces to Tabs?

Converting spaces to tabs has several practical applications and benefits:

File Size Reduction: Tab characters take up less storage space than multiple spaces (one character vs. multiple)
Semantic Indentation: Tabs represent a single indentation level, making the code structure more semantically correct
Customizable Display: Users can set their preferred tab width in their editor without changing the actual file
Coding Standards: Some projects or teams require tabs for indentation as part of their coding standards
Keyboard Navigation: Navigating through indentation is easier with tabs (one keypress vs. multiple)
Legacy Code: Converting spaces to tabs may be necessary when working with older codebases or specific environments
Personal Preference: Many developers simply prefer tabs over spaces for various reasons

The Tabs vs. Spaces Debate

The choice between tabs and spaces for indentation is one of the oldest debates in programming. Both have their advantages:

Advantages of Tabs:

Take up less storage space (one character vs. multiple)
Allow users to customize their preferred indentation width
Semantically represent a single indentation level
Easier to navigate with keyboard (one press vs. multiple)

Advantages of Spaces:

Look the same in all editors and environments
Allow for more precise alignment
Prevent mixing of tabs and spaces (which can cause alignment issues)
Recommended by many style guides

Regardless of which side of the debate you're on, this tool helps you convert between the two formats as needed.

How to Use the Convert Spaces to Tabs Tool

Using our Convert Spaces to Tabs tool is straightforward:

Paste or type your text with spaces into the input area
Configure your preferences using the available options:
- Number of spaces per tab: Specify how many consecutive spaces should be replaced by a single tab (typically 2, 4, or 8)
- Smart conversion: When checked, only converts spaces at indentation positions (beginning of lines or after other tabs)
- Convert only leading spaces: When checked, only spaces at the beginning of lines (used for indentation) are converted
- Trim trailing whitespace: When checked, removes spaces and tabs at the end of each line
Click the "CONVERT SPACES TO TABS" button
View your converted text in the result box, along with statistics about the conversion
Use the "Copy to Clipboard" button to easily copy the result for use elsewhere

Understanding Spaces and Tabs

What is a Space Character?

A space character is a single character that represents a blank space in text. Each space character takes up one byte of storage and always displays as a single space width.

What is a Tab Character?

A tab character (represented as '\t' in many programming languages) is a single character that instructs the text editor to advance to the next tab stop. Tab stops are typically set at regular intervals (often every 4 or 8 columns).

Tab Width

The visual width of a tab character varies depending on the editor or environment. Most editors allow users to customize the tab width, which means the same document can look different depending on the viewer's settings.

Spaces vs. Tabs Example

Here's a visual example of the difference between spaces and tabs for indentation:

With Spaces (4 per level):

function example() {
····if (condition) {
········doSomething();
····}
}

With Tabs:

function example() {
→if (condition) {
→→doSomething();
→}
}

Smart Conversion

The "Smart conversion" option is designed to intelligently convert spaces to tabs only where they're used for indentation purposes. This helps prevent unwanted conversions in the middle of text or code.

For example, with smart conversion enabled:

Before (with spaces):

function example() {
    if (condition) {  // This is a comment
        doSomething();
    }
}

After (with tabs):

function example() {
	if (condition) {  // This is a comment
		doSomething();
	}
}

Notice that only the indentation spaces are converted to tabs, while spaces within comments and other parts of the code remain unchanged.

Common Use Cases

Adhering to Coding Standards

Many projects or teams have specific coding standards that require tabs for indentation. This tool helps you quickly convert space-indented code to comply with these standards.

Optimizing File Size

For large codebases or projects with many files, converting spaces to tabs can reduce the overall file size, as each indentation level requires only one character instead of multiple.

Working with Legacy Code

When working with older codebases or specific environments that expect tab indentation, this tool can help you convert space-indented code to the required format.

Personal Preference

If you prefer working with tabs but receive code that uses spaces, this tool allows you to quickly convert it to your preferred format.

Privacy and Security

The Convert Spaces to Tabs tool processes all text entirely in your browser. No data is sent to any server, ensuring your text remains private and secure. You can use this tool with confidence, even for sensitive or confidential information.

Browser Compatibility

The Convert Spaces to Tabs tool works in all modern browsers:

Chrome
Firefox
Safari
Edge
Opera