Zero-Width Char In Cells Detector
Locate the explicit format-character set U+200B, U+200C, U+200D, U+2060, and U+FEFF in cells, reporting UTF-16 offsets and code points; this is not a universal glyph-width test.
Description
Some Unicode format characters are hard to see in spreadsheet cells.
Some Unicode format characters are hard to see in spreadsheet cells. Locating their code points can explain apparent discrepancies between displayed and stored text.1
Locate the explicit format-character set U+200B, U+200C, U+200D, U+2060, and U+FEFF in cells, reporting UTF-16 offsets and code points; this is not a universal glyph-width test.
When to use Zero-Width Char In Cells Detector
Use this for the following task: Locate the explicit format-character set U+200B, U+200C, U+200D, U+2060, and U+FEFF in cells, reporting UTF-16 offsets and code points; this is not a universal glyph-width test.
Prepare the CSV text, decoded cells or byte values requested below. Choose delimiter and header flags explicitly when those fields are present.
How to use Zero-Width Char In Cells Detector and understand its results
- Prepare the CSV text, decoded cells or byte values requested below. Choose delimiter and header flags explicitly when those fields are present.
- Enter values using the field table, then run the tool.
- Read locations. Interpret flags, units, ordering and placeholder values using the rules below.
- Review any reported issue or failed check, correct the supplied values when appropriate, and verify the result in its intended context.
| Input field | Meaning | Value type and bounds | Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| values | Values | list of string; minimum entries 0; maximum entries 10000; each entry: string; maximum text length 10000 | Required |
Supply decoded cell strings. Scan each for the explicit character set and return zero-based cell indices, UTF-16 offsets and numeric code points in encounter order.2
report matches of U+200B, U+200C, U+200D, U+2060 and U+FEFF This summarizes the declared operation. Units, indexing, inclusivity and exceptional cases are explained in the surrounding text.
| Output field | Meaning | Value type |
|---|---|---|
| locations | Locations | list of record: cell (integer), offset (integer), codePoint (integer) |
{
"input": {
"values": [
"ab",
"id"
]
},
"output": {
"locations": [
{
"cell": 0,
"offset": 1,
"codePoint": 8203
},
{
"cell": 1,
"offset": 0,
"codePoint": 65279
}
]
}
}Limitations and assumptions
This is not a universal zero-width glyph test and does not remove characters or judge whether their use is intentional.
Supply the decoded cell strings or raw values declared by the input fields; this tool does not load a spreadsheet file. Malformed requests produce input errors. A successfully evaluated request can still contain false flags, empty result lists or a result outside the supplied threshold; those outcomes have the meanings stated above.
Alternative or Complementary methods
Choose RTL Override U+202E Hidden Char Detector for this operation: Locate every RIGHT-TO-LEFT OVERRIDE U+202E in cell strings with zero-based cell indices and UTF-16 offsets, without changing text or inferring visual order. For a complementary task, use Smart Quotes Typographic Replacer for this operation: Replace U+2018/U+2019 with ASCII apostrophes and U+201C/U+201D with ASCII double quotes inside cell strings; CSV escaping belongs to the subsequent writer.
Further background: Format and language reference: Zero-Width Char In Cells Detector.
References
-
Format and language reference: Zero-Width Char In Cells Detector — Unicode Consortium
-
Zero-Width Char In Cells Detector — tool.io
Similar or alternative tools
- RTL Override U+202E Hidden Char Detector
Locate every RIGHT-TO-LEFT OVERRIDE U+202E in cell strings with zero-based cell indices and UTF-16 offsets, without changing text or inferring visual order.
- Smart Quotes Typographic Replacer
Replace U+2018/U+2019 with ASCII apostrophes and U+201C/U+201D with ASCII double quotes inside cell strings; CSV escaping belongs to the subsequent writer.