Description
Count initial ASCII spaces and tabs until another character occurs.
Text positions can be measured in UTF-16 code units, Unicode code points, grapheme clusters, or modeled display columns. These coordinates are not interchangeable. Invisible markers and delimiter policies can also affect interpretation even when a string looks unchanged, so the chosen representation needs to stay explicit.
Count initial ASCII spaces and tabs until another character occurs.
When to use this tool
Use Text Leading Space Indentation Width when you need the stated marker, coordinate, delimiter, or normalization operation under an explicit text representation.
How to use the tool and how it works
- Enter line, tabWidth. Use the units and conventions below.
- Run the tool. Correct any format, range, or cross-field input error before interpreting the output.
- Read columns, characters. Use the output convention below.
Count initial ASCII spaces and tabs until another character occurs. Return characters consumed and columns, expanding each tab to the next positive tabWidth stop from column zero; tabWidth is one through 32.1
| Input field | Meaning and units | Accepted input |
|---|---|---|
| line | Line | Required. Text; maximum UTF-16 length 8192. |
| tabWidth | Tab Width | Required. Safe integer; minimum 1; maximum 32. |
| Output field | Interpretation | Returned shape |
|---|---|---|
| columns | Width under the supplied tab-stop model. | Required. Safe integer. |
| characters | Number of initial ASCII spaces and tabs consumed. | Required. Safe integer. |
{
"input": {
"line": " \tx",
"tabWidth": 4
},
"output": {
"columns": 4,
"characters": 2
}
}Limitations and assumptions
- Characters count indentation tokens while columns reflect the supplied stop model. Other Unicode whitespace and actual terminal display, font metrics, and mixed-line indentation are not processed.
- The field tables state structural bounds; the mechanics also specify cross-field constraints. Malformed inputs and unsupported domains cause errors. A successful false flag, empty branch value, or zero placeholder has the meaning stated above and is distinct from an input error.
Alternative or Complementary methods
Choose the coordinate system required by the consumer. Use a full parser, renderer, or segmentation method when a local marker or delimiter rule cannot determine the complete text behavior.
References
Similar or alternative tools
- Text Zero Width Space Break Marker
Return zero-based UTF-16 indexes of U+200B zero-width spaces and their count.
- Text: Combining Mark Leading Position Flag
Check whether the first scalar of a string has Unicode Mark general category using the runtime Unicode property table; not grapheme segmentation or a validity judgment.