Spaces to Tabs

Online tool for replacing leading spaces with tab characters and configuring indent size.

Обработка выполняется локально в браузере. Данные не отправляются на сервер.

For this tool, processing runs locally in your browser and data is not sent to the server.

Spaces to Tabs is a free online tool for converting leading spaces into tab characters and preparing text for a tab-based indentation style. You can choose indent size and control how space groups at line starts are replaced. Processing runs locally in your browser and data is not sent to the server.

What it does

Output

Processing

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How to use

Paste code, a config file, or multiline text with space-based indentation.
Choose indent size: 2, 4, 8 spaces per tab, or a custom value.
If needed, configure whether only leading indentation or all space groups should be converted.
Copy the result and use it in a project, editor, commit, documentation file, or config.

More about this tool

This tool converts leading spaces into tab characters and helps prepare code or text for a tab-based indentation style. You can choose indent size, set a custom number of spaces per tab, and control how space groups at the beginning of lines are replaced. The service is useful for code, configuration files, documentation, and projects that prefer tabs over spaces.

Runs in the browser
Data is not sent to the server
Replaces space indents with tabs
Tab size can be configured
Safe mode for line-start indentation only
Useful for code, configs, and documentation
No registration required

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Spaces to Tabs do?

It replaces groups of spaces with tab characters. This is most often needed for code, configs, and projects where indentation should use tabs.

Why are only leading line indents replaced by default?

That is safer: spaces inside a line may be part of text, alignment, or data. By default, the tool changes only leading indentation.

Which tab size should I choose?

2 or 4 spaces are the most common choices. Some legacy projects and editors use 8 spaces.

What happens to leftover spaces smaller than the tab size?

The remainder stays as spaces. For example, with tab size 4 and 6 leading spaces, the tool replaces 4 spaces with one tab and leaves 2 spaces.

Can I replace spaces inside lines?

Yes, using the "All space groups" mode. Use it carefully because it may change spaces inside text or data.

Does the service format code automatically?

No. The tool only replaces space groups with tabs. For code formatting, use separate HTML, CSS, JS, SQL, JSON, or other dedicated formatters.

Can I convert tabs back to spaces?

For the reverse task, use the separate Tabs to Spaces tool. This service works only in the spaces-to-tabs direction.

Is my data sent to the server?

No. Text is processed locally in your browser and is not sent to the server.

Do I need to register?

No. The tool works immediately and does not require registration.

How to use

Paste code, a config file, or multiline text with space-based indentation.

Choose indent size: 2, 4, 8 spaces per tab, or a custom value.

If needed, configure whether only leading indentation or all space groups should be converted.

Copy the result and use it in a project, editor, commit, documentation file, or config.

More about this tool

Runs in the browser
Data is not sent to the server
Replaces space indents with tabs
Tab size can be configured
Safe mode for line-start indentation only
Useful for code, configs, and documentation
No registration required

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Spaces to Tabs do?

It replaces groups of spaces with tab characters. This is most often needed for code, configs, and projects where indentation should use tabs.

Why are only leading line indents replaced by default?

That is safer: spaces inside a line may be part of text, alignment, or data. By default, the tool changes only leading indentation.

Which tab size should I choose?

2 or 4 spaces are the most common choices. Some legacy projects and editors use 8 spaces.

What happens to leftover spaces smaller than the tab size?

The remainder stays as spaces. For example, with tab size 4 and 6 leading spaces, the tool replaces 4 spaces with one tab and leaves 2 spaces.

Can I replace spaces inside lines?

Yes, using the "All space groups" mode. Use it carefully because it may change spaces inside text or data.

Does the service format code automatically?

No. The tool only replaces space groups with tabs. For code formatting, use separate HTML, CSS, JS, SQL, JSON, or other dedicated formatters.

Can I convert tabs back to spaces?

For the reverse task, use the separate Tabs to Spaces tool. This service works only in the spaces-to-tabs direction.

Is my data sent to the server?

No. Text is processed locally in your browser and is not sent to the server.

Do I need to register?

No. The tool works immediately and does not require registration.