Trailing-Whitespace & Tab Detector
Scan your files for common whitespace issues like trailing spaces and mixed indentation, and get a simple, actionable report.
How to Use
Paste Your Code: Paste the code you want to check into the input area.
Instant Analysis: The tool automatically scans your code for trailing whitespace and mixed tabs/spaces.
Review Report: Get a clear report of all issues found, including the line number and a description of the problem.
Code Input
Whitespace Report
Your report will appear here...
The Silent Problems of Whitespace
Invisible characters like trailing whitespace and mixed indentation (using both tabs and spaces) can cause a surprising number of problems in a software project. They can create meaningless changes in your git history, cause scripts to fail, and lead to inconsistent code formatting across your team.
Common Use Cases
Pre-Commit Code Review
Before committing your code, run it through the detector to catch any stray whitespace issues that your editor might have missed.
Enforcing Coding Standards
Use this tool to demonstrate and enforce a consistent whitespace policy across your development team.
Cleaning Up Legacy Code
When working with older codebases, use the detector to identify and plan the removal of inconsistent whitespace.
Validating User Input
Check user-submitted code or configuration files for whitespace issues before processing them.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is trailing whitespace?
Trailing whitespace refers to any spaces or tabs at the end of a line of code, after the visible characters. While often invisible, it can cause issues in version control systems and is considered bad practice by many coding standards.
Why are mixed tabs and spaces a problem?
Using both tabs and spaces for indentation in the same file can lead to inconsistent rendering of the code across different editors and platforms, as tab widths can vary. This makes the code harder to read and can cause alignment issues.
How does this tool work?
You paste your code into the text area, and the tool scans each line for common whitespace issues. It then generates a report listing the line number and the specific issue found, such as 'trailing whitespace' or 'mixed tabs and spaces'.
Does this tool fix the issues for me?
No, this tool is a detector, not a fixer. It reports on the issues it finds so you can fix them in your own editor. For fixing whitespace issues, you might want to use our 'Whitespace & Formatting Cleaner' tool.
Is my code uploaded to a server?
No. All the analysis is done directly in your browser. Your code is never sent to our servers, ensuring your data remains completely private and secure.