CODEWITHSUNDEEP
python
vivekbecks
vivekbecks

Reputation: 71

Escape character \t behaves differently with space

Why do I see output only if I put space.

print "I love you %s" % "\tI'm tabbled in."
print "I love you %s" % " \tI'm tabbled in."

output

I love you  I'm tabbled in.
I love you      I'm tabbled in.

Upvotes: 6

Views: 100

Answers (1)

user2864740
user2864740

Reputation: 61975

Typically, \t (TAB) goes to the next tab stop - it is not a synonym for "n spaces".

 I love you XI'm tabbled in.
 I love you  XXXXI'm tabbled in.
 0---1---2---3---4---

The current terminal is configured with a tab stop size of 4 which is shown on the bottom. The "X" are the characters skipped by the tab.

So the first line skips one character with the tab (it goes to tab stop #3) and the second line writes a space and then skips four characters (to get to tab stop #4).

Upvotes: 12

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