Simple online tools for developers, networking, text and conversions.

Text Tools

Spaces to Tabs Converter

Replace groups of spaces with tab characters for cleaner indentation and compact formatting.

Tool

Use this Spaces to Tabs converter to replace repeated spaces with tab characters in text or code. It is useful for indentation cleanup, pasted code blocks, alignment normalization, editor preparation, and any workflow where space-based indentation should be converted into tabs. Paste your text, convert it instantly, and copy the tab-based result for reuse.

About this tool

Use this Spaces to Tabs converter to replace repeated spaces with tab characters in text or code. It is useful for indentation cleanup, pasted code blocks, alignment normalization, editor preparation, and any workflow where space-based indentation should be converted into tabs. Paste your text, convert it instantly, and copy the tab-based result for reuse.

Use spaces to tabs converter when you need a fast browser-based result without extra setup. It works well for quick checks, one-off tasks, and routine formatting or calculation work.

Learn more

Why use this tool

How to use

  1. Paste the text or code into the input box
  2. Click Run Tool to replace groups of spaces with tabs
  3. Review the updated output carefully because alignment may change between editors
  4. Copy the converted text into your editor, file, or document
  5. Use Tabs to Spaces if you need to reverse the result later

Examples

Example

Input

line one
    line two

Output

line one
	line two

Four leading spaces become one tab character.

Example

Input

name    value

Output

name	value

Useful when repeated spaces are being used like manual columns.

Common errors

The user expects every single space to become a tab

Fix: Only repeated spaces should be converted, or normal text spacing will break badly.

The output looks misaligned in another editor

Fix: Remember that tabs can render differently depending on tab width settings.

The source text mixes tabs and spaces already

Fix: Review the result carefully because mixed indentation may still need cleanup.

The user wants predictable alignment everywhere

Fix: Use Tabs to Spaces instead if exact visual consistency across editors matters more.

Regular sentence spacing gets converted by mistake

Fix: Use this tool mainly for indentation or repeated spacing, not for normal prose.

FAQ

What does Spaces to Tabs do?

It replaces groups of spaces with tab characters.

Is this useful for code indentation?

Yes. It is useful when you want tab-based indentation instead of repeated spaces.

Will one single space become a tab?

It should not. Usually only repeated spaces meant for indentation or alignment should be converted.

Why does the alignment look different after conversion?

Tabs may display differently depending on editor settings and tab width.

What is the reverse of Spaces to Tabs?

The reverse tool is Tabs to Spaces.

Use cases

Related tools