How To Use Python String ExpandTabs() Method

In this tutorial, we’ll learn what Python string expandtabs() method is and how to properly use it with the help of an easy and detailed Python code examples.

Outline

Introduction: Python String expandtabs() Method
Syntax of expandtabs() Method
Example 1: expandtabs() having no Argument
Working of expandtabs() Method
Example 2: expandtabs() with an Argument
Example 3: expandtabs() Return Value
Conclusion

Introduction: Python String expandtabs() Method

This method is used to return a copy of the specified string having all the tabs replaced with whitespaces until the next parameter of tabsize parameter.

Syntax of expandtabs() Method

string.expandtabs(tabSize)

Python string expandtabs() method takes one integer argument. It is optional. The default value is 8.
This method returns a new string in which all the tabs‘\t’ are replaced with whitespace characters until the next multiple of tabSize parameter.

Example 1: expandtabs() having no Argument

stringValue='This\tis\tPython\tProgramming'
print(stringValue)
print(stringValue.expandtabs())

Output

This         is         Python         Programming   // default tabs
This    is      Python  Programming             // tabs replaced with whitespaces

The default tab size value of expandtabs() method is 8. Let’s now see how to customize its value but first let’s see how Python string expandtabs() method works.

Working of expandtabs() Method

The current cursor position is tracked by expandtabs().
The tabSize is 8 by default and the position of first tab‘\t’ in the above original string is 4.
This method replaces the tab character with whitespace character until the next tab stop. As mentioned above, the position of first tab‘\t’ is 4 and tabSize is 8. It means the number of spaces after This(string) is 4. The next tab is at position 10 so it will have 6 spaces and so on. Give it a try for better understanding.
The next tab stops are multiples of tabSize which will be 16,24,32 etc.

Example 2: expandtabs() with an Argument

stringValue='This\tis\tPython\tProgramming\tLanguage'
print(stringValue.expandtabs(5))

Output

This  is   Python     Programming      Language

You can try it by passing different integer arguments to Python string expandtabs method.

Example 3: expandtabs() Return Value

originalstring='This\tis\tPython\tProgramming\tLanguage'
returnedVal=originalstring.expandtabs(5)
print(returnedVal)
print(originalstring)

Output

This  is   Python     Programming      Language  // newly returned string
This   is   Python   Programming   Language   // original string

As we can see that expandtabs() method returns a new string in which tabs are replaced with whitespaces.

Conclusion

To conclude this tutorial, hope you now have an in-depth practical knowledge of how to properly use Python string expandtabs method. Click here to understand expandtabs() method in more detail. I’ll be looking forward to have your valuable feedback on this post. Thank you for reading it.