Python expandtabs string operation

Question

I am learning about Python and got to the expandtabs command in Python. This is the official definition in the docs:

string.expand         


        

Answer 1

The expandtabs method replaces the \t with whitespace characters until the next multiple of tabsize parameter i.e., the next tab position.

for eg. take str.expandtabs(5)

'this (5)is(7)\tstring' so the '\t' is replaced with whitespace until index=10 and follwing string is moved forward. so you see 10-7=3 whitespaces. (**number in brackets are index numbers **)

eg2. str.expandtabs(4)

'this(4) is(7)\tstring' here '\t' replaces until index=8. so you see only one whitespace