About this whitespace visualizer
Many bugs hide in characters you cannot see. Python and YAML break when tabs and spaces are mixed, trailing spaces create noisy diffs, Windows CRLF line endings confuse shell scripts, and a no-break or zero-width space copied from a web page can make a password, URL, or search fail for no visible reason. This tool marks every space, tab, and line ending, labels hidden Unicode characters such as NBSP, ZWSP, the byte order mark, and direction marks with their code points, highlights trailing whitespace in red, and summarizes indentation and line-ending styles so you can spot the problem quickly.
How to see hidden whitespace
- Paste your text. Add the code, config, or text that behaves strangely, or press an example.
- Choose what to show. Turn markers on or off and set the tab width to match your editor.
- Press Show whitespace. Read the warnings, inspect the marked view, and hover over a hidden character to see its code point.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between LF and CRLF?
They are two ways to end a line. Linux and macOS use LF (\n), while Windows traditionally uses CRLF (\r\n). Mixing them in one file can break scripts and clutter version-control diffs.
What is a zero-width space?
ZWSP (U+200B) is a character with no width at all. It often sneaks in when copying from websites or chat apps and can make two identical-looking words, emails, or keys compare as different.
Why does mixed indentation matter?
A tab can look like 2, 4, or 8 spaces depending on the editor, so code that lines up for one person looks broken for another. Python and YAML may refuse to run at all.
What is a non-breaking space?
NBSP (U+00A0) looks like a normal space but stops a line from wrapping there. Word processors insert it automatically, and it can break code, CSV parsing, and searches.
How do I remove the problems I find?
Use the Remove Spaces or Remove Leading and Trailing Spaces tools, or the Invisible Character Remover, then paste the result here again to confirm it is clean.