# usesTabsForIndentation A Boolean value that indicates whether tabs are used for indentation. ``` var usesTabsForIndentation: Bool { get } ``` ## Discussion The `usesTabsForIndentation` property determines whether tab characters are used to indent text instead of space characters when possible. When the indentation width isn’t a multiple of the tab width, space characters are used to pad the indentation to the appropriate width. For example, consider an `XCSourceTextBuffer` instance that has a tab width of eight, an indentation width of four, and the `usesTabsForIndentation` property set to `true`. The first indentation level is represented by four space characters, the second by a tab character, the third by a tab followed by four space characters, the fourth by two tab characters, and so on.  --- Copyright © 2026 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. | [Terms of Use](https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/terms/site.html) | [Privacy Policy](https://www.apple.com/privacy/privacy-policy)