Formatierungszeichen

Formatierungszeichen, also known as control characters or non-printing characters, are characters within a data stream that do not represent a visible symbol but rather convey instructions to a processing device or system. These characters are typically invisible to the end-user but play a crucial role in defining the structure, layout, and transmission of data.

Examples of formatierungszeichen include spaces, tabs, carriage returns, line feeds, and form feeds. A space character, for instance, visually separates words but is a distinct character code. Tabs are used to align text horizontally, while carriage returns and line feeds work together to move the cursor to the beginning of the next line, creating new lines of text. Form feeds historically indicated a page break in printers.

Beyond basic text formatting, formatierungszeichen are fundamental in various computing contexts. In data transmission, they can signify the start or end of a message (e.g., End-of-Transmission character, ETX). In file formats, they delineate different sections or attributes of the data. For instance, null characters (NUL) are often used as string terminators in C-style programming languages.

While essential for machine interpretation, these characters can sometimes cause unexpected behavior if misinterpreted or if they are present in data intended for human readability without proper handling. Text editors and word processors often provide an option to display these hidden characters, making them visible for debugging or verification purposes. Understanding formatierungszeichen is key to comprehending how digital information is structured and processed.