indentationstests

indentationstests are procedures to verify that indentation levels and whitespace usage conform to a defined style in both text documents and source code. The term is used in software development and typesetting contexts to promote consistent structure, improve readability, and prevent misinterpretation when indentation conveys block structure or grouping.

In programming, indentation often determines the logical scope of code blocks in languages such as Python, where whitespace affects execution. Even when the syntax does not rely on indentation, many teams adopt strict indentation guidelines to reduce cognitive load and error.

Methods include static analysis with linters and formatters, unit tests that assert indentation patterns, and continuous integration checks that fail on whitespace deviations. Common tools include PEP 8 style enforcers for Python, gofmt for Go, and clang-format for C and C++. In document workflows, editors and typesetting pipelines may validate paragraph indentation, hanging indents, and list alignment to ensure visual consistency.

Challenges include mixed tabs and spaces, variable-width fonts, and internationalization issues where indentation interacts with alignment rules. indentationstests do not replace broader style reviews but support automated enforcement and early detection of formatting drift. Related topics include code style, formatting, and linting.