Atom Set Tab Width

This guide will show you how to set the tab width in Atom. This is helpful if you have a standard tab spacing that is not equivalent to the default two spaces. Below you can see the difference between 2 spaces and 5 spaces.

Atom - 5tab vs 2tab

Changing the tab width setting is easy if you follow the instructions below. You can always change it back if your tab to space standard changes.

  1. In the main menu, navigate to File > Settings.
    Atom - File - Settings
  2. On the left hand side of the new tab, select Editor sub menu.
    Atom - Settings - Editor
  3. Find the Tab Length section. You can see the default tab length is 2.
    Atom - Tab Length
  4. Set the new Tab Length to whatever you would like. In my case I chose 5 and the difference can be seen in the first image of the post.
    Atom - Tab Length 5

The setting will take places once you click out of the input field. As you can see it is easy to set the tab width in Atom. What is your standard tab width and why? Please comment below, I am interested in learning more on why this is a configuration in the first place.

What would you like to learn about Atom next? This application has so many features that we could write articles for days! Especially if we were to dive into the plugins! Let me know in the comments below.

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