# man > expand(1)

> **TLDR:** Convert tabs to spaces.
>
- Convert tabs in each file to spaces, writing to `stdout`:
  `expand {{path/to/file}}`
- Convert tabs to spaces, reading from `stdin`:
  `expand`
- Do not convert tabs after non blanks:
  `expand {{-i|--initial}} {{path/to/file}}`
- Have tabs a certain number of characters apart, not 8:
  `expand {{-t|--tabs}} {{number}} {{path/to/file}}`
- Use a comma separated list of explicit tab positions:
  `expand {{-t|--tabs}} {{1,4,6}}`

*Source: tldr-pages*

---

[EXPAND(1)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/EXPAND/1/markdown)                                   User Commands                                  [EXPAND(1)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/EXPAND/1/markdown)



## NAME
       expand - convert tabs to spaces

## SYNOPSIS
       **expand** [_OPTION_]... [_FILE_]...

## DESCRIPTION
       Convert tabs in each FILE to spaces, writing to standard output.

       With no FILE, or when FILE is -, read standard input.

       Mandatory arguments to long options are mandatory for short options too.

### -i --initial
              do not convert tabs after non blanks

### -t --tabs
              have tabs N characters apart, not 8

### -t --tabs
              use  comma separated list of tab positions The last specified position can be prefixed
              with '/' to specify a tab size to use after the last explicitly  specified  tab  stop.
              Also  a  prefix  of  '+' can be used to align remaining tab stops relative to the last
              specified tab stop instead of the first column

       **--help** display this help and exit

### --version
              output version information and exit

## AUTHOR
       Written by David MacKenzie.

## REPORTING BUGS
       GNU coreutils online help: <<https://www.gnu.org/software/coreutils/>>
       Report any translation bugs to <<https://translationproject.org/team/>>

## COPYRIGHT
       Copyright © 2020 Free Software Foundation, Inc.  License GPLv3+: GNU GPL version 3  or  later
       <<https://gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html>>.
       This  is free software: you are free to change and redistribute it.  There is NO WARRANTY, to
       the extent permitted by law.

## SEE ALSO
       [unexpand(1)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/unexpand/1/markdown)

       Full documentation <<https://www.gnu.org/software/coreutils/expand>>
       or available locally via: info '(coreutils) expand invocation'



GNU coreutils 8.32                          January 2026                                   [EXPAND(1)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/EXPAND/1/markdown)