expandtabs(tabsize = 8) — Python Technical Interview Questions & Answers

expandtabs(tabsize = 8)

expandtabs(tabsize = 8)

  • expandtabs is a string helper. You call it on text like "Asha" or "banana". It gives a new string (or a number/True-False). The old string does not change unless you assign the result back.
  • expandtabs(tabsize = 8) — output: A B. Tab becomes spaces.
  • Fresher trap: writing s.expandtabs() and expecting s to update. Strings are immutable. Write s = s.expandtabs(...) if you need the new value (when it returns a string).

Technical Interview Tip: Call expandtabs on one real word and say what prints.

Code Examples for expandtabs(tabsize = 8)

Example

# expandtabs(tabsize = 8)
print("A\tB".expandtabs(4))

expandtabs(tabsize = 8) — output: A B. Tab becomes spaces.

How to Explain expandtabs(tabsize = 8) to an Interviewer

Explain expandtabs(tabsize = 8) as if you are teaching a junior — definition, then one tiny script.

expandtabs works on str. expandtabs usually returns a new string.

What does the example print, and why?

expandtabs(tabsize = 8) — output: A B

What mistake do freshers make with expandtabs(tabsize = 8)?

expandtabs does not change the original string in place.