# Whitespace and indentation

[Syntax and values](README.md)

Spaces indent blocks. Tabs are not valid Pliro whitespace and produce a
diagnostic.

An indented block may use any positive increase in spaces, but a later dedent
must return exactly to an earlier indentation width. The formatter standardizes
every block level to four spaces.

```pliro
# language: en
let score = 12

if score >= 10:
    say "High score"
    say score
else:
    say "Keep trying"
```

Blank lines and comment-only lines do not open, close, or alter a block.

Outside indentation, ASCII form-feed and vertical-tab characters are currently
ignored as intra-line separators; they do not contribute indentation width.
Other [Unicode](../concepts/unicode.md) space characters are not generic Pliro whitespace. Ordinary
source should use ASCII spaces and line breaks.

Inside matching parentheses, brackets, or braces, physical newlines and leading
indentation are continuation trivia:

```pliro
# language: en
let colors = [
    "red",
    "green",
    "blue",
]

let player = {
    "name": "Pip",
    "score": 100,
}

drawText(
    320,
    20,
    player.name,
    24,
    "#ffffff",
    "sans",
    "center",
)
```

Pliro has no semicolon statement separator. Put separate statements on separate
logical lines.

## Related entries

[Syntax and values](README.md) · [Built-ins](../builtins/README.md) · [Programming guides](../guides/README.md)