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(groff)Tab Stops

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Tab Stops
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   `gtroff' translates "tabulator characters", also called "tabs"
(normally code point ASCII `0x09' or EBCDIC `0x05'), in the input into
movements to the next tabulator stop.  These tab stops are initially
located every half inch across the page.  Using this, simple tables can
be made easily.  However, it can often be deceptive as the appearance
(and width) of the text on a terminal and the results from `gtroff' can
vary greatly.

   Also, a possible sticking point is that lines beginning with tab
characters are still filled, again producing unexpected results.  For
example, the following input

           1          2          3
                      4          5

produces

           1          2          3                     4          5

   Note: Tabs and Fields.