Split string on whitespace in Python
The str.split() method without an argument splits on whitespace:
whitespace
Convert tabs to spaces in Notepad++
To convert existing tabs to spaces, press Edit->Blank Operations->TAB to Space. If in the future you want to enter spaces instead of tab when you press tab key: Go to Settings->Preferences…->Language (since version 7.1) or Settings->Preferences…->Tab Settings (previous versions) Check Replace by space (Optional) You can set the number of spaces to use in place of a Tab by changing the Tab … Read more
Is there an invisible character that is not regarded as whitespace?
Try Unicode Character ‘ZERO WIDTH SPACE’ (U+200B). It is not a Whitespace according to WP: Whitespace#Unicode The code of StringUtils.isBlank will not bother it: