Use tab character
If this check box is selected, tab characters are
used: On pressing the Tab key For indentation For code reformatting
When the check box is cleared, IntelliJ IDEA uses spaces instead of
tabs.
Smart tabs
If this check box is selected, IntelliJ IDEA inserts
tabs for indentation and reformatting, but fine alignment to a
necessary column is done only via spaces without replacing them with
tabs. This is done in order to preserve visual representation of the
source code, when the tab size is changed.
If this check box is cleared, only tabs are used. This means that a group of spaces that
fits the specified tab size is automatically replaced with a tab,
which may result in breaking fine alignment. The Smart Tabs check box
is available if the Use Tab Character check box is selected.
Tab size
In this text box, specify the number of spaces included in a
tab.