Google's popular virtual keyboard, Gboard, appears to be working on a new setting that will give users greater control over automatic spacing after selecting suggested words. This feature, discovered through a teardown of the latest Gboard application package (APK), could address a long-standing irritation for many typists: the unwanted insertion of a space after tapping an autocorrect suggestion.

Currently, when a user types a word and then taps one of the suggested corrections or predictions that appear in the suggestion strip above the keyboard, Gboard automatically inserts a space after that word. This is generally convenient when continuing a sentence, as it prepares the keyboard for the next word. However, this behavior becomes problematic when the user intends to add punctuation, a hyphen, an apostrophe, or any other character directly attached to the selected word. For instance, typing "dont" and selecting "don't" results in "don't " with a trailing space, requiring the user to manually delete the space before adding a period or comma. The same occurs when contracting words or adding suffixes.

The Problem with Automatic Spaces

This automatic spacing has been a default behavior in Gboard for years, and while many users have adapted, it remains a subtle source of friction. The issue is particularly noticeable for those who type quickly or depend on precise punctuation. For example, a user typing a list might want to add a comma immediately after a correction, but the inserted space forces an extra keypress to remove it. Similarly, when typing URLs, email addresses, or hashtags, an automatic space can disrupt the intended string, requiring deletion.

The lack of an option to disable this feature has been a recurring request in user forums and feedback channels. Users who prefer granular control over every keystroke, or those who use alternative input methods like swipe typing, often find the automatic space more of a hindrance than a help. The proposed toggle, if released, would cater to these power users who desire a more customizable typing experience.

How Gboard Currently Handles Suggestions

Gboard's suggestion strip displays a set of predicted words based on the current text and user history. Tapping any of these words replaces the typed text with the selected word. Simultaneously, the keyboard inserts a space after it, assuming the user will continue typing. This behavior is consistent across many virtual keyboards, including Apple's iOS keyboard and third-party alternatives like SwiftKey. However, the ability to turn this off is rare. SwiftKey, for instance, offers a setting to control spacing after emoji or symbol insertion, but not specifically after suggestion selection.

The automatic spacing logic is deeply integrated into the keyboard's event handling. When a suggestion is chosen, the keyboard app sends a sequence of commands: it deletes the currently typed characters, inserts the chosen word, and then inserts a space character. The new toggle would likely modify this sequence, either by skipping the final space insertion step or by making it conditional on a user preference.

The Hidden Setting

During an analysis of the latest Gboard beta APK (version 14.7.3.721977860), researchers uncovered a new string indicating a "Auto-space after suggestions" toggle. This string was associated with a boolean value, suggesting it would be a simple on/off switch. By enabling the flag in the app's code, the setting became visible and functional. Screenshots show the toggle appears in the "Corrections & suggestions" section of the keyboard's settings menu, alongside other options like auto-correction and suggested words.

When activated, the toggle works as expected: turning it off prevents Gboard from adding any space after a suggestion is tapped, while leaving it on maintains the current default behavior. This discovery is consistent with Google's recent focus on offering more customization options in Gboard, following the introduction of features like one-handed mode, clipboard management, and the ability to resize the keyboard. The company has also been investing in accessibility, with a separate feature in development that translates sign language via the camera.

Testing the Feature

After enabling the hidden toggle, tests were conducted to verify its functionality. With the feature disabled, selecting a suggestion no longer produced a trailing space. For example, typing "going" and choosing "going" resulted in only the word "going" without any space. The cursor remained immediately after the word, allowing the user to directly add punctuation or a space themselves. This behavior was consistent across different types of suggestions, including single-word corrections and longer predictions.

However, it is important to note that the feature is still in development. There may be edge cases or interactions with other settings, such as auto-capitalization or next-word prediction, that have not been fully tested. For instance, if the user disables auto-space but keeps the next-word prediction enabled, the keyboard might still show predictions, but tapping one would insert the word without a space. This could lead to a different workflow, where the user manually adds a space only when needed.

User Scenarios

The potential toggle would benefit a wide range of users. First, power users who type with precision often prefer to control spacing themselves. They may use the keyboard for coding, writing in different languages, or creating content that requires careful punctuation. Second, users who frequently type in fields that do not require spaces, such as URLs, email addresses, or financial values, would avoid the extra step of deleting spaces. Third, multilingual users who switch between languages and need to attach prefixes or suffixes may find the automatic space disruptive. Finally, users who rely on Gboard's swipe typing might also appreciate the option, as swipe typing often involves selecting words from the prediction strip, and the automatic space can be redundant.

On the other hand, disabling the auto-space could be inconvenient for users who type long sentences and rely on the automatic spacing to maintain flow. Without it, each selected suggestion would require a manual space, potentially slowing down typing. The default setting should likely remain on to avoid breaking the experience for the majority of users, and the toggle would cater to those who explicitly want to change it.

Broader Context of Keyboard Customization

Gboard has evolved significantly since its launch in 2016, absorbing features from Google's earlier keyboard apps and competitor offerings. Customization has been a key differentiator. Users can adjust key press feedback, theme colors, keyboard height, and even create custom dictionaries. The addition of an auto-space toggle fits this trend of increasing user agency. It also aligns with Google's broader philosophy of offering choice while maintaining sensible defaults for the mass market.

Competitors like Microsoft's SwiftKey also offer extensive customization, but have not yet added a direct toggle for this specific behavior. SwiftKey's approach is different: it typically inserts a space after selecting a prediction only if the user continues typing a new word. However, there are inconsistencies. If Gboard introduces this toggle, it could set a new standard for virtual keyboards, encouraging other developers to consider similar options.

How APK Teardowns Work

It is worth explaining how features are discovered through APK teardowns. An APK is the file format used to distribute and install Android applications. Developers often include incomplete or hidden code in beta versions for testing purposes. By decompiling the APK, analysts can see strings, layouts, and logic that are not yet visible in the live app. A teardown cannot guarantee that a feature will be released, as Google may decide to cancel or modify it. However, when a feature appears in a beta version with functional code, it indicates a high likelihood of eventual release.

In this case, the "Auto-space after suggestions" toggle appears to be fully implemented in the code, with a corresponding UI element and functional behavior. This suggests that Google is actively testing the feature internally. The next steps would typically involve rolling it out to beta testers, then to the stable channel if feedback is positive.

Potential for Release

Based on the completeness of the feature, it is plausible that Google will release the toggle in a future Gboard update. The company has a history of introducing similar quality-of-life improvements based on user feedback. The toggle is simple to implement and unlikely to introduce bugs. However, there is always a possibility that it could be scrapped for performance reasons or because it conflicts with other planned changes. For now, the code exists and works, which is a strong indicator of an upcoming launch.

If released, the toggle would likely be activated via Gboard's settings, requiring a few taps to enable or disable. It could be part of a broader settings menu revision, or it might be grouped with other text correction options. No date has been announced, but given the early stage of the beta, a public roll out may occur within the next few months.

Impact on User Experience

The addition of this toggle would represent a meaningful improvement for a segment of users who are frustrated by the current behavior. It would reduce the number of keystrokes needed to achieve the desired result in specific scenarios. For example, when typing "I don't know" with correct punctuation, the user would avoid the extra backspace. Over time, this could lead to saved time and reduced annoyance. However, the impact on the broader user base is likely neutral, as the default setting would remain unchanged.

Gboard's product team has been responsive to user feedback in recent years, introducing features like clipboard manager, GIF search, and translation integration. This toggle would be another step toward making Gboard the most customizable keyboard on Android. As mobile typing continues to evolve, offering granular control over such behaviors will become increasingly important to retain power users who might otherwise switch to alternative keyboards.

In conclusion, the discovery of the "Auto-space after suggestions" toggle is a promising development for Gboard users who prefer a more manual approach to spacing. While the feature is not yet available, its existence in the code and its functional behavior suggest that Google is seriously considering its release. As with any APK teardown discovery, the final outcome depends on internal decisions and testing, but there is reason to be optimistic.

Source:Android Authority News