Odd behavior with alias

[Fluxxdog]

> alias testing => ash print("%%:"+length("%%"));

String successfully aliased.
testing => ash print("%%:"+length("%%"))

> alias testing2 => ash print($string[%%]+":"+length($string[%%]));

String successfully aliased.
testing2 => ash print($string[%%]+":"+length($string[%%]))

>     testing2 four

four:4
Returned: void

> testing four

four :5
Returned: void

> testing2 four

four:4
Returned: void

I came across this and heavily doubt this is a mafia bug. It's also difficult to search the forums for this as searching for $string[ only searches for string. Does anyone have an explanation for the extra space?

 

[xKiv]

%% adds a space at the end unless contained in $string[], I think (or $string[] chops that space off).

 

[Bale]

$string[ ] assumes that anything bordered by whitespace does not include that whitespace so it is useful for removing the trailing space.

 

[Fluxxdog]

Yes, but why does that space get created?