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+# pdftract-3zz9n: 5-trigger break detector + glyph-to-span merger
+
+## Summary
+
+Verified that `merge_glyphs_to_spans(glyphs: &[Glyph]) -> Vec<Span>` is correctly implemented in `/home/coding/pdftract/crates/pdftract-core/src/span/mod.rs` (lines 388-487). All 54 span module tests pass.
+
+## Implementation Details
+
+The function implements the 5-trigger break detector:
+
+1. **Trigger 1: font_name != prev font_name** (line 412)
+   - Compares `&glyph.font_name != &span.font`
+
+2. **Trigger 2: font_size delta > 0.5pt** (line 415)
+   - Uses `(glyph.font_size - span.size).abs() > 0.5`
+
+3. **Trigger 3: rendering_mode != prev rendering_mode** (line 418)
+   - Direct comparison `glyph.rendering_mode != span.rendering_mode`
+
+4. **Trigger 4: RGB-normalized fill_color != prev color** (lines 421-425)
+   - Uses `colors_equal()` helper which normalizes:
+     - DeviceGray(v) → (v,v,v) RGB tuple
+     - DeviceCMYK → RGB via formula R=(1-C)*(1-K)
+     - DeviceRGB → as-is
+     - Spot/Other → compared by variant (Spot by name+tint exactly)
+
+5. **Trigger 5: is_word_boundary == true** (lines 399-407)
+   - Implements option (a): appends space to previous span
+   - Then finalizes that span and starts fresh
+
+## Word Boundary Handling
+
+The implementation uses option (a) from the plan:
+- When `is_word_boundary == true`, appends " " to the PREVIOUS span text
+- Finalizes the span with trailing space
+- Next glyph starts a new span WITHOUT leading space
+- Produces cleaner JSON output: 2 spans "Hello " and "World" instead of 3 spans "Hello", " ", "World"
+
+## Confidence Tracking
+
+- Confidence is MINIMUM of all member glyphs: `span.confidence.min(glyph.confidence)` (line 474)
+- Confidence_source mapped from WORST glyph (lowest confidence) source (lines 469-472)
+- Mapping: ToUnicode/Agl/Fingerprint → Native, ShapeMatch/Unknown → Heuristic
+
+## Bbox Union
+
+Bbox is extended to union of member glyphs (lines 461-465):
+- `span.bbox[0] = span.bbox[0].min(glyph.bbox[0])` (x0)
+- `span.bbox[1] = span.bbox[1].min(glyph.bbox[1])` (y0)
+- `span.bbox[2] = span.bbox[2].max(glyph.bbox[2])` (x1)
+- `span.bbox[3] = span.bbox[3].max(glyph.bbox[3])` (y1)
+
+## Acceptance Criteria - PASS
+
+All acceptance criteria tests pass:
+
+| AC | Test | Result |
+|---|------|--------|
+| "Hello World" → 2 spans | `test_merge_glyphs_to_spans_hello_world_with_word_boundary` | PASS |
+| Font name change triggers break | `test_merge_glyphs_to_spans_font_name_change_triggers_break` | PASS |
+| Font size 12pt vs 12.2pt → 1 span | `test_merge_glyphs_to_spans_font_size_within_threshold_no_break` | PASS |
+| DeviceGray vs RGB normalized | `test_merge_glyphs_to_spans_device_gray_and_rgb_normalized_same_color` | PASS |
+| Spot vs DeviceRGB different | `test_merge_glyphs_to_spans_spot_vs_device_rgb_different_colors` | PASS |
+| Empty glyph list | `test_merge_glyphs_to_spans_empty_glyph_list` | PASS |
+| Confidence is minimum | `test_merge_glyphs_to_spans_confidence_minimum` | PASS |
+| Confidence source from worst glyph | `test_merge_glyphs_to_spans_confidence_source_worst_glyph` | PASS |
+| Bbox is union | `test_merge_glyphs_to_spans_bbox_union` | PASS |
+
+## Test Run
+
+```bash
+cargo test -p pdftract-core --lib 'span::'
+```
+
+Result: **54 passed; 0 failed; 0 ignored**
+
+## Invariants Verified
+
+- INV: text round-trips - joining all span texts produces original document text
+- INV: confidence is MINIMUM of all member glyphs
+- INV: confidence_source is from WORST glyph source
+- INV: bbox is union of member glyph bboxes
+- INV: font_size delta uses 0.5pt threshold
+- INV: fill_color compared via RGB-normalized equality
+- INV: Spot colors compared by name AND tint exactly
+
+## Files Verified
+
+- `/home/coding/pdftract/crates/pdftract-core/src/span/mod.rs` - Implementation (lines 388-487)
+- `/home/coding/pdftract/crates/pdftract-core/src/span/mod.rs` - Tests (lines 768-1355)
+
+## Status
+
+**COMPLETE** - Implementation exists, all tests pass, all acceptance criteria met.