length of text in TMP input field,TMP input field length always 1 higher then expected

My problem is that when i ask a text mesh pro input field for the length of the text in it, it is one higher then what i expect the length to be.

string username = LoginTextField.text;
Debug.Log(username.Length);
Debug.Log(username.Trim().Length);

returns 1 for both values when the text field is empty.
Doing this in the start method:

LoginTextField.text = string.Empty;

makes the above code return 0 but if i type anything into the input field, example: "asdf" then it returns 5

https://forum.unity.com/threads/textmesh-pro-ugui-hidden-characters.505493/
@frikki898_unity