Python: Quote String

Strings are enclosed using single quote or double quote.

# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
# python

a = "this "
b = 'and that'
print a, b
# prints 「this  and that」

You can use \n for linebreak, and \t for tab, etc.

# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
# python

a = "this\nthat\n" # use \n for line-break
b = 'more\nthings' # single quote works too
print a, b

# prints

# this
# that
# more
# things

Here's complete list of escape sequence:

• \' → Single quote
• \" → Double quote
• \newline → Ignored
• \\ → Backslash
• \a → ASCII Bell
• \b → ASCII Backspace
• \f → ASCII Formfeed
• \n → ASCII Linefeed
• \r → ASCII Carriage Return
• \t → ASCII Horizontal Tab
• \ooo → Character with octal value ooo
• \xhh → Character with hex value hh
• \uxxxx → Unicode codepoint hex value xxxx
• \Uxxxxxxxx → Unicode codepoint hex value xxxxxxxx
• \v → ASCII Vertical Tab
• \N{name} → Unicode character named name

Raw, Do Not Interprete Backslash Escape

You can add r in front of the quote symbol. This way, backslash characters will be interpreted as is, not as escapes. (“r” for “raw”)

# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
# python

c = r"a\nb"
print(len(c) == 4) # True

Multiple Lines, Literal Newline

To quote a string of multiple lines, use triple quotes.

# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
# python

xx = """aa
bb
cc"""
print xx

# prints in 3 lines

# aa
# bb
# cc

String Containing Unicode

Add u in front of the quote symbol if you string contains unicode characters. e.g. u"I ♥ U". It can be combined with r, e.g. ur"/I ♥ U/", and can also used in front of triple quote.

# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
# python

# raw string
s1 = r"a\nb"

print(len(s1) == 4) # True

# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
# python

s2 = ur"/I♥U/"

print len(s2) == 5 # True

Python String Quote Summary

• 'Single' quote and "double" quote chars are equivalent. (linebreak in your string is not allowed. It's syntax error.)
• The backslash char is a char escape mechanism.
• Prefix r in front of your quoting char (For example, r"hot") if you want backslash to be literal.
• If your string is multiple lines, use triple '''single''' quote or triple """double""" quote. You can still prefix r in front.
• If your string contain literal Unicode chars, such as α, then prefix your string with “u”, like this: u"greek α". But you also need to add a declaration #-*- coding: utf-8 -*-. The “r” and “u” can be combined, like this: ur"I ♥ Python" See: Python: Unicode Tutorial 🐍.