Python: Quote String

By Xah Lee. Date: 2005-01-09. Last updated: 2026-08-18.

What is String

A string is a sequence of characters.

In Python 3, it's a sequence of Unicode characters.
In Python 2, it's a sequence of Bytes (representing ASCII Characters). But if prefixed with u, then it's a sequence of Unicode characters.

String is Immutable

Any function that work on string returns a new string.

String Syntax

there are several syntax for string.

# single quoted string
aa = "single QUOTATION MARK"
bb = 'single APOSTROPHE'

# triple quoted string
cc = """triple QUOTATION MARK"""
dd = '''triple APOSTROPHE'''

Single Quoted String

single quoted string is designed for short string, like few words or one sentence.

in single quoted string:

Literal newline character is not allowed. It's syntax error.
Backslash character in string has special interpretation. see String Escape Sequence, unless the starting delimiter is prefixed with r, known as Raw String (r-prefix)

# single quoted string
# APOSTROPHE delimited
yy = 'good morn'

print(yy)
# good morn

# single quoted string
# QUOTATION MARK delimited
xx = "good eve"

print(xx)
# good eve

# in single quoted string, literal linebreak character is not allowed

xx = "abc
xyz"

    # xx = "abc
         # ^
# SyntaxError: unterminated string literal (detected at line 3)

What's the difference between QUOTATION MARK, and APOSTROPHE as string delimiters

QUOTATION MARK quoted string cannot contain QUOTATION MARK.
APOSTROPHE quoted string cannot contain APOSTROPHE.

To include the delimiter in the string, you need to use String Escape Sequence, or Triple Quote String .

Triple Quote String

Python: Triple Quote String

No Here-String

Python does not support Here-String (aka here-doc)