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.

Complete list of escape sequences: 2. Lexical analysis — Python v2.7.6 documentation#string-literals

# -*- 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

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"this\n and that"
print c
# prints literally 「this\n and that」, single line

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

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

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

# prints the following, 3 lines

# aa
# bb
# cc

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 🐍.

• 2. Lexical analysis — Python v2.7.6 documentation#string-literals
• 5. Built-in Types — Python v2.7.6 documentation #typesseq