Python: Quote String

Quote String

Use single quote or double quote.

a = "this "
b = 'and that'
print(a, b)

String Escape

Use \n for linebreak, and \t for tab.

a = "this\nthat\n"    # use \n for line-break

b = 'more\nthings'    # single quote works too

print(a, b)

# output:

# 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 hexadecimal value hh

\uxxxx

Unicode codepoint hexadecimal value xxxx

\Uxxxxxxxx

Unicode codepoint hexadecimal value xxxxxxxx

\v

ASCII Vertical Tab

\N{name}

Unicode character named name

Raw string (No Backslash Escape)

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

c = r"this \n and that"

print(c) # prints a single line

Quote Multi-Lines

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

d = """this
will be printed
in 3 lines"""

print(d)

# output:

# this
# will be printed
# in 3 lines

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.
• For multiple lines, use triple '''single''' quote or triple """double""" quote. You can still prefix r in front.

Python 2: 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 🐍 .

Python 2, 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 2

# raw string
s1 = r"a\nb"

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

# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
# python 2

s2 = ur"/I♥U/"

print len(s2) == 5 # True