Python: Quote String

Quote String

Use single quote or double quote.

# python 3

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

String Escape

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

# python 3

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 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 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”)

# python 3

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.

# python 3

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