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Raw strings

Learn raw text with r"...".

Raw strings

A raw string ignores escape sequences. Put an r before it:

path = r"C:\Users\Alex"
print(path)  # C:\Users\Alex

In a normal string \n becomes a new line; in a raw string \n stays as two characters. This is very handy for file paths and regular expressions.

Raw string uses

Raw strings are most used for file paths and regular expressions. Windows paths have many \:

# Normal: \Users might error
path = r"C:\Users\Alex\file.txt"
pattern = r"\d+"  # digit pattern

Without a raw string you would write \\ for each \, which is unreadable.

Practice Print a raw string

Assign path = r"C:\Users\Alex". Print print(path).

Starter code

main.py
# Use a raw string

Sample solution

main.py
path = r"C:\Users\Alex"
print(path)

Expected output

C:\Users\Alex

Questions and answers

Review the lesson questions together with their answers. To test yourself, solve the lesson interactively.

1 What does r"\n" contain?

  • A new line character
  • An empty string
  • It raises an error
  • Two characters: \ and n Correct answer

Explanation: In a raw string \n stays as two characters.

2 Complete the raw string

Question 
path = ____"C:\Users\Alex"
Answer 
path = r"C:\Users\Alex"

Explanation: The r prefix makes a raw string.

3 Match the raw string concepts

Term Meaning
r" Raw prefix
\n New line (normal)
r"\n" Two characters
file path Common use

All lessons in Beginner

1 Python basics

  1. What is Python?
  2. REPL and print
  3. Comments
  4. Indentation blocks
  5. python -c and scripts
  6. Summary - Python basics

2 Variables

  1. Variable assignment
  2. Multiple assignment
  3. Naming variables
  4. id and type
  5. Swapping variables
  6. Summary - Variables

3 Data types

  1. int and float
  2. bool
  3. str basics
  4. None
  5. Type conversion
  6. Summary - Data types

4 Project: Calculator

  1. Project design
  2. Add/subtract
  3. Multiply/divide
  4. Error handling
  5. Putting it together

5 Operators

  1. Arithmetic
  2. Comparison
  3. Logical
  4. Bitwise
  5. Membership and identity
  6. Summary - Operators

6 String basics

  1. f-string
  2. Concatenation
  3. str.format
  4. Raw strings
  5. Triple-quote
  6. Summary - String basics

7 Conditionals

  1. The if statement
  2. elif and else
  3. Nested if
  4. Truthiness
  5. Conditional expression
  6. Summary - Conditionals

8 Loops

  1. The for loop
  2. range
  3. The while loop
  4. break and continue
  5. Loop else
  6. Summary - Loops

9 Project: Shopping cart

  1. Cart design
  2. Adding items
  3. Calculating totals
  4. Updating quantity
  5. Putting it together

10 Lists

  1. Declaring lists
  2. Index and slice
  3. List methods
  4. in and count
  5. Sorting lists
  6. Summary - Lists

11 List comprehension

  1. Comprehension basics
  2. Filtered comprehension
  3. Dict and set comprehension
  4. Nested comprehension
  5. Generator expression
  6. Summary - List comprehension

12 Tuple, set and dict

  1. Tuple
  2. Set
  3. Dict basics
  4. Dict methods
  5. Dict comprehension
  6. Summary - Tuple, set and dict

13 Functions

  1. def
  2. return
  3. Docstring
  4. Default parameters
  5. *args and **kwargs
  6. Summary - Functions

14 Function parameters

  1. Positional parameters
  2. Keyword parameters
  3. Keyword-only
  4. Positional-only
  5. Type hints basics
  6. Summary - Function parameters

15 Project: To-do CLI

  1. Task model
  2. Adding tasks
  3. Listing tasks
  4. Completing tasks
  5. Putting it together

16 Advanced string methods

  1. split and join
  2. strip, lstrip, rstrip
  3. replace
  4. find and index
  5. startswith, endswith
  6. Summary - Advanced strings

17 Input and output

  1. input()
  2. int/float conversion
  3. print parameters
  4. f-string formatting
  5. sys.argv
  6. Summary - Input and output

18 Error handling

  1. try/except
  2. else and finally
  3. raise
  4. Exception hierarchy
  5. Custom exceptions
  6. Summary - Error handling

19 Modules

  1. import
  2. from import
  3. as alias
  4. __name__ == '__main__'
  5. Standard library
  6. Summary - Modules

20 Beginner final

  1. Project design
  2. Data model
  3. Business logic
  4. Error handling
  5. Putting it together