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str basics

Learn text and escape sequences with str.

str basics

str (string) is the text type. Strings are written in single or double quotes:

name = "Alex"
city = 'London'

Both quote styles are the same; which one you pick is a style choice. To use the same quote inside, escape it: "O\"clock" or use the other quote: 'O"clock'.

For long text use triple quotes: """multi-line""".

Escape sequences

For special characters inside a string use escape sequences. \n is a new line, \t is a tab, \\ is a backslash:

print("Line 1\nLine 2")

To use the same quote inside, use \" or \'. Escape sequences are part of the quoted string. A raw string with an r prefix turns off escape sequences.

Practice Print a string

Assign "Alex" to name. Then print it with print(name).

Starter code

main.py
# Define the string

Sample solution

main.py
name = "Alex"
print(name)

Expected output

Alex

Questions and answers

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

1 Which is a valid str assignment?

  • name = "Alex" Correct answer
  • name = Alex
  • name = 'Alex"
  • name = (Alex)

Explanation: name = "Alex" is a double-quoted str assignment.

2 Add a new line

Question 
print("Line 1____Line 2")
Answer 
print("Line 1\nLine 2")

Explanation: \n is the new line escape sequence.

3 Match the str concepts

Term Meaning
str Text type
\n New line
"Alex" Double-quoted string
'Alex' Single-quoted string

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