Revert unicode escape encoding in string (Python3)

Question

I have a string my_string which holds a newline character. So, if printed it will introduce a new line.

Initially, I do my_string.encode('unicode_escape').decode("utf-8")

where print(my_string.encode('unicode_escape').decode("utf-8")) gives \n

and print (repr(my_string)) gives '\\n'.

Then, want I want to do is convert it back to its original state so that it prints the newline, i.e. my_string not to display the newline character \n or \\n but simply introduce a new line.

I searched for encode and decode but could not figure out how to do it.

Josh Lee · Accepted Answer · 2017-02-07 18:48:47Z

10

Since you're first encoding with unicode_escape, then decoding with utf-8, the inverse operation would be the inverse of the individual operations, in reverse order:

>>> x = '\n'
>>> y = x.encode('unicode_escape').decode('utf-8')
>>> y.encode('utf-8').decode('unicode_escape')
'\n'

(The socks/shoes principle: You first put on your socks and then your shoes; to undo that you first remove your shoes and then your socks.)

answered Feb 7, 2017 at 18:48

Josh Lee

179k39 gold badges278 silver badges282 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

Revert unicode escape encoding in string (Python3)

1 Answer 1

Comments

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

1 Answer 1

Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related