Python String replace

The Python string replace function is one of the String methods. This Python replace string function is to replace all occurrence of an existing string or character(s) with a new substring.

In this section, we discuss how to replace a string in Python Programming with an example.

Python replace Syntax

The syntax of the Python replace function is

String_Value.replace(old_string, new_string, count)

• String_Value: Please select a valid String literal.
• Old_string: Specify the substring that you want to replace.
• New_string: This is the new substring that would replace the Old_string.
• Count: This is an optional argument. Use this argument to specify the number of times you want to replace the old_string with new_string. If you Omit this parameter, the Python string replace Function replace all occurrence of old_string with new_string.

Python replace String Example

It is a simple example of this string replace function. Here, we are replacing l with M, o with A, and o with ABC from Hello World.

'Hello World'.replace('l', 'M')

'Hello World'.replace('o', 'A')

'Hello World'.replace('o', 'ABC')

OUTPUT

In this example, we are using this python string replace function to replace all occurrence of t with X. Remember, replace function replaces case sensitive. It means it replaces only t characters, not T.

# String Replace Example
 
string = 'Tutorial Gateway Provides Python Programming Tutorial'
 
x = string.replace('t', 'X')
 
print(x)

OUTPUT

It is an extension of the above string replace function example. Within the first statement, we are replacing t with X. In the second statement, a replaced by W. Next, the third statement replace e with Z.

string = 'tutorial gateway provides python programming tutorial'
print(string)
 
x = string.replace('t', 'X')
print(x)
 
y = string.replace('a', 'W')
print(y)
 
z = string.replace('e', 'Z')
print(z)

OUTPUT

Python String replace Multiple Characters Example

In this example, first, we are replacing the tutorial with Alpha. Next, we are replacing pro with Di and assigned the result to y.

string = 'tutorial gateway provides python programming tutorial'
print(string)
 
x = string.replace('tutorial', 'Alpha')
print(x)
 
y = string.replace('pro', 'Di')
print(y)

OUTPUT

Python replace Character in String at index Example

In this example, we are using this Python replace function along with the count argument. It means function replace the text for the specified number of times.

Here, y replace the tutorial with tutorialgateway for one time.

text = 'tutorial provides python programming tutorial'
print(text)
print()
 
x = text.replace('tutorial', 'TutorialGateway')
print(x)
 
y = text.replace('tutorial', 'TutorialGateway', 1)
print(y)

OUTPUT

In this example, the second statement replaces the first occurrence of abc with XYZ. The third statement replaces the first two occurrences of abc with substring XYZ. And the fourth statement replaces the first three instances of abc with XYZ.

string = 'we are abc working at abc company in abc position'
print(string)
 
x = string.replace('abc', 'XYZ')
print(x)
 
y = string.replace('abc', 'XYZ', 1)
print(y)
 
z = string.replace('abc', 'XYZ', 2)
print(z)
 
m = string.replace('abc', 'XYZ', 3)
print(m)

OUTPUT

Practical String replace Example

This program allows the user to enter the string, string to be replaced, and the new string to replace with. Next, we used the replace function to replace the old string with new.

string = input("Please enter any String :  ")
old_string = input("Please enter the String to replace : ")
new_string = input("Please enter the new String : ")
 
x = string.replace(old_string, new_string)
print(x)
 
y = string.replace(old_string, new_string, 1)
print(y)
 
z = string.replace(old_string, new_string, 2)
print(z)

OUTPUT

Python replace Backslash

It is one of the Python frequently asked questions. In this example, we are using Python string replace function to replace Backslash with forward-slash, :, and Hello.

# Python string replace Backslash Example
 
text = r'C:\Programs\Python Programs\xyz.txt'
 
x = text.replace('\\', '/')
print(x)
print()
 
y = text.replace('\\', ':')
print(y)
print()
 
z = text.replace('\\', 'Hello')
print(z)

OUTPUT

It is another example of replacing Backslash. Here, we used the third argument (count) to restrict the replacing times.

text = r'C:\Programs\Python\Python Programs\xyz.txt'
 
x = text.replace('\\', '/', 1)
print(x)
print()
 
y = text.replace('\\', '/', 2)
print(y)
print()
 
z = text.replace('\\', '?', 3)
print(z)
print()
 
a = text.replace('\\', ' Hi ', 3)
print(a)

OUTPUT

replace Backslash with Double slash

This string replace example replaces the backslash in a given text with double-slash

#  Python string replace Backslash with Double Backslash Example
 
text = r'C:\Programs\Python\Python Programs\xyz.txt'
print(text)
print()
 
x = text.replace('\\', '\\\\')
print(x)

OUTPUT

Python replace Regex

The Python string replace function can search and replace one at a time. However, you can use the regex sub-function to search for multiple characters or substrings and replace them at a time.

import re
 
text = 'Hello World'
print(text)
print()
 
x = re.sub('l', 'X', text)
print(x)

OUTPUT

The below string replace function program search for t and a, inside a text variable, and replace them with k and ABCD.

import re
 
text = 'tutorial gateway'
print(text)
print()
 
x = re.sub('[ta]', 'K', text)
print(x)
 
y = re.sub('[ta]', 'ABCD', text)
print(y)

OUTPUT

It is another approach of Python string replace using the regular expression or regex.

import re
 
text = 'python programming tutorial gateway'
print(text)
print()
 
x = re.sub('t|a', '', text)
print(x)
 
y = re.sub('t|a|g', ' ', text)
print(y)

OUTPUT