How does Reverse String Slicing works in Python?

Question

I would like to know how does Reverse String Slicing works. For example

name = 'Python'
print(name[4:1])

This code wouldn't give me any result, not even any error. What is actually happening here?

But if I write

print(name[4:1:-1])

It will give the result as "oht"

Does this answer your question? Understanding slicing

Luka Banfi
– Luka Banfi

2022-09-01 06:11:08 +00:00
Commented Sep 1, 2022 at 6:11 — Luka Banfi
– Luka Banfi, Commented Sep 1, 2022 at 6:11
print(name[4:-1])

user4136999
– user4136999

2022-09-01 07:47:28 +00:00
Commented Sep 1, 2022 at 7:47 — user4136999
– user4136999, Commented Sep 1, 2022 at 7:47

Bartosz · Accepted Answer · 2022-09-01 06:00:35Z

0

1st example is not giving you any result, because you start off with index 4 and you want to go to index 1 (0, because 1 is excluded) - which is kind of impossible. Default step is 1.

2nd example starts from index 4, ends on index 1, which is excluded. Step in this example is -1, that is why the result is 'oht'.

index of 'Python':
0 1 2 3 4 5
P y t h o n

# 1 is excluded

Python slicing works that way:

name = 'Python'
print(name[start_from_index:go_to_index:step_of_slicing])

is that clear for you?

edited Sep 1, 2022 at 6:00

answered Sep 1, 2022 at 5:46

Bartosz

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2 Comments

Manas Over a year ago

Oh ok so the 1st code is just not how the python works, it can't go back with a step of +1. I get it, but why it's still not giving me an error?

Bartosz Over a year ago

@Manas read this: stackoverflow.com/questions/509211/understanding-slicing

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