Python string replace containing "\"

Question

I would like to convert a string temp.filename.txt to temp\.filename\.txt using python

Tried string replace method but the output is not as expected

filename = "temp.filename.txt"
filename.replace(".", "\.")
output: 'temp\\.filename\\.txt'

I don't think replace modifies the string you call it on. Did you mean filename=filename.replace(".", "\.")? — Mark Ransom
– Mark Ransom, Commented Mar 10, 2021 at 5:58
In a string parameter "\\." means "\.", "'\\\." means "\\."so on and so forth. You don't need to worry that your output is a wrong direction. — CodingPeter
– CodingPeter, Commented Mar 10, 2021 at 5:58
The only reason this works in the first place is because \. isn't recognized as a special escape sequence. You should always double up \\ when using it in a string: filename.replace(".", "\\."). — Mark Ransom
– Mark Ransom, Commented Mar 10, 2021 at 6:00
or use r"" strings, but even these can trick you, e.g. if your string finishes with a \, you'll still need to double up that last \... — Julien
– Julien, Commented Mar 10, 2021 at 6:02

Julien · Accepted Answer · 2021-03-10 06:05:13Z

5

\ is a special character, which is represented as \\, this doesn't mean your string actually contains 2 \ characters.

(as suggested by @saipy, if you print your string, only single \ should show up...)

answered Mar 10, 2021 at 5:55

Julien

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Comments

saipy · Accepted Answer · 2021-03-10 06:03:41Z

0

filename = "temp.filename.txt"
result=filename.replace(".", "\.")
print(result)

answered Mar 10, 2021 at 6:03

saipy

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@Julien, can you click on the link for image

@Julien answer is correct. It's just how you see the string. Actually I was doing the right thing.