How can I replace the first item in a string in python? [duplicate]

Question

I have a dynamic string and I would like to remove the first attribute of an item it could find. I have the following code:

mystring = '''
item 1
item 2
*item 3
item 4
*item 5
'''
mystring = mystring.replace('*', '')
print((mystring))

This returns:

item 1
item 2
item 3
item 4
item 5

But I want it to only replace the first instance of * which in this case is *item 3. It should return:

item 1
item 2
item 4
*item 5

I basically want it to delete the first line that starts with * How can I go about doing this? Do I need to use regex?

Nk03 · Accepted Answer · 2021-04-26 09:21:59Z

0

Just add 1 in args -

mystring = mystring.replace('*', '',1)
print((mystring))

answered Apr 26, 2021 at 9:21

Nk03

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2 Comments

But won't this just remove the *? How can I make it remove the entire line if it starts with *

use startswith function in if condition and if control goes inside the if condition replace the char and break, or use ^ at the start of regex.