replacing special characters in string Python

Question

I'm trying to replace special characters in a data frame with unaccented or different ones.

I can replace one with

df['col_name'] = df.col_name.str.replace('?','j')

this turned the '?' to 'j' - but - I can't seem to figure out how to change more than one..

I have a list of special characters that I want to change. I've tried using a dictionary but it doesn't seem to work

the_reps = {'?','j'}

df1 = df.replace(the_reps, regex = True)

this gave me the error nothing to replace at position 0

EDIT:

this is what worked - although it is probably not that pretty:

df[col]=df.col.str.replace('old char','new char')
df[col]=df.col.str.replace('old char','new char')
df[col]=df.col.str.replace('old char','new char')
df[col]=df.col.str.replace('old char','new char')...

for each one ..

Try with df['column'] = df['column'].str.replace('.*@+.*', 'replacement') . I found: stackoverflow.com/questions/34702338/… — AleBuo
– AleBuo, Commented Dec 21, 2021 at 12:42
Does this answer your question? Replace Multiple Values of columns — Thekingis007
– Thekingis007, Commented Dec 21, 2021 at 12:50
I think where I am having an issue is - I want to replace certain characters with specific replacements - not just all of them with the same or a space or something. — Porsche Adams
– Porsche Adams, Commented Dec 21, 2021 at 13:02

Saravanan · Accepted Answer · 2021-12-21 12:56:45Z

1

import re
s=re.sub("[_list of special characters_]","",_your string goes here_)
print(s)

An example for this..

str="Hello$@& Python3$"
import re
s=re.sub("[$@&]","",str)
print (s)
#Output:Hello Python3

Explanation goes here..

s=re.sub("[$@&]","",s)

Pattern to be replaced → “[$@&]”
[] used to indicate a set of characters
[$@&] → will match either $ or @ or &
The replacement string is given as an empty string
If these characters are found in the string, they’ll be replaced with an empty string

answered Dec 21, 2021 at 12:56

Saravanan

112 bronze badges

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

Comments

Thekingis007 · Accepted Answer · 2021-12-21 12:50:04Z

0

you can use Series.replace with a dictionary

#d = { 'actual character ':'replacement ',...}

df.columns = df.columns.to_series().replace(d, regex=True)

answered Dec 21, 2021 at 12:50

Thekingis007

6474 silver badges17 bronze badges

1 Comment

Porsche Adams Over a year ago

gave me an error : nothing to replace at position 0 -

Muhammad Fayzan · Accepted Answer · 2021-12-21 13:26:00Z

0

Try This:

import re
my_str = "hello Fayzan-Bhatti Ho~!w"
my_new_string = re.sub('[^a-zA-Z0-9 \n\.]', '', my_str)
print my_new_string

Output: hello FayzanBhatti How

edited Dec 21, 2021 at 13:26

answered Dec 21, 2021 at 13:01

Muhammad Fayzan

9111 bronze badges

2 Comments

Community Over a year ago

Your answer could be improved with additional supporting information. Please edit to add further details, such as citations or documentation, so that others can confirm that your answer is correct. You can find more information on how to write good answers in the help center.

Porsche Adams Over a year ago

i'm trying to replace the special characters with specific chars - not just remove them - so more like: this is ?ust gra$$ - to - this is just grass

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

replacing special characters in string Python

3 Answers 3

Comments

1 Comment

2 Comments

Your Answer

Linked

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

3 Answers 3

Comments

1 Comment

2 Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Linked

Related