7. Which Quotes to Use When Creating Strings

Quick Overview of Day

Triple quoted strings can span multiple lines, and contain other types of quotes. Work on a Python assignment, focused on input/output of strings, and conditionals.

  • CS20-CP1 Apply various problem-solving strategies to solve programming problems throughout Computer Science 20.
  • CS20-FP1 Utilize different data types, including integer, floating point, Boolean and string, to solve programming problems.
  • CS20-FP2 Investigate how control structures affect program flow.

7.1. A Bit More Detail About Strings

Strings in Python can be enclosed in either single quotes (') or double quotes (" - the double quote character), or three of the same separate quote characters (''' or """).

Double quoted strings can contain single quotes inside them, as in "Bruce's beard", and single quoted strings can have double quotes inside them, as in 'The knights who say "Ni!"'. Strings enclosed with three occurrences of either quote symbol are called triple quoted strings. They can contain either single or double quotes:

Triple quoted strings can even span multiple lines:

Python doesn’t care whether you use single or double quotes or the three-of-a-kind quotes to surround your strings. Once it has parsed the text of your program or command, the way it stores the value is identical in all cases, and the surrounding quotes are not part of the value.

7.2. What Does This Program Do?

Note

Your teacher may choose to use the following examples as a class activity, by displaying the examples, and having you take a guess as to what you think each will do before running the code.

What will the following programs output? Why?

Can you fix the error in the following programs?

7.3. Assignment Work Time

Please spend the rest of the class continuing to work on your current Python assignment (likely something emphasizing user input and output).

Next Section - 8. The while Statement