Is there a replace function for strings in python?

In this tutorial, we will learn about the Python replace() method with the help of examples.

The replace() method replaces each matching occurrence of the old character/text in the string with the new character/text.

Example

text = 'bat ball'

# replace b with c replaced_text = text.replace('b', 'c')

print(replaced_text) # Output: cat call


replace() Syntax

It's syntax is:

str.replace(old, new [, count]) 

replace() Parameters

The replace() method can take maximum of 3 parameters:

  • old - old substring you want to replace
  • new - new substring which will replace the old substring
  • count (optional) - the number of times you want to replace the old substring with the new substring

Note: If count is not specified, the replace() method replaces all occurrences of the old substring with the new substring.


replace() Return Value

The replace() method returns a copy of the string where the old substring is replaced with the new substring. The original string is unchanged.

If the old substring is not found, it returns the copy of the original string.


Example 1: Using replace()

song = 'cold, cold heart'

# replacing 'cold' with 'hurt' print(song.replace('cold', 'hurt'))

song = 'Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be'

# replacing only two occurences of 'let' print(song.replace('let', "don't let", 2))

Output

hurt, hurt heart
Let it be, don't let it be, don't let it be, let it be

More Examples on String replace()

song = 'cold, cold heart'

replaced_song = song.replace('o', 'e')

# The original string is unchanged print('Original string:', song) print('Replaced string:', replaced_song) song = 'let it be, let it be, let it be' # maximum of 0 substring is replaced # returns copy of the original string

print(song.replace('let', 'so', 0))

Output

Original string: cold, cold heart
Replaced string: celd, celd heart
let it be, let it be, let it be

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    The replace() in Python returns a copy of the string where all occurrences of a substring are replaced with another substring. 

    Syntax of replace()

    Syntax: string.replace(old, new, count)

    Parameters: 

    • old – old substring you want to replace.
    • new – new substring which would replace the old substring.
    • count – (Optional ) the number of times you want to replace the old substring with the new substring. 

    Return Value : It returns a copy of the string where all occurrences of a substring are replaced with another substring. 

    Replace All Instances of a Single Character using replace()

    In this example, we are only replacing a single character from a given string. The Python replace() method is case-sensitive, and therefore it performs a case-sensitive substring substitution, i.e. R in FOR is unchanged.

    Python3

    string = "grrks FOR grrks"

    new_string = string.replace("r", "e" )

    print(string)

    print(new_string)

    Output : 

    grrks FOR grrks
    geeks FOR geeks

    Replace All Instances of a String

    Here, we replaced all the geeks with GeeksforGeeks using replace() function.

    Python3

    string = "geeks for geeks \ngeeks for geeks"

    print(string)

    print(string.replace("geeks", "GeeksforGeeks"))

    Output : 

    geeks for geeks 
    geeks for geeks
    GeeksforGeeks for GeeksforGeeks 
    GeeksforGeeks for GeeksforGeeks

    Is there a replace function for strings in python?

    Replace Only a Certain Number of Instances using replace()

    In this example, we are replacing certain numbers of words. i.e. “ek” with “a” with count=3.

    Python3

    string = "geeks for geeks geeks geeks geeks"

    print(string.replace("e", "a"))

    print(string.replace("ek", "a", 3))

    Output:  

    gaaks for gaaks gaaks gaaks gaaks
    geas for geas geas geeks geeks

    What is the replace string function in Python?

    Python String | replace() replace() is an inbuilt function in the Python programming language that returns a copy of the string where all occurrences of a substring are replaced with another substring. Syntax : string.replace(old, new, count) Parameters : old – old substring you want to replace.

    Can I replace value of string in Python?

    You can even replace a whole string of text with a new line of text that you specify. The . replace() method returns a copy of a string. This means that the old substring remains the same, but a new copy gets created – with all of the old text having been replaced by the new text.

    Can you use replace on a string?

    The replace() method searches a string for a value or a regular expression. The replace() method returns a new string with the value(s) replaced. The replace() method does not change the original string.

    How do you replace part of a string in Python?

    To replace a string in Python, use the string. replace() method. The replace() method accepts three arguments and replaces the specified phrase with another specified phrase.