What is txt strip () in python?

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

The strip() method returns a copy of the string by removing both the leading and the trailing characters (based on the string argument passed).

Example

message = '     Learn Python  '

# remove leading and trailing whitespaces
print('Message:', message.strip())

# Output: Message: Learn Python

Syntax of String strip()

The syntax of the strip() method is:

string.strip([chars])

strip() Parameters

• chars (optional) - a string specifying the set of characters to be removed from the left and right part of the string.

The strip() method removes characters from both left and right based on the argument (a string specifying the set of characters to be removed).

Note: If the chars argument is not provided, all leading and trailing whitespaces are removed from the string.

strip() Return Value

strip() returns a copy of the string with both leading and trailing characters stripped.

Working of the strip() method

• When the character of the string in the left mismatches with all the characters in the chars argument, it stops removing the leading characters.
• Similarly, when the character of the string in the right mismatches with all the characters in the chars argument, it stops removing the trailing characters.

Example: Working of the strip() method

string = '  xoxo love xoxo   '

# Leading and trailing whitespaces are removed
print(string.strip())

# All ,x,o,e characters in the left
# and right of string are removed
print(string.strip(' xoe'))

# Argument doesn't contain space
# No characters are removed.
print(string.strip('stx'))

string = 'android is awesome'
print(string.strip('an'))

Output

xoxo love xoxo
lov
  xoxo love xoxo   
droid is awesome

Here, we can see that the first expression string.strip() without any arguments removed the whitespaces from the left and right of string.

• string.strip(' xoe') - Removes all whitespace, x, o, and e that lead or trailed the string.
• string.strip('stx') - Since string has whitespace at the beginning and end, this expression does not change the string. x is not removed since it is at the middle of the string (whitespaces lead and trail the string)
• string.strip('an') - Removes an leading the string.

❮ String Methods

Example

Remove spaces at the beginning and at the end of the string:

txt = "     banana     "

x = txt.strip()

print("of all fruits", x, "is my favorite")

Try it Yourself »

Definition and Usage

The strip() method removes any leading (spaces at the beginning) and trailing (spaces at the end) characters (space is the default leading character to remove)

Syntax

Parameter Values

More Examples

Example

Remove the leading and trailing characters:

txt = ",,,,,rrttgg.....banana....rrr"

x = txt.strip(",.grt")

print(x)

Try it Yourself »

❮ String Methods

I can strip numerics but not alpha characters:

>>> text
'132abcd13232111'

>>> text.strip('123')
'abcd'

Why the following is not working?

>>> text.strip('abcd')
'132abcd13232111'

asked Apr 4, 2017 at 17:53

2

The reason is simple and stated in the documentation of strip:

str.strip([chars])

Return a copy of the string with the leading and trailing characters removed. 
The chars argument is a string specifying the set of characters to be removed.

'abcd' is neither leading nor trailing in the string '132abcd13232111' so it isn't stripped.

answered Apr 4, 2017 at 17:56

1

Just to add a few examples to Jim's answer, according to .strip() docs:

• Return a copy of the string with the leading and trailing characters removed.
• The chars argument is a string specifying the set of characters to be removed.
• If omitted or None, the chars argument defaults to removing whitespace.
• The chars argument is not a prefix or suffix; rather, all combinations of its values are stripped.

So it doesn't matter if it's a digit or not, the main reason your second code didn't worked as you expected, is because the term "abcd" was located in the middle of the string.

Example1:

s = '132abcd13232111'
print(s.strip('123'))
print(s.strip('abcd'))

Output:

abcd
132abcd13232111

Example2:

t = 'abcd12312313abcd'
print(t.strip('123'))
print(t.strip('abcd'))

Output:

abcd12312313abcd
12312313

answered Apr 4, 2017 at 18:04

dot.Pydot.Py

4,8814 gold badges28 silver badges50 bronze badges

0

What is text Strip () in Python?

What is text Strip?

How do you strip a text file in Python?