Python - String encode() Method

August 13, 2024

Categories: Python Reference, Python String Methods, Reference

Quick Reference

The Python string encode() method encodes the string using the specified encoding. If no encoding is specified, UTF-8 will be used.

txt = "My name is Mårk"
x = txt.encode()

print(x)

Note

Python string methods return new values, and DO NOT change the original string.

Output

b'My name is M\xc3\xe5rk'

Syntax

string.encode(encoding=encoding, errors=errors)

Parameters

Parameter	Description
encoding	A String specifying the encoding to use (default is UTF-8)
errors	A String specifying the error method: 'backslashreplace' - uses a backslash instead of the character that could not be encoded 'ignore' - ignores the characters that cannot be encoded 'namereplace' - replaces the character with a text explaining the character 'strict' - Raises an error on failure (default) 'replace' - replaces the character with a questionmark 'xmlcharrefreplace' - replaces the character with an xml character

Parameter

Description

encoding

A String specifying the encoding to use (default is UTF-8)

errors

A String specifying the error method:

'backslashreplace' - uses a backslash instead of the character that could not be encoded

'ignore' - ignores the characters that cannot be encoded

'namereplace' - replaces the character with a text explaining the character

'strict' - Raises an error on failure (default)

'replace' - replaces the character with a questionmark

'xmlcharrefreplace' - replaces the character with an xml character

Python Notes:

The most recent major version of Python is Python 3; however, Python 2 is still in use and quite popular, although not being updated with anything other than security updates
Python uses new lines to complete a command, as opposed to other programming languages which often use semicolons or parentheses
Python relies on indentation, using whitespace to define scope, such as the scope of loops, functions, and classes; other programming languages often use curly-brackets for this purpose
Python string methods return new values, and DO NOT change the original string

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