Python Tutorials
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Overview

You can return a range of characters by using the slice syntax.

A range of characters can be returned from a string by using the slice syntax.

Note

Arrays count starting from zero NOT one. So item 1 is position [0], item 2 is position [1], and item 3 is position [2] … and so on.

Slicing with a Start and End Point

Specify the start index and the end index, separated by a colon, to return a part of the string.

The following gets the characters from position 2 to position 5 (not inclusive).

x = "Hello World"
print(x[1:5])

Output:

ello

Slicing From the Start

By leaving out the start index, the range will start at the first character.

x = "Hello World"
print(x[:5])

Output:

ello

Slicing to the End

By leaving out the end index, the range will go to the end.

x = "Hello World"
print(x[1:])

Output:

ello World

Negative Indexing

Use negative indexes to start the slice from the end of the string.

x = "Hello World"
print(x[-5:-2])

Output:

Wor

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
  • Python tuples are unchangeable after created (their items CANNOT be changed or re-ordered at a later point)
  • Python sets are unordered (may appear in random orders when called), unchangeable (the value of individual items cannot be changed after creation), unindexed (items cannot be referred to by index or key), and duplicates are NOT ALLOWED
  • As of v3.7, Python dictionaries are ordered and duplicates ARE ALLOWED; in v3.6 and earlier, dictionaries were unordered (did not have a defined order and could not be referred to using an index)
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