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 callreplace() 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 beMore 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 stringprint(song.replace('let', 'so', 0))
Output
Original string: cold, cold heart Replaced string: celd, celd heart let it be, let it be, let it beView Discussion
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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 geeksReplace 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 GeeksforGeeksReplace 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