What is b String in Python?

In Python, several built-in methods and functions are used to perform different options on a string. A string is a combination of characters that are in a human-readable format and represents a complete phrase or a single word. Whereas, byte strings are regular strings that are in bytes.

The outcomes from this post are:

- What is the “b” String in Python?
- How to Use the “b” Statement in Python?

What is the “b” String in Python?

The “b” literal beside any string in Python indicates that the provided string is in the format of the bytes. This literal is used for converting the regular string into the byte format. Additionally, bytes are the actual data. However, the string is an abstraction. Moreover, the bytes are the collection of octets (0 -255) bits, whereas the string is the combination of Unicode characters known as “UTF -16, UTF – 32” or “ASCII”.

How to Utilize the “b” Statement in Python?

To convert the Python string into the “b” string, the below-listed methods are used:

- Using b Notation
- Using encode()

Method 1: How to Convert String into Bytes String Using “b” Notation in Python?

To convert the string into a byte’s string, the “b” notation can be used that specifies a byte’s string in Python. The string is a byte’s variable array where every hexadecimal element has a value from“0” to “255”.

First, create a string variable and initialize it:

input_string = 'Welcome to LinuxHint'

Then, call the “print()” function to display the initialized string variable value:

print("Input String: ",input_string)

To check the type of the string, invoke the “type()” function inside the “print()” statement:

print('String Type: ',type(input_string))

Now, create a new string variable and initialize it along with “b‘’” notation:

con_string = b'Welcome to LinuxHint'

Get the value of the converted string through the print function:

print("Converted String: ",con_string)

After that, revoke the “type()” function to display the type of the converted string:

print('String Type: ',type(con_string))

It can be seen that the provided string is converted into a byte’s string successfully:

Method 2: How to Convert String into Bytes Using “encode()” Function in Python?

The “encode()” function is Python’s built-in function that returns the encoded form of any regular string by utilizing the specified encoding. If no encoding is provided, the “UTF-8” can be used.

Use the “encode()” method to encode the input regular string and passes to the “con_string” variable:

con_string = input_string.encode()

Now, call the “print()” function to get the resultant string:

print("Converted String: ",con_string)

Print the data type of the resultant string:

print('String Type: ',type(con_string))

Output

That was all about the “b” string and its converting method in Python.

Conclusion

The “b” literal beside regular string in Python is used for converting the string into bytes format. To do so, the “b” notation and the “encode()” method can be utilized. The “encode()” function is Python’s built-in function that returns the encoded form of any regular string by utilizing the specified encoding. This write-up briefly explained about the “b” string and its converting methods in Python.