Python String Methods Cheat Sheet (with Examples)

Quick Answer

Python string methods are built-in tools for working with text. The ones you will use most are upper() and lower() for case, strip() to remove extra spaces, split() and join() to break up or combine text, and replace(), find(), and startswith() for searching. For putting values inside text, f-strings are the cleanest choice. Remember that strings are immutable, so every method returns a new string instead of changing the original.

What are Python string methods?

A string is just text: a name, an email, a line from a file. Python string methods are ready-made functions attached to every string that let you clean, search, and reshape that text without writing loops by hand. You call them with a dot, like name.upper().

One idea makes all of them click: strings are immutable. You cannot change a string in place. Every method returns a new string and leaves the original untouched. So you almost always store the result in a variable or use it right away.

name = "priya"
name.upper()        # returns "PRIYA"
print(name)         # still "priya" -- unchanged!

name = name.upper() # now name is "PRIYA"

Keep that in mind and the rest of this cheat sheet is easy. If you are just starting out, our free Python course walks through strings step by step. This page is the quick reference to keep open beside it.

upper(), lower() and friends: changing case

These normalise text so comparisons behave. A common use: convert user input to one case before checking it, so "YES", "Yes", and "yes" all match.

name = "priya sharma"

print(name.upper())        # PRIYA SHARMA
print(name.lower())        # priya sharma
print(name.title())        # Priya Sharma
print(name.capitalize())   # Priya sharma

title() capitalises the first letter of every word, while capitalize() only touches the very first letter of the string. To compare user input reliably, lower-case both sides:

answer = input("Continue? ")
if answer.lower() == "yes":
    print("Great!")

strip(): remove extra spaces

Text from users and files often has stray spaces or newline characters at the ends. strip() removes whitespace from both ends. Its cousins lstrip() and rstrip() clean only the left or right side.

raw = "   hello   "

print(raw.strip())    # "hello"
print(raw.lstrip())   # "hello   "
print(raw.rstrip())   # "   hello"

Gotcha: strip() only trims the ends, never the middle. It will not turn "a b" into "a b". You can also strip specific characters by passing them in:

print("###data###".strip("#"))   # "data"

split() and join(): break apart and combine

This pair is the heart of everyday text work. split() turns a string into a list; join() turns a list back into a string. They are opposites.

csv = "apple,banana,mango"
fruits = csv.split(",")
print(fruits)   # ['apple', 'banana', 'mango']

joined = ", ".join(fruits)
print(joined)   # apple, banana, mango

Called with no argument, split() splits on any run of whitespace, which is perfect for breaking a sentence into words:

sentence = "learn python today"
print(sentence.split())   # ['learn', 'python', 'today']

Gotcha: join() is called on the separator, not the list. So it is ", ".join(fruits), not fruits.join(", "). Also, every item in the list must already be a string, or you get a TypeError.

replace(), find() and startswith(): search text

These answer the questions "swap this for that", "where is it", and "does it begin with this".

text = "I love Java"
print(text.replace("Java", "Python"))   # I love Python

email = "student@priodemy.com"
print(email.find("@"))     # 7  (index where @ starts)
print(email.find("xyz"))   # -1 (not found)

print(email.startswith("student"))   # True
print(email.endswith(".com"))        # True

replace() swaps every match by default, so "aaa".replace("a", "b") gives "bbb". Pass a count to limit it: "aaa".replace("a", "b", 1) gives "baa".

Gotcha: find() returns -1 when the text is missing, while index() raises an error instead. If you just want to know whether something is present, the in keyword reads best: if "@" in email:.

f-strings: the clean way to format

Sooner or later you need to drop values into text: a name in a greeting, a score in a message. f-strings are the modern, readable way to do it. Put an f before the quote and wrap any expression in curly braces.

name = "Aarav"
score = 92
print(f"{name} scored {score} marks")   # Aarav scored 92 marks

You can format numbers inside the braces too. Here :.2f means "show two decimal places", which is handy for money:

price = 1499.5
print(f"Total: Rs {price:.2f}")   # Total: Rs 1499.50

You can even call methods right inside the braces, which combines nicely with everything above:

print(f"{name.upper()} passed!")   # AARAV passed!

f-strings need Python 3.6 or newer, which covers any recent install, so prefer them over the older % and .format() styles.

The Python string methods cheat sheet

Keep this table handy. Every method returns a new value; it does not change the original string.

What to remember and practice next

You do not need to memorise every method. Learn the eight above plus f-strings and you can handle most real text work. When you are unsure, three habits save time:

• Store the result. Because strings are immutable, write text = text.strip(), not just text.strip().
• Use in for simple checks. if "@" in email: reads better than comparing find() to -1.
• Explore in the shell. Type dir("") in Python to list every string method, and help(str.strip) to read what one does.

The fastest way to remember these is to type each snippet yourself and change one thing. Reading is not the same as doing.

Ready to go deeper? Work through strings in order in our free Python course, then come back to this cheat sheet whenever you forget which method does what.

Frequently Asked Questions