difference between newline and carriage return in python
The newline and carriage return are two special characters used to control text’s display and formatting. Although they may appear similar they have distinct functionalities & serve different purposes. This article aims to provide a clear understanding of the difference between newline & carriage return in Python.
- The newline character is represented by “\n” & it is used to create a new line in the string or file.
- The carriage return character represented by “\r” moves the cursor to the beginning of the current line without advancing to the next line.
Newline in Python
The newline character (\n) is a unique character used to represent a line break in a string or a text file. When encountered in a string or used in output operations. it instructs the program to start a new line. The newline character is essential for formatting text and creating multi-line strings.
Syntax
print(“—-\—-“)
Example 1
The code in this line is a string. Its argument passed to the “print()” function. “\n” within the string is an escape sequence that represents a new line. So it ends that line and starts a new one, then it prints “World”. So now The end result is a given separated line.
Python
print ( "Hello\nWorld" ) |
Output
Hello World
Example 2
In this code, the text within the parentheses is a string. ‘\n’ within a string is a special character sequence called an escape sequence. It generally represents a “new line” which shows Python starts with a new line.
Python
print ( "Hi\nhello" ) |
Output
Hi hello
Carriage return in Python
The carriage return character (\r) is a special control character that originated from the early days of typewriters and teletype machines. It represents the action of moving the cursor or print head back to the beginning of the current line. When encountered in a string or used in output operations.
- The carriage return is represented by the escape sequence ‘\r ‘.
- When the carriage return character is encountered in a string it moves the cursor to the beginning of the current line.
Syntax
print(“—-\r—–“)
Example 1
This line “Hello\rWorld” is a string argument. “/r” within a string is an escape sequence that represents a carriage return. A carriage return tells Python to move the cursor back to the beginning of the current line. So, when you execute this line, Python first prints “Hello”, then when it encounters \r, it moves the cursor back to the beginning of the line and continues printing. It then prints “World”.
Python
print ( "Hello\rWorld" ) |
Output
HelloWorld
Example 2
In this line “Hi\rhello” is a string. “\r” within a string is an escape sequence that represents a carriage return. A carriage return tells Python to move the cursor back to the beginning of the current line. So, when you execute this line, Python first prints “Hi”, then when it encounters \r, it moves the cursor back to the beginning of the line and continues printing. It then prints “hello”.
Python
print ( "Hi\rhello" ) |
Output
Hihello
Difference between Newline Character and Carriage Return
Newline (\n) | Carriage return (\r) | |
---|---|---|
Meaning | The Signifies the end of the line of text and the beginning of a new one | HelloWorld beginning HelloWorld of the current line |
Usage | They are Commonly used in the text files and when printing output to the console to create new lines | Less commonly used, typically only necessary in specific text formats for overwriting or modifying existing text |
Syntax | The Represented using escape character sequence \n | The Represented using escape character sequence \r |
Example |
print(“Hello\nWorld”) outputs: Hello World |
print(“Hello\rworld”) outputs: HelloWorld |
FAQs on newline and carriage return in Python
Q1. What is a newline character in Python?
A newline character (\n) is a special escape sequence in Python that is used to indicate the end of a line of text causing the following text to appear on a new line.
Q2. How do I use a newline character to print text on separate lines?
You can use the newline character in a string to print text on separate lines.
Q3. What is a carriage return character (\r) in Python?
A carriage return character is another special escape sequence in Python used to move the cursor to the beginning of the line.
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