Python Strings - Compare first N characters
Python Strings - Compare first N characters
You can compare the first n characters of two Python strings by slicing the strings and then using the Equal-to comparison operator ==
to compare the sliced portions.
In this tutorial, we will see how to compare the first n characters in given two strings, with a step by step process, and examples.
Steps to compare first N characters in the strings in Python
- Given two strings in x and y.
- Given an integer value in n. This is the number of first characters in the string to compare.
- Slice the string x to get the first n characters, using the expression
x[:n]
. You may refer Get first n characters in Python string tutorial. - Slice the string y to get the first n characters, using the expression
y[:n]
. - Compare the two slices using Equal-to comparison operator
==
. The expression isx[:n] == y[:n]
. This expression returns True if the first n characters from the two strings x and y are equal, or False otherwise. You can use this expression as a condition in a Python if else statement.
Program
The complete program to compare the first n characters in given two strings is given below.
In this program, we shall compare the first five characters from the given two strings, i.e., n=5.
Python Program
# Given strings
x = "Hello World!"
y = "Hello User!"
# n value
n = 5
# Compare the first n characters
if x[:n] == y[:n]:
print(f'The first {n} characters are equal.')
else:
print(f'The first {n} characters are not equal.')
Output
The first 5 characters are equal.
Since the first 5 characters from the given two strings are "Hello"
and "Hello"
, which are equal, the equal-to comparison operator returns True, and the if-block executes.
Let us change the value of n to 7, and observe the output.
Python Program
# Given strings
x = "Hello World!"
y = "Hello User!"
# n value
n = 7
# Compare the first n characters
if x[:n] == y[:n]:
print(f'The first {n} characters are equal.')
else:
print(f'The first {n} characters are not equal.')
Output
The first 7 characters are not equal.
Summary
In this tutorial of Python string tutorials, we learned how to compare the first n characters in given two strings using string slicing and equal-to comparison operator, with step by step process and example programs.