Single quotes vs. double quotes in Python

python

prompt-engineering

best-practices

collections

byNikita Barsukov·Oct 2, 2024

In Python, single (' ') and double (" ") quotes are functionally identical. You can use both interchangeably without worrying about functional discrepancies. A handy tip to remember is to use single quotes to avoid escaping the double quotes, and vice versa:

quote_1 = 'She said, "Hello!"' # No escape needed for "Hello!"
quote_2 = "I'm loving it!"   # No escape needed for I'm!

For easier readability and consistency, it's better to stick with a single style throughout your code, and switch only when it's necessary to neatly handle quotes within strings.

Practical use examples

CLR: Code, Length, Readability

Different quote usage can help achieve code clarity, length optimization and enhanced readability.

# Let the raw be raw, with double quotes 
regex = r"@\S+"
path = r'C:\Users\Pythonista'

# Triple quotes, triple the fun; ideal for multiline or docstrings
def python_function():
    """
    This is a 'docstring'.
    Triple double quotes are the life of the 'docstring' party!
    """
    
# Get symbolic with single quotes
flag = 'v'  # Victory or Verbose? Context knows best!
config_key = 'api_key'  # API key, not guardians of galaxy's Starlord's key!

# All talks and texts with double quotes
welcome_message = "Welcome to the Python world!"  # (Python says "Hi!")

# Stay consistent, young Padawan! Style Guides are your lightsabers.
settings = {'theme': 'light', 'language': 'en'}  # One quote to bind them all

Deep Dive into Quote Usage

JSON-like structures and dictionaries

While double quotes may often seem pleasing to the eye with JSON-like structures, single quotes can make your dictionaries less distracting:

data = '{"name": "John", "age": 30}'  # Feels just like JSON! Double q-ooty!
settings = {'theme': 'dark', 'language': 'en'}  # Quick, clean, single, nifty!

Typing efficiency

Escaping into the world of real-life coding, depending on your keyboard layout, you might find the single quotes quicker to type. Think Shift + ' for " vs. just ' for '. Small things, big wins!

Deep Dive into Your Code

C/C++ habits die hard?

If you're a C or C++ migrant, using single quotes for single characters would be ingrained in your habits:

c_char = 'a'    # C? She is single - she allows only a single character.

Team player

You have a team convention? Stick to it! Honestly though, you don't want to be "that guy".

Where triple quotes shine

We've saved the best for the last. Triple quotes are the glam stars of the Python quote world. Want multiline strings? Check. Need docstrings? Check. Have some strings within strings? Checkmate!

haiku = """An old silent pond
A frog jumps into the pond—
Splash! Silence again."""  # Any doubt about multiline strings?

def hello_pandas():
    """Pandas are cute.
    They also make coding in Python cute.
    Be a panda. Use Pandas."""  # Docstrings love triple quotes!
    
html_content = """<html>
<head><title>'Life' "is"</title></head>
<body><p>A journey.</p></body>
</html>"""  # HTML within Python! Triple quotes for the win!