(Python 2.7) Regex Replace with similar character in replacement string as in pattern

Question

import re
pattern = re.compile(r"/")
a = "a/b"

I tried

re.sub(pattern, '\/', a) 
#(also, a.replace('/', '\/'))
#output
a\\/b

What I want is

a\/b

Try: ```x=re.sub(pattern, '\/', a) ``` and then ```print(x)```. It's already correct — Grzegorz Skibinski, Dec 19 '19 at 14:40
@GrzegorzSkibinski I have python 2.7 and it's not working. maybe it would be working in 3.x. — vb_rises, Dec 19 '19 at 14:42
yeah, if you print the results, you get `a\/b` and not sure why you are using `re.sub` instead of `pattern.sub('\/', a)` — Sundeep, Dec 19 '19 at 14:43

score 1 · Accepted Answer · answered Dec 19 '19 at 14:41

1

a.replace('/', '\\/')

the first \ is an escape character, so you need to type it twice to have the real \.

answered Dec 19 '19 at 14:41

User

what version of python you are using? – vb_rises Dec 19 '19 at 14:47
1

I'm using Python 3.7, but it works also in 2.7 – User Dec 20 '19 at 07:29
1

yes, you are correct. Actually I was running in jupyter and without print() statement, otherwise it is fine. – vb_rises Dec 20 '19 at 13:37

score 1 · Answer 2 · answered Dec 19 '19 at 14:45

1

You can use if it's not compulsory to use regex:

a = "a/b"
a=a.replace("/","\/")
print(a)

answered Dec 19 '19 at 14:45

Brian Brix

2 Answers2