How to convert 'binary string' to normal string in Python3?

python string python-3.x binary
Hanfei Sun picture Hanfei Sun · Jul 12, 2013 · Viewed 344.3k times · Source

For example, I have a string like this(return value of subprocess.check_output):

>>> b'a string'
b'a string'

Whatever I did to it, it is always printed with the annoying b' before the string:

>>> print(b'a string')
b'a string'
>>> print(str(b'a string'))
b'a string'

Does anyone have any ideas about how to use it as a normal string or convert it into a normal string?

Answer

falsetru picture falsetru · Jul 12, 2013

Decode it.

>>> b'a string'.decode('ascii')
'a string'

To get bytes from string, encode it.

>>> 'a string'.encode('ascii')
b'a string'

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