Python chr() Function

The Python chr() function takes one number as argument that is the specified Unicode and returns the character associated to this Unicode argument. For example, the call chr(101) returns the Unicode character 'e'. The allowed range of arguments are all integers between 0 and 1,114,111 (included)—integers outside this interval will raise a ValueError.

Here are three examples of passed Unicode numbers transformed into Unicode characters using the chr() built-in function:

>>> chr(65)
'A'
>>> chr(66)
'B'
>>> chr(8364)
'€'

The syntax is very straightforward:

Syntax: chr(i)

Here are some basic usages of the function:

Input : chr(65)
Output : 'A'

Input : chr(66)
Output : 'B'

Input : chr(8364)
Output : '€'

Now, you may ask: what options do you have to pass as an integer? How does the Unicode encoding look like? Let’s dive into the Unicode table next!

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Unicode Table

Here’s a small part of the massive Unicode table that maps each Unicode symbol to a decimal number:

By passing the number from the third column into the chr() function, you obtain the associated Unicode symbol in the third column. Go ahead, try it yourself!

Tool: Integer to Unicode in Python

How to convert an integer number to a Unicode symbol in Python? Use the chr(i) function and pass the integer number as an argument!

Exercise: Try to obtain the Unicode symbol ð from the above table by changing the code in the interactive code shell!

ValueError: chr() arg not in range(0x110000)

If you experience the ValueError: chr() arg not in range(0x110000) message, you use the chr() function with a wrong argument i. The argument i is either smaller than 0 or larger than 1,114,111. You can fix it by passing an integer 0 <= i <= 1114111.

Here’s an example of two wrong arguments i=-1 and i=1114112 that cause the ValueError, and one correct argument i=1114111:

>>> chr(0)
'\x00'
>>> chr(-1)
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "<pyshell#14>", line 1, in <module>
    chr(-1)
ValueError: chr() arg not in range(0x110000)
>>> chr(1114112)
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "<pyshell#15>", line 1, in <module>
    chr(1114112)
ValueError: chr() arg not in range(0x110000)
>>> chr(1114111)
'\U0010ffff'

How to Convert a Unicode Integer to a String?

To convert a Unicode number i to the associated Unicode symbol, use the chr(i) function. For example, the result of chr(65) is the Unicode symbol 'A'. The inverse function is the ord(x) that converts Unicode symbol 'A' back to integer 65.

>>> chr(65)
'A'

How to Convert a Unicode Symbol to an Integer?

To convert a Unicode symbol x to the associated Unicode integer number, use the ord(x) function. For example, the result of ord('A') is the Unicode integer 65. The inverse function is the chr(i) that converts Unicode integer 65 back to Unicode symbol 'A'.

>>> ord('A')
65

Summary

The Python chr() function takes one number as argument that is the specified Unicode and returns the character associated to this Unicode argument.

For example, the call chr(101) returns the Unicode character 'e':

>>> chr(101)
'e'

The allowed range of arguments are all integers between 0 and 1,114,111 (included)—integers outside this interval will raise a ValueError:

>>> chr(-1)
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "<pyshell#12>", line 1, in <module>
    chr(-1)
ValueError: chr() arg not in range(0x110000)

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