Python’s built-in input() function reads a string from the standard input. The function blocks until such input becomes available and the user hits ENTER. You can add an optional prompt string as an argument to print a custom string to the standard output without a trailing newline character to tell the user that your program expects their input.
Here’s a minimal example of how the input() function can be used without argument to capture the user input:
>>> s = input() 42 >>> s '42'
The user input is now stored in the variable s for further processing.
You can also ask the user for input so that they know that the program waits for them to type anything in:
>>> x = input('your input:')
your input:42
>>> x
'42'
🌍 Recommended Tutorial: How to Create a Python Variable At Runtime Based on a User String Input?
Python input() Video
Python input() Syntax and Examples
The Python input() method reads a line of text from standard input and returns it as a string. It can also be used to read user input from the keyboard and store it in a variable, or to prompt the user for input so you can ask questions and get answers.
Syntax: input(prompt=None)| Argument | prompt | Optional. A string that is printed to the shell without trailing newline. This is often used to ask the user for input. |
| Return Value | string | Input read from the standard input. |
Another simple example:
name = input("What's your name? ")
print("Hello, " + name + "!")Python input() vs raw_input()
The key differences between raw_input() and input() functions are the following:
- You can use
raw_input()only in Python 2.x. It’s obsolete in Python 3.x and above and has been renamedinput() - In Python 2.x,
raw_input()returns a string whereasinput()returns result of an evaluation. Whereas in Python 3.xinput()returns a string but can be converted to another type like a number.
| Python 2.x | Python 3.x | |
raw_input() | ◆ raw_input() accepts input as it is, i.e. exactly as the input has been entered by the user and returns a string.◆ Since it accepts the input as it is, it does not expect the input to be syntactically correct. | ◆ raw_input() is obsolete and no longer a part of Python 3.x and above. |
input() | ◆ input() accepts the input from the user as a statement or expression and returns the output after evaluating the input. In other words, it accepts the user entry as raw_input(), performs an eval() on it, and then returns the result as output.◆ It expects a syntactically correct input (statement/expression) from the user. | ◆ In Python 3.x, raw_input() has been replaced by input(). This means that the input() function performs the same operation in Python 3.x as raw_input() used to do in Python 2. Thus input() accepts and returns a string in Python 3.x and above. |
Learn more about the differences of Python’s input() function and the raw_input() function in our blog tutorial:
🌍 Recommended Tutorial: Python raw_input() vs input()
Summary
Python’s built-in input() function reads a string from the standard input.
The function blocks until such input becomes available.
>>> s = input() 42 >>> s '42'
You can add an optional prompt string as an argument to print a custom string to the standard output without a trailing newline character to tell the user that your program expects their input.
>>> x = input('your input:')
your input:42
>>> x
'42'Want to keep improving your Python skills? Check out our free Python cheat sheets:
Where to Go From Here?
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