python - Replacing multiple specific characters in a string

Question

I want to replace multiple characters in a word that only contains dots. For example. I have 4 dots, I have 2 index numbers in a list and a letter.

     word = '....'
     list = [2, 3]
     letter = 'E'

I want to replace the 3rd and 4th (so index 2 and 3) dots in the word with the letter 'E'.

Is there a way to do this? if so how would I do this? I have tried. Replace and other methods but none seem to work.

Sidenote: Don't call things "list" in python, you will overwrite the list constructor list() (at least locally)! — RunOrVeith
– RunOrVeith, Commented Nov 30, 2017 at 17:45

nosklo · Accepted Answer · 2017-11-30 17:44:14Z

2

Strings are immutable in python. You can't change them. You have to create a new string with the contents you want.

In this example I'm using enumerate to number each individual char in the word, and then checking the list of indexes to decide whether to include the original char or the new letter in the new generated word. Then join everything.

new_word = ''.join(letter if n in list else ch for n, ch in enumerate(word))

answered Nov 30, 2017 at 17:44

nosklo

224k58 gold badges300 silver badges299 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

Comments

Ajax1234 · Accepted Answer · 2017-11-30 17:45:11Z

0

You can try this:

word = '....'
list = [2, 3]
letter = 'E'
word = ''.join(a if i not in list else letter for i, a in enumerate(word))

Output:

'..EE'

answered Nov 30, 2017 at 17:45

Ajax1234

71.7k9 gold badges67 silver badges110 bronze badges

2 Comments

Bart S. Over a year ago

Could you explain to me how this works? so i can apply it in other circumstances.

Ajax1234 Over a year ago

@BartS. this solution is using list comprehension to iterate over word and store the current iteration index. Then, the code checks if the index exists in list. If so, letter is stored in the expression. If not, the current character from word is contained.

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

python - Replacing multiple specific characters in a string

2 Answers 2

Comments

2 Comments

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

2 Answers 2

Comments

2 Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related