How to Compare Strings In Python? (With Example and Code)

Do you know how to compare strings in Python? Have you ever thought what are the possible methods to compare strings in Python? If you’re curious to know about the methods for comparison then this article is for you.

But before we start writing about the methods to compare strings in Python. We must try to think why we need to compare strings in Python. Then we will approach how to compare strings in Python.

Also, if you need Python coding assignment help then you can always hire the best Python tutors from CodingZap.

Let us try to assume one scenario.

Real-Life Example:

Suppose, we went to your bank. There you need to withdraw some amount from your bank account. And you don’t have the cheque option to withdraw the desired amount. So, you used one withdrawal slip from the bank. You filled up your details & other necessary information. When your turn comes up at the cash counter, the authority denied you to provide the amount. Why did that happen to you?

They informed you that, you have put the wrong account number there. That is the reason; they can’t able to provide you with the amount. So now, you have to again fill up the new slip. You might find it a usual case. But there is a large comparison processing behind the screen.

This is the basic implementation of this topic. Compare strings Python helps to compare two or more strings. Like in the above example, the original account number doesn’t match your provided account number. So the withdrawal process stopped. If the comparison doesn’t happen at that time, the account-related problem arises.

From the above example, the process of comparing strings in Python programming language is now quite clear to all of you. We will learn more about these when we discuss how to compare two strings in Python programming language. We will also try to discuss the methods for how to check the length of the string in Python & how to check an empty string in Python programming language. So, let us start from scratch.

What Are Strings In Python? Get To Know

Strings are the set of characters in Python programming language. Just like, an array is used as a set of numbers or integers. The strings are used as the set of characters. Every statement can be used as a string. Every word including space can be used inside of a string. A string is known as the character array.

Like an array, there is also an index in the strings. A number can also be used inside the string. So, the numbers or digits will work as the character inside of the strings.

We can use uppercase & lowercase characters there inside of a string. Special characters are also allowed there. We can use the underscore, space, etc. Each of them will act as a character there. They will occupy one index of the character array.

Strings play an important role. In our daily life, we used many strings. Like the name, location, etc. These all are one type of string. In various other programming languages, we need to store some string data. So, for that, a special field was promoted to them. Using string, one can compare them. It will help to distinguish the list of strings.

Here, we will discuss how to compare two strings in Python programming language but before going into that topic, let us first quickly know how to check an empty string in Python programming language. It will clear confusion related to the strings in the Python programming language. Then we will discuss how to check the length of the string in Python programming language. If you are curious to learn Python then you can read this article.

Also, if you want to learn about printing without a newline in Python, then you can check and read it here.

How To Check Empty String In Python Programming Language?

Now, it is time to know how to check empty strings in Python programming language. Here, we will implement one example that will not simply provide the answer to how to check an empty string in Python. But this will also help to know how to check the length of the string in Python programming language. The length of the string in Python programming can be checked using the len() function. It is one of the built-in functions provided in Python. We will implement one example using this len() function.

Example:

Here, we have taken two strings & also we have provided value to them. In one case, a string has the value. And in another case, there is no value provided to the string. Now, we will use the len() function. We need to share the name of the string with the len() function as an argument. Now, the len() function will calculate the length of the string. If there is any value provided, it will send the length of the string. Otherwise, it will print the zero length.

In this case, one string has the value. And in another case, there is no value to the other string. We will use the if-else statement to know the empty string. If the length result is zero, then the string will be a null one or an empty one. The confusion will be removed if you see the example provided here.

General Syntax: len(string-name)

Example:

# Decaring The Strings

String1 = "ZapOne"

String2 = ""

print("Empty String Name: ", end="") # Printing Empty String Name

if(len(String1) == 0): # Checking Empty String Using len()

print("String1")

else:

print("String2")

Let us try to find out the output of the above code. It will help to understand the answer to how to check empty string in Python programming language. Also, it will help to find out how to check the length of the string in Python programming language.

Output:

How To Compare Two Strings In Python Programming Language?

Now, after getting knowledge about how to check the length of the string in Python programming language, we need to know how to compare two strings in Python programming language. For compare strings Python, there are two ways to implement that. In one case, we need to use relational operators. We all know about relational operators. This is mainly used in the numerical comparison. And in another case, we can use the in-build function of the Python programming language. 

Let us make a list of ways to compare strings in Python programming language:

1. Using Relational Operator
2. Using is Method

The above methods will help to compare strings in Python. This topic is based on the previous implementation process. That helps to know how to check length of string in Python programming language. Let us know about each & every method one by one briefly. It will help to understand the topic in a better way.

Also, curious to know about the methods to square numbers in Python then you read our article “How To Square A Number In Python?“

How To Compare Two Strings In Python Programming Language Using Relational Operator?

Now, it is time to discuss how to compare two strings in Python programming language. In comparing strings in Python programming, we need to first focus on the Relational Operators. Relational operators are mainly used in the numerical fields of programming languages. We often used this method to compare two or more integers. There are some operators like Equal To (= =) Operator, Not Equal To (!=) Operator, Greater Than Equal To (< =) Operator, etc. All of these operators can be used for the compare strings Python process also. We will learn about these using two examples.

Example 1: Compare Strings Python Using Equal To & Not Equal To Operators:

While going for the compare strings in Python, we will use the Equal To (= =) Operator first. This operator will compare strings in Python. If two strings are the same, it will return the Boolean value True. If two strings are not equal to each other, it will return the Boolean value False. The Not Equal To operator is the reverse of this process. If two strings are not equal to each other, the function will return the True Boolean value. Otherwise, this will return the False value.

For demonstrating compare strings in Python, we have taken two strings. We have declared those strings. Now we will use the Equal To operator. As those two strings are not equal to each other, it will return the False value first. In the second print() method, we have used Not Equal To Operator. As those strings are not equal to each other, it will return the True value.

# Decaring The Strings

str1 = "CodingZap"

str2 = "ZapOne"

print("Are They Same: ",str1 == str2) # Using Equal To Operator

print("Means They Are Not Equal: ",str1 != str2) # Using Not Equal To Sign

Let us look at the output of the above code. It will help to understand the method to compare strings Python.

Output:

Example 2: Compare Strings Python Using Greater Than & Less Than Operators:

Now again, while we implement compare strings in Python, we can use a different set of operators. They also belong to the Relational Operators. They are known as the Greater Than (>) & Less Than (<) operators. Traditionally, they are used in the numbers to check which one is greater. In the case of comparing strings in Python, they work on the Unicode to get the results. Unicode is a special number of every code by computer science.

Here, we have taken two strings’ values. Now, we are just printing the statements to get the True or False value. The string that will have the larger Unicode combination will be the greater one. And the other one, which has the less number combination of the Unicode will act as the less than a number. The confusion related to this field will be cut out when you will see the implemented example.

# Decaring The Strings

String1 = "ZapOne"

String2 = "CodingZap"

print("String1 Is Less Than String2: ", "String1" < "String 2") # Using Less Than Operator

print("String1 Is Greater Than String2: ", "String1" > "String 2") # Using Greater Than Operator

Let us look at the output of the above code. It will help to understand the method to compare strings Python.

Output:

How To Compare Two Strings In Python Programming Language Using Method?

There is a special method in Python programming language. This is known as the “is” method. This method can be used as a replacement for the Equal To (= =) operator. In the Equal To operator, if two strings are equal to each other, then it provides the True output. In this case also, if two strings are equal to each other, then it will print the True value. Otherwise, it will print the False output.

Here, we have taken two different strings. Now, we will print the return value after comparing the strings using the “is” method. As they are different strings, it will provide the output False.

General Syntax: String1-Name is String2-Name

Example:

# Declaring The Strings

str1 = "CodingZap"

str2 = "ZapOne"

print("Comparing Between Str1 & Str2, Result: : ",str1 is str2) # Using The is Method

Let us look at the output of the above code. It will help to understand the method to compare strings Python.

Output:

Conclusion:

We always remember how to compare strings in the Python section. It will help further in the future.

We need to first clear the basics of the Python programming language. It is always advisable to clear the basic concept before moving to compare strings Python programming language topic.

So, hope you have liked this piece of article. Share your thoughts in the comments section and let us know if we can improve more.

Also, if you guys are looking to get help with other programming languages like Java, then you can check out our article on “How to Compare Two Strings in Java?”.