Blog_Banner_Asset
    Homebreadcumb forward arrow iconBlogbreadcumb forward arrow iconData Sciencebreadcumb forward arrow iconPython Split Function: Overview of Split Function ()

Python Split Function: Overview of Split Function ()

Last updated:
25th May, 2023
Views
Read Time
7 Mins
share image icon
In this article
Chevron in toc
View All
Python Split Function: Overview of Split Function ()

Introduction to the split() function in Python

Split function in Python is a string manipulation tool that helps you to easily handle a big string into smaller strings by splitting it. This function works as opposed to the concatenation of strings, which combines various strings into one. It assesses a string and isolates when it observes a separator that has already been specified. 

If the split function doesn’t find any predefined separator from the Python split list, it, by default, utilises white space. Moreover, the function returns a list comprising words post separating a line or string using a delimiter string like the comma (,) character.

Wondering how to use split function in Python? Keep reading to understand all about this function for improved implementation!

Check out our free courses to get an edge over the competition.

Basic Syntax and Parameters

Here’s the syntax of the Python split function:

string.split(separator,max)

Let’s understand the meaning of each of these parameters:

Separator:

The separator tells Python where to split the string. Essentially, it performs as a delimiter and separates strings based on the predefined separator. The string splits at your mentioned separator. This parameter is an option, so if you don’t specify a separator, the split function will leverage white space as the default separator.

It works as a predefined Python split string by character, which is placed between each variable present in the output.

Maxsplit:

You must understand the importance of this parameter if you want to learn how to use split function in Python. It is a number that informs exactly how many times a string is required to be split. It is optional. So, if it is not specified, the default value is -1.

There is no limit on the value of Maxsplit which implies that there is no bound on how many times a string can be split.

After the function breaks the string by the mentioned separator, it returns a Python split list of strings.

Usually, these parameters work on split string Python by character.

Learn data science courses online from the World’s top Universities. Earn Executive PG Programs, Advanced Certificate Programs, or Masters Programs to fast-track your career.

Splitting a String into a List of Substrings

In Python, splitting a string into a list consisting of a delimiter means that the output shows a subdivided list of substrings. Any delimiter can work like a separator in the Python split string function to break into a list of strings.

Here’s an instance of how a string can be split into a list :

str = “Year-Month-Day”
print(str.split(“-”))

Here’s the output:

['Year', 'Month', 'Day']

In the above example of Python split string by character, the str variable is declared with a string containing dash characters (-) in between, used as a separator. This operation divides the string every time it sees a dash. The corresponding output of split string Python by character is a list of substrings.

Specifying the Separator for Splitting

The default separator in Python split string is any whitespace.

Here’s an example demonstrating how to specify the separator for splitting.

subj = 'English,Geography,Maths, GK'
print(subj.split(','))
vegetables = 'potato$onion$cabbage$peas'
print(vegetables.split('$'))

Output

['English', 'Geography', 'Maths', ‘GK’]
['potato', 'onion', 'cabbage', 'peas']

In the first example above, the subj.split(‘,’) function specifies a comma as a separator.

In the second example above, the vegetables.split(‘$’) mentions the $ symbol as a separator. Hence, the split() method splits a string at each separator and incorporates each part of a string into a list.

Explore our Popular Data Science Courses

Limiting the Number of Splits

You can limit the number of splits by simply specifying the number in the second parameter of the Python split function.

The below example limits the split by mentioning the number in the maxsplit parameter.

subj = 'English,Geography,Maths, GK'
print(subj.split(',', 2))
vegetables = 'potato$tomato$onion$peas'
print(vegetables.split('$', 2))

Output:

['English', 'Geography', 'Maths, GK']
['potato', 'tomato', 'onion$peas']

In the above example, the subj.split(‘,’, 2) defines 2 as maxsplit argument. Hence, it splits the subj string 2 times, and the list object contains four elements. The third element shows the remaining string.

In the vegetables.split(‘$’, 2) function, the string is split up two times. The returned list consists of three elements.

Splitting a String from the End

There is a split method in Python that splits the string from the end of the string. The built-in Python function rsplit() splits the string on the delimiter’s last occurrence.

Here is the syntax of rsplit() function.

rsplit("delimiter", argument)
Example:
rsplit("delimiter",1)

In the above rsplit() function, 1 is passed as the argument. Hence, it breaks the string by only taking one delimiter from the end. If the string contains more than one delimiter and if 2 is passed as an argument, then the rsplit function will split the string from the second last delimiter as well as the last delimiter.

Removing Whitespace with split()

The following steps help you to remove whitespace using the split method in Python.

Step 1: Split a string and remove whitespace:

This step involves using the str.split() method to split a string into a list. It uses a delimiter to split a string into a list of substrings.

The only argument involved in this method is a separator. It splits the string every time a comma appears. 

Step 2:  Using a list of comprehension to iterate on the strings list.

This step allows the user to define a list of comprehension for which the list of strings must be iterated.

Step 3: Using the str.strip() method:

This step uses the str.strip() method on every iteration to eliminate any leading or following whitespace from the string. The method returns a copy of the string in which the leading and trailing whitespace is removed.

Top Data Science Skills to Learn to upskill

Handling Empty Strings and Other Edge Cases

When using the.split() method, there may be situations in which the output list incorporates missing values or empty strings. The split() method will show the ValueError if a separator has an empty string.

Let’s understand how the split function handles empty strings with the following example.

data = ",potato,onion,cabbage,,peas,"
vegetables = data.split(',')
print(vegetables)

Output:

['', 'potato', 'onion', ‘cabbage’, '', 'peas', '']

The above output is not ideal due to the empty strings. You can use a list of comprehension to remove those empty strings from the defined list. Here’s how to do it:

vegetables = ['', 'onion', 'radish', 'coriander', '']
vegetables = [vegetable for vegetable in vegetables if vegetable != '']
print(vegetables)

Output:

['onion', 'radish', 'coriander']

Performance Considerations

The split function in Python offers an efficient way to parse strings. The best way to make the most of it is by knowing its performance considerations for accurate implementation. Let’s navigate some of the most prominent ones:

Size of the String: As splitting a large string can be a pretty time-taking process, especially if the string is not cached in memory- a split() function’s performance is significantly affected by an input string’s size.

Delimiter: The split() function uses regular expressions to split strings, which can get slower for complex delimiters. Simple delimiters like space, tab and commas take lesser time to split.

Number of splits: If the number of splits is expansive, it can cause the function to leverage more resources and run slower. To limit the number of splits, you can utilise the optional maxsplit parameter.

Memory usage: The split() function generates a new list object every time it splits a string. Challenges such as memory issues are bound to occur while dealing with larger strings. One way to mitigate this is by using a generator expression, which does not create a new list object but instead generates the split strings on-the-fly.

Conclusion and Further Learning Opportunities.

To sum up, the split() function is a versatile tool that can be used in a wide range of Python programs and applications. It is particularly useful when working with text data or when manipulating strings.

We hope our blog offered you enough insight to strengthen your Python basics and advance into your career. However, do you think acing the basics is all that you need to get started?

Along with the right approach, what more can be a fuel to advance your career?

Explore outstanding career opportunities in the data science domain by pursuing Python Programming Bootcamp from upGrad

It is extremely beneficial for aspiring beginners in coding to embark on a bright career in data science. The exceptional benefits of pursuing this course include doubt-clearing sessions, practice coding questions, live interactive classes, learning from industry experts, and more.

In addition to mastering Python programming, upGrad also assists you in elevating your career as a data scientist by pursuing courses like Master of Science in Data Science from LJMU and Executive PG Programme in Data Science from IIIT Bangalore. These programs allow you to inherit in-demand skills that industry experts and leading faculty extend post and in-depth evaluation. 

Kickstart your career with upGrad!

Frequently Asked Questions

Profile

Rohit Sharma

Blog Author
Rohit Sharma is the Program Director for the UpGrad-IIIT Bangalore, PG Diploma Data Analytics Program.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1What are the benefits of using the Split function in Python?

Split function in Python is valuable when you must break down a huge string into smaller strings. It lets you easily analyse and infer conclusions while helping you decode uniquely encrypted strings.

2Mention some of the tips when using Split function in Python:

If you need to split a string multiple times, it can be more efficient to cache the split results rather than re-splitting the string each time. On the other hand, if you encounter any issue while working with the split function, you can inform the compiler to consider the variable as a string with syntax as str(x).

Explore Free Courses

Suggested Blogs

17 Must Read Pandas Interview Questions & Answers [For Freshers & Experienced]
50226
Pandas is a BSD-licensed and open-source Python library offering high-performance, easy-to-use data structures, and data analysis tools. Python with P
Read More

by Rohit Sharma

04 Oct 2023

13 Interesting Data Structure Project Ideas and Topics For Beginners [2023]
223585
In the world of computer science, data structure refers to the format that contains a collection of data values, their relationships, and the function
Read More

by Rohit Sharma

03 Oct 2023

How To Remove Excel Duplicate: Deleting Duplicates in Excel
1327
Ever wondered how to tackle the pesky issue of duplicate data in Microsoft Excel? Well, you’re not alone! Excel has become a powerhouse tool, es
Read More

by Keerthi Shivakumar

26 Sep 2023

Python Free Online Course with Certification [2023]
122302
Summary: In this Article, you will learn about python free online course with certification. Programming with Python: Introduction for Beginners Lea
Read More

by Rohit Sharma

20 Sep 2023

Information Retrieval System Explained: Types, Comparison & Components
53023
An information retrieval (IR) system is a set of algorithms that facilitate the relevance of displayed documents to searched queries. In simple words,
Read More

by Rohit Sharma

19 Sep 2023

40 Scripting Interview Questions & Answers [For Freshers & Experienced]
13611
For those of you who use any of the major operating systems regularly, you will be interacting with one of the two most critical components of an oper
Read More

by Rohit Sharma

17 Sep 2023

Best Capstone Project Ideas & Topics in 2023
2572
Capstone projects have become a cornerstone of modern education, offering students a unique opportunity to bridge the gap between academic learning an
Read More

by Rohit Sharma

15 Sep 2023

4 Types of Data: Nominal, Ordinal, Discrete, Continuous
295445
Summary: In this Article, you will learn about 4 Types of Data Qualitative Data Type Nominal Ordinal Quantitative Data Type Discrete Continuous R
Read More

by Rohit Sharma

14 Sep 2023

Data Science Course Eligibility Criteria: Syllabus, Skills & Subjects
46297
Summary: In this article, you will learn in detail about Course Eligibility Demand Who is Eligible? Curriculum Subjects & Skills The Science Beh
Read More

by Rohit Sharma

14 Sep 2023

Schedule 1:1 free counsellingTalk to Career Expert
icon
footer sticky close icon