How To Break Line In Python: Full Explanation
Because Python supports indirect line continuation, it gives you the freedom to break lines of code that are too long. Also, you can limit all the lines of codes up to 79 characters. Besides, you can use Python’s new line character to mark the end of a specific line as well as the beginning of a line. In this post, you can learn how to break long lines and add another new line in Python.
WHAT IS PYTHON’S NEW LINE?
Typically, one of the common practices in coding involves breaking long lines and displaying the content in a newly formed line. As a result, it improves readability to a great extent of the output content.
In addition, you can come across the newly formed line character several times when working with files. Therefore, it is important to understand how you can add a new line by familiarizing yourself with everything that makes the new character line works.
BREAKING LINES OF CODE IN PYTHON:
No doubt, when you break a long line of code, it increases the overall lines of code as well. Apart from that, it improves the readability of the code. However, you should keep in mind that the new line of code shouldn’t exceed more than 79 characters.
As said earlier, Python supports indirect line continuation. It means that all the expressions that you find inside the curly braces, square brackets, or even parenthesis could be broken into simple and multiple lines of code. Here is a great example that would help you to understand better.
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The long print() function is broken into several lines in different ways.
print(“Allen”, “Bob”, “Christine”, “David”, “Edmund”, “Fernando”, “Gabriel”, “Hobart”, “Isaac”)
print(
“Allen”, “Bob”, “Christine”, “David”, “Edmund”, “Fernando”, “Gabriel”, “Hobart”, “Isaac”
)
print(
“Allen”,
“Bob”,
“Christine”,
“David”,
“Edmund”,
“Fernando”,
“Gabriel”,
“Hobart”,
“Isaac”
)
Hence, there are several ways through which you can break lengthy lines of code in Python. Also, you can check out the different official styles on their website that make you understand the best practices that you can think of. However, before you proceed further, don’t forget that there is a unique way that helps you automatize the whole line-breaking procedure.
AUTO BREAKING OF THE LINES OF CODE IN PYTHON
There is no denying that some of the popular code editors that you use in Python allow you to install plugins because of the code style guidelines with ease. The best part about these plugins is that they help you auto-format the long lines of code.
In short, the plugin is responsible to automate the format code without difficulties. It means that the plugin makes sure that no single line exceeds the predetermined limit of 79 characters. In VSCode, for example, you can automatically format a long code when saving the same. Next, let’s discuss some examples where you can split the certain expression into several lines.
BREAKING A STRING TO MULTIPLE LINES OF CODE IN PYTHON:
When it comes to breaking a string into multiple lines, the best way is to wrap every string into a new line between the double quotation marks. Here is an example to clear your doubts.
print(
“It is going to be”
“a long string that”
“it might be a good idea”
“to consider breaking the line”
“without extending it to the right”
)
However, you can’t do the following.
print(
“It is going to be
a long string that
it might be a good idea
to consider breaking the line
without extending it to the right”
)
BREAKING FUNCTION ARGUMENTS TO MULTIPLE LINES:
When your function involves lots of arguments and it results in extending the line of code to the right, you can break the expression into several lines of code in Python. Here is an example.
def example_function(second_number, fourth_number, sixth_number, eighth_number):
pass
So, despite doing the above one, you can do the following instead.
def example_function(
second_number,
fourth_number,
sixth_number,
eighth_number
):
pass
BREAKING A LIST INTO MULTIPLE LINES:
To give you a better understanding, let’s begin by creating a 3×3 matrix using a list.
For example: matrix = [[1, 2, 3], [4, 5, 6], [7, 8, 9]]
Although it might look fine, you should write a matrix in a table format. As such, it would make it look similar to a table comprising values. Now, if you want to convert the same in Python, you have to break the matrix into several lines. Here is how to do it the right way.
matrix = [
[1, 2, 3],
[4, 5, 6],
[7, 8, 9]
]
BREAKING DICTIONARIES INTO MULTIPLE LINES:
You can do the same with a dictionary just like you did when breaking the list declaration into multiple lines. Let’s understand the thing with an example.
student = {“name”: “Allen”, “age”: 23, “married”: False, “graduated”: False, “hobbies”: [“Gym”, “Jogging”, “Boxing”]}
Instead of writing a long-expression like the above one. You can break the dictionary into several lines so that it becomes easy to understand. Here it is.
student = {
“name”: “Allen”,
“age”: 23,
“married”: False,
“graduated”: False,
“hobbies”: [“Gym”, “Jogging”, “Boxing”]
}
BREAKING A MATHEMATICAL OPERATION INTO MULTIPLE LINES:
When it is about breaking a chain of binary operations, you should split the line just before the operator. That way, it will make the code readable because the binary operators aren’t scattered all over the place. Take a look at this example to clear your doubts.
income = gross_wage + tax_interest + (dividend – qualified_dividend) – ira_deductions – student_loans_interests
Instead of doing the above, you can do the following.
income = (gross_wage
+ tax_interest
+ (dividend – qualified_dividend)
– ira_deductions
– student_loans_interest)
BREAKING THE COMPARISONS TO MULTIPLE LINES:
Just like with other expressions, certain comparisons take up a considerable amount of space. Therefore, you can break the line if you don’t want those long lines of comparison. Here is an example.
if (is_raining == True and
is_warm == True and
is_bright == True and
is_dark == True):
print(“How is this possible…?)
CONCLUSION
So, it is clear that the implicit line continuation in Python allows it to break long lines into multiple line expressions. Also, it gives good readability. Hence, you can put line breaks whenever you want.