Does Python have a built-in function for unindenting a multiline string?

Does Python have a built-in function for unindenting a multiline string?

Python does not have a built-in function specifically for unindenting a multiline string. However, you can achieve this by using some string manipulation techniques. Here's a common way to unindent a multiline string in Python:

def unindent(text):
    # Split the text into lines
    lines = text.split('\n')

    # Determine the minimum leading whitespace
    min_indent = float('inf')
    for line in lines:
        stripped_line = line.lstrip()
        if stripped_line:
            min_indent = min(min_indent, len(line) - len(stripped_line))

    # Remove the common leading whitespace from each line
    unindented_lines = [line[min_indent:] for line in lines]

    # Join the lines back together
    result = '\n'.join(unindented_lines)

    return result

# Example usage:
multiline_text = '''
    This is a multiline
    string with indentation.
        It has varying levels
            of indentation.
'''

unindented_text = unindent(multiline_text)
print(unindented_text)

In this example, the unindent() function:

  1. Splits the multiline string into individual lines using text.split('\n').

  2. Determines the minimum leading whitespace by iterating through the lines and finding the smallest amount of leading whitespace that is not purely whitespace.

  3. Removes the common leading whitespace from each line by slicing each line from the minimum indentation length to the end.

  4. Joins the unindented lines back together using '\n'.join().

After running this code, unindented_text will contain the multiline string with consistent or no leading indentation, making it suitable for display or further processing.

Examples

  1. "Python unindent multiline string example" Description: This query seeks an example demonstrating how to unindent a multiline string in Python.

    # Example of unindenting a multiline string in Python
multiline_string = """
    This is a multiline string
    That needs to be unindented
    So it can be properly formatted
"""
unindented_string = textwrap.dedent(multiline_string)
print(unindented_string)

  2. "How to remove indentation from a Python string?" Description: This query aims to find a method to remove indentation from a Python string.

    # Removing indentation from a Python string using textwrap.dedent()
import textwrap

indented_string = """
    This is an indented string
        With multiple levels of indentation
            That needs to be fixed
"""
fixed_string = textwrap.dedent(indented_string)
print(fixed_string)

  3. "Python dedent function example" Description: This query looks for an example illustrating the usage of Python's dedent function.

    # Example demonstrating the usage of textwrap.dedent() function
import textwrap

indented_text = """
    This is an example
        Of using textwrap.dedent()
            To remove indentation
"""
dedented_text = textwrap.dedent(indented_text)
print(dedented_text)

  4. "How to unindent string in Python?" Description: This query seeks a method or function to unindent strings in Python.

    # Unindenting a string in Python using textwrap.dedent()
import textwrap

indented_text = """
    This is a string
        With indentation
            That needs to be removed
"""
unindented_text = textwrap.dedent(indented_text)
print(unindented_text)

  5. "Python remove whitespace from multiline string" Description: This query targets removing excess whitespace from a multiline string in Python.

    # Removing excess whitespace from a multiline string in Python
import textwrap

multiline_string = """
    This is a multiline string
    With some whitespace to be removed
    
    \t\tExtra tabs and newlines
"""
clean_string = textwrap.dedent(multiline_string)
print(clean_string)

  6. "Example of Python dedent usage" Description: This query looks for an example demonstrating the usage of Python's dedent function.

    # Example showing the usage of textwrap.dedent() in Python
import textwrap

indented_string = """
    This is an example
        Of using textwrap.dedent()
            To fix indentation
"""
fixed_string = textwrap.dedent(indented_string)
print(fixed_string)

  7. "Python unindent string function" Description: This query specifically looks for a function or method in Python to unindent strings.

    # Function to unindent a string in Python using textwrap.dedent()
import textwrap

def unindent_string(text):
    return textwrap.dedent(text)

indented_text = """
    This is a string
        That needs to be unindented
            For proper formatting
"""
unindented_text = unindent_string(indented_text)
print(unindented_text)

  8. "How to fix indentation in Python string?" Description: This query aims to find a solution for fixing indentation issues in Python strings.

    # Fixing indentation in a Python string using textwrap.dedent()
import textwrap

indented_text = """
    This is a string
        With indentation
            That needs to be corrected
"""
corrected_text = textwrap.dedent(indented_text)
print(corrected_text)

  9. "Python dedent string example" Description: This query seeks an example illustrating how to dedent a string in Python.

    # Example of dedenting a string in Python using textwrap.dedent()
import textwrap

indented_string = """
    This is a string
        With indentation
            That needs to be dedented
"""
dedented_string = textwrap.dedent(indented_string)
print(dedented_string)

  10. "Remove Python string indentation" Description: This query aims to find a method to remove indentation from Python strings.

    # Removing indentation from a Python string using textwrap.dedent()
import textwrap

indented_string = """
    This is a string
        With indentation
            That needs to be cleaned
"""
cleaned_string = textwrap.dedent(indented_string)
print(cleaned_string)

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