Concatenation

Concatenation#

In most programming languages, concatenation involves adding or joining character strings.

For example, we could concatenate the strings Hello and world to create a Hello world message.

Examples#

In Python, we use the plus sign + to concatenate strings.

One option is to use concatenation as part of a print() statement:

# concatenation in a print statement
print("Hello " + "World!")

We can also use concatenation with string variables.

# concatenation with string variables
x = "Hello"
y = "World"

# concatenation with a print statement
print(x + y)

# conatenation with variable assignment
z = x + y
print(z)

We can compare string concatenation to how the addition operator (+) interacts with numeric values.

# numeric 'concatenation' in a print statement
print(5 + 7)

# numeric 'concatenation' with variable assignment
x = 5
y = 7
z = x + y
print(z)

NOTE: In Python, concatenation operations or the + operator will only work on variables or values of a common type.

# trying concatenation with an integer and string
year = 2023
school = "Notre Dame"

print(school + ", Class of " + year)

In the last section of this chapter, we’ll talk about how to convert data types to address this issue.

Comprehension Check#

Clipboard icon Concatenation Comprehension Check

Application#

Q4: Write a program that creates first_name and last_name variables, and then uses concatenation to output a full_name variable. Answer to this question includes program + comments that document process and explain your code.

Q5: Create variables for each of the discrete pieces of information in “the standard Notre Dame introduction.”

  • Name

  • Class year

  • Home state/country

  • Major(s) / minor(s)

  • Residence hall

Use concatenation in combination with a print() statement to output a narrative introduction using the named variables.

Answer to this question includes program + comments that document process and explain your code.

Sample output for this program:

I'm Knute Rockne, class of 1914. I'm majoring in pharmacy and originally from Norway but grew up in Chicago. I live in Sorin Hall.
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