Execute python commands passed as strings in command line using python -c

Question

Is it possible to execute python commands passed as strings using python -c? can someone give an example.

Can you share with us what you have tried so far? – Levon May 26 '12 at 18:02 — Levon, May 26 '12 at 18:02
actually, I was looking for how to use python -c "" format. – honeybadger Jun 08 '12 at 18:38 — honeybadger, Jun 08 '12 at 18:38

score 68 · Answer 1 · answered Jun 07 '15 at 05:47

68

You can use -c to get Python to execute a string. For example:

python3 -c "print(5)"

However, there doesn't seem to be a way to use escape characters (e.g. \n). So, if you need them, use a pipe from echo -e or printf instead. For example:

$ printf "import sys\nprint(sys.path)" | python3

answered Jun 07 '15 at 05:47

Kevin

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`python3 -c "import sys; print(sys.path)"` is simpler. – mattmc3 Jul 20 '16 at 22:15
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@mattmc3 You can't end a block (where indentation would decrease) with a semicolon. So it's more limited; you can't, for example, create a function and then actually call it, or use an if-else, or even an if followed by unconditional code. But (where possible) that is simpler. – Kevin Jul 23 '16 at 22:01

Ignacio Vazquez-Abrams · Accepted Answer · 2016-11-15T15:43:24.283

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For a single string you can use python -c. But for strings as the question asks, you must pass them to stdin:

$ python << EOF
> import sys
> print sys.version
> EOF
2.7.3 (default, Apr 13 2012, 20:16:59) 
[GCC 4.6.3 20120306 (Red Hat 4.6.3-2)]

edited Nov 15 '16 at 15:43

answered May 26 '12 at 18:19

Ignacio Vazquez-Abrams

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I found the answer. just copy paste this on the terminal. python -c "import sys; x = 'hello world'; print x;" – honeybadger May 29 '12 at 14:25
That's *a* string. If you want *strings* then you need to feed them to stdin. – Ignacio Vazquez-Abrams May 29 '12 at 17:36

Execute python commands passed as strings in command line using python -c

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