django/python variables inside strings?

Question

I'm new to python and would like some assistance.

I have a variable

q = request.GET['q']

How do I insert the variable q inside this:

url = "http://search.com/search?term="+q+"&location=sf"

Now I'm not sure what the convention is? I'm used to PHP or javascript, but I'm learning python and how do you insert a variable dynamically?

score 5 · Accepted Answer · answered Sep 27 '12 at 06:27

5

Use the format method of String:

url = "http://search.com/search?term={0}&location=sf".format(q)

But of course you should URL-encode the q:

import urllib
...
qencoded = urllib.quote_plus(q)
url = 
  "http://search.com/search?term={0}&location=sf".format(qencoded)

answered Sep 27 '12 at 06:27

craigmj

4,827
2
18
22

I've also seen sometimes using %? Why the difference? Thanks! – hellomello Sep 27 '12 at 06:36
You could use the % approach, but it's the 'old' approach : `url = "http://...?term=%s&location=s" % (qencoded,)` For a full discussion see http://stackoverflow.com/questions/5082452/python-string-formatting-vs-format – craigmj Sep 27 '12 at 13:48

score 2 · Answer 2 · answered Sep 27 '12 at 06:41

One way to do it is using urllib.urlencode(). It accepts a dictionary(or associative array or whatever you call it) taking key-value pairs as parameter and value and you can encode it to form urls

    from urllib import urlencode  
    myurl = "http://somewebsite.com/?"  
    parameter_value_pairs = {"q":"q_value","r":"r_value"}  
    req_url = url +  urlencode(parameter_value_pair)

This will give you "http://somewebsite.com/?q=q_value&r=r_value"

score 2 · Answer 3 · answered Sep 27 '12 at 07:07

2

q = request.GET['q']
url = "http://search.com/search?term=%s&location=sf" % (str(q))

Use this it will be faster...

answered Sep 27 '12 at 07:07

Northlondoner

27
2

django/python variables inside strings?

3 Answers3