How to check multiple consecutive spaces in a string with python?

Question

I want to find multiple spaces in a string using python. How to check if multiple spaces exist in a string?

mystring = 'this   is a test'

I have tried the below code but it does not work.

if bool(re.search(' +', ' ', mystring))==True:
    # ....

The result must return True.

Can you elaborate more on your question? Also, can you post what you've tried so far? — Marsilinou Zaky, Aug 31 '20 at 07:09
Does this answer your question? [Python - Check multiple white spaces in string](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/46360424/python-check-multiple-white-spaces-in-string) — Karthik, Aug 31 '20 at 07:12

deadshot · Accepted Answer · 2020-08-31T07:17:05.060

2

You can use split() if you give no delimiter it will consider space as delimiter. after split check the length.If the length is greater than one it has spaces.

mystring = 'this   is a test'

if len(mystring.split()) > 1:
    #do something

edited Aug 31 '20 at 07:17

answered Aug 31 '20 at 07:11

deadshot

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JaniniRami · Answer 2 · 2020-08-31T07:46:05.307

1

You can use re and compare the strings like this:

import re

mystring = 'this  is a test'
new_str = re.sub(' +', ' ', mystring)


if mystring == new_str:
    print('There are no multiple spaces')
else:
    print('There are multiple spaces')

edited Aug 31 '20 at 07:46

answered Aug 31 '20 at 07:14

JaniniRami

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score 1 · Answer 3 · answered Aug 31 '20 at 07:15

1

You can use the string.count() method: If you want to check if multiple (more than one and no matter what their length) spaces exist the code is:

mystring.count(' ')>1

If you want to check if there is at least one consecutive space the code is:

mystring.count('  ')>=1

answered Aug 31 '20 at 07:15

IoaTzimas

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if that's what you want, just use `in` – Patrick Parker Aug 31 '20 at 23:52

score 0 · Answer 4 · answered Aug 31 '20 at 07:21

The syntax you use for re.search is wrong. It should be re.search(pattern, string, flags=0).

So, you can just do, searching for 2 or more spaces:

import re

def contains_multiple_spaces(s):
    return bool(re.search(r' {2,}', s))

contains_multiple_spaces('no multiple spaces')
# False

contains_multiple_spaces('here   are multiple spaces')
# True

How to check multiple consecutive spaces in a string with python?

4 Answers4