Question

What will the following code display? mystring = 'abcdefg' print (mystring \([:])\)

Short answer

Answer: The output of the given code will be 'abcdefg'.

Step-by-step solution

Understand the given code

The given code first assigns the string 'abcdefg' to a variable named 'mystring'. After that, the 'print()' function is trying to print a sliced portion of the 'mystring' variable using the slicing operation denoted by '[:]' within the print function.

Learn about string slicing in Python

String slicing in Python is a method to extract a subset of a string by specifying the start and end indices enclosed in square brackets. The format to slice a string is 'string_name[start:end]', where 'start' denotes the starting index of the slice (inclusive) and 'end' denotes the end index of the slice (exclusive). If the start and end indices are omitted, the slicing operation returns the complete string.

Apply string slicing to the given code

As per the given code, the slicing operation is 'mystring\([:]\)'. Here, both the start and end indices are omitted, meaning it will extract the entire string as a slice.

Determine the output

Based on the string slicing, the print() function will output the complete string 'abcdefg' as there are no start and end indices mentioned to slice a particular portion. So, the output of the given code will be: abcdefg

Key concepts

String manipulation in Python

Understanding how to work with strings is a fundamental skill in Python programming, as text manipulation comes into play in a plethora of everyday coding tasks. String manipulation involves altering, slicing, concatenating, or analyzing text data. In Python, strings are immutable, meaning they cannot be changed after they are created. However, we can still perform operations that create new strings as a result of these manipulations.

Consider the example where we have the string 'Python' and we want to create a new string 'Pyt'. We do so not by changing the original string, but by creating a new one through slicing, a robust feature that extracts a portion of the string. Another common manipulation includes changing the string's case, replacing certain characters, or even splitting a string into a list of substrings based on a delimiter. These operations are facilitated by built-in methods like lower(), replace(), and split(), respectively. By combining these methods and slicing, you can tackle complex text processing tasks efficiently.

Python slicing syntax

Slicing in Python is not only intuitive but also incredibly flexible, allowing you to extract parts of various data types, such as strings, lists, and tuples. The slicing syntax uses square brackets with the format [start:end:step], where 'start' is the index where slicing starts, 'end' is where it stops (but does not include this index itself), and 'step' determines the interval between indices.

For instance, mystring[1:5] would yield a substring beginning at index 1 and ending at index 4. Leaving out 'start' and 'end', as in mystring[:], implies the full extent of the string should be used. A negative 'step', like mystring[::-1], would reverse the string. This flexible syntax shows how slicing can be tailored for different scenarios, making it an indispensable tool in the programmer's toolbox.

Introduction to Python programming

Python is renowned for its readability and ease of use, making it an excellent choice for beginners in programming. The language adopts a philosophy that emphasizes code readability and a syntax that allows developers to express concepts in fewer lines of code than languages such as C++ or Java.

One of Python's strong points is its extensive standard library, which includes modules and functions for variable types, file operations, system calls, and even Internet protocols. Python supports various programming paradigms, including object-oriented, imperative, and functional programming, providing a versatile tool for developers.

Beginners often kickstart their Python journey with foundational concepts such as data types, control structures, and functions. As they advance, they delve into more complex territories like classes, exception handling, and file I/O. The language's community-driven nature further enriches the learning experience with a wealth of resources, tutorials, and third-party libraries contributing to its position as one of the most popular programming languages today.