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Python repr() Function

The repr() function returns a printable representation of an object.

note

The repr() function calls the underlying __repr__() method of the object.

danger

This representation is intended to be unambiguous and, if possible, should be a valid Python expression that could be used to recreate the object by using the eval() function.

Syntax​

repr(obj)

repr() Parameters​

Python repr() function parameters:

ParameterConditionDescription
objRequiredThe object whose printable representation has to be returned

repr() Return Value​

Python repr() function returns a string that is the printable representation of the object.

Examples​

Example 1: Representation of an integer​

x =   10
repr_str = repr(x)

print(repr_str)          # Output: 10
print(type(repr_str))    # Output: <class 'str'>

output

10
<class 'str'>

Example 2: Representation of a String​

s = 'Hello World!'
repr_str = repr(s)

print(repr_str)          # Output: 'Hello World!'
print(type(repr_str))    # Output: <class 'str'>

output

'Hello World!'
<class 'str'>

Example 3: Representation of a List​

my_list = [1,  2,  3]
repr_str = repr(my_list)

print(repr_str)          # Output: [1, 2, 3]
print(type(repr_str))    # Output: <class 'str'>

output

[1, 2, 3]
<class 'str'>

Example 4: Representation of a Set​

my_set = {1,  2,  3}
repr_str = repr(my_set)

print(repr_str)          # Output: {1, 2, 3}
print(type(repr_str))    # Output: <class 'str'>

output

{1, 2, 3}
<class 'str'>

Example 5: Representation of a Tuple​

my_tuple = (1,  2,  3)
repr_str = repr(my_tuple)

print(repr_str)          # Output: (1, 2, 3)
print(type(repr_str))    # Output: <class 'str'>

output

(1, 2, 3)
<class 'str'>

Example 5: Implementing __repr__() for Custom Objects​

To use the repr() function with you custom objects, you need to implement the __repr__() function in your class. This because the repr() built-in function calls the __repr__() method to get the string representation.

For example, consider the following Person class in which the __repr__() method is implemented:

class Person:
    def __init__(self, name, age):
        self.name = name
        self.age = age

    def __repr__(self):
        return f"Person(name='{self.name}', age={self.age})"

Then, you can use the repr() function on instances of Person class:

person = Person("Tom",   25)
print(repr(person))  # Output: Person(name='Tom', age=25)

output

Person(name='Tom', age=25)

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