Any reason not to use '+' to concatenate two strings?

Question

Is there any reason, why we should not use '+' to concatenate the two strings?

Answer 1

The use of the '+' operator for string concatenation in Python is widely accepted and commonly employed. Nevertheless, there are situations where the '+' operator may not be the most optimal choice. Several factors should be considered in such cases.

Firstly, the performance aspect should be taken into account. The '+' operator generates a new string object each time it is used, which can be inefficient when concatenating multiple strings in a loop. To enhance performance, alternatives like the 'join()' method or formatted string literals (f-strings) can be employed.

Secondly, readability plays a crucial role. When concatenating more than two strings, repetitive use of the '+' operator can diminish code readability and make maintenance harder. Cleaner and more concise syntax can be achieved by using alternative methods such as 'join()' or formatted string literals.

Thirdly, it is important to recognize that strings in Python are immutable. This means that each concatenation operation creates a new string object, which can lead to unnecessary memory consumption, particularly when dealing with a large number of strings.

Lastly, if the goal is to concatenate variables or expressions within a string, employing formatted string literals (f-strings) or string interpolation methods like str.format() can result in code that is more readable and easier to maintain.

Answer 2

There isn't anything incorrectly in concatenating two strings with +. Surely it's simpler to peruse than ''.join([a, b]).

You are correct however that concatenating multiple strings with + is an O(n^2) activity (contrasted with O(n) for join) and along these lines gets wasteful. Anyway, this has not to do with utilizing a loop. Indeed, even a + b + c + ... is O(n^2), the explanation being that every concatenation creates another string.

CPython2.4 or more attempt to relieve that, however, it's as yet fitting to utilize join while concatenating multiple strings.

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Answer 3

Using the '+' operator for string concatenation in Python is generally acceptable and widely used. However, there are some cases where using '+' may not be the optimal choice. Here are a few considerations:

Performance: The '+' operator creates a new string object every time it is used, which can be inefficient when concatenating multiple strings in a loop. In such cases, using the 'join()' method or formatted string literals (f-strings) can offer better performance.

Readability: When concatenating more than two strings, using '+' repeatedly can make the code less readable and harder to maintain. Alternative methods like 'join()' or formatted string literals provide cleaner and more concise syntax.

Immutable Strings: Strings in Python are immutable, which means that every concatenation operation creates a new string object. This can result in unnecessary memory usage, especially when concatenating a large number of strings.

String Interpolation: If you need to concatenate variables or expressions within a string, using formatted string literals (f-strings) or string interpolation methods like str.format() can provide more readable and maintainable code.

Answer 4

Using the '+' operator for string concatenation in Python is widely used, but it may not always be the best choice. Considerations include performance, readability, immutable strings, and the use of formatted string literals for variable interpolation.