chr()

The built-in chr() function returns the character whose Unicode code point is the integer provided as an argument:

Python 
>>> chr(65)
'A'

chr() Signature

Python Syntax 
chr(i)

Arguments

Argument Description
i An integer representing a valid Unicode code point.

Return Value

  • Returns a string that represents the character associated with the given Unicode code point.

chr() Examples

With an integer representing an uppercase letter as an argument:

Python 
>>> chr(90)
'Z'

With an integer representing a lowercase letter as an argument:

Python 
>>> chr(120)
'x'

With an integer representing a special character as an argument:

Python 
>>> chr(38)
'&'

chr() Common Use Cases

The most common use cases for the chr() function include:

  • Converting numerical Unicode code points to their corresponding characters
  • Generating characters for data encoding and decoding tasks
  • Creating characters dynamically in loops or comprehensions

chr() Real-World Example

Suppose you want to generate a list of all uppercase English letters using their Unicode code points. You can use the chr() function to accomplish this:

Python 
>>> [chr(i) for i in range(65, 91)]
[
    'A', 'B', 'C', 'D',
    'E', 'F', 'G', 'H',
    'I', 'J', 'K', 'L',
    'M', 'N', 'O', 'P',
    'Q', 'R', 'S', 'T',
    'U', 'V', 'W', 'X',
    'Y', 'Z'
]

In this example, chr() is used in a list comprehension to generate each uppercase letter by iterating over their respective code points.

Unicode & Character Encodings in Python: A Painless Guide

Tutorial

Unicode & Character Encodings in Python: A Painless Guide

In this tutorial, you'll get a Python-centric introduction to character encodings and unicode. Handling character encodings and numbering systems can at times seem painful and complicated, but this guide is here to help with easy-to-follow Python examples.

advanced python

For additional information on related topics, take a look at the following resources:

By Leodanis Pozo Ramos • Updated Nov. 12, 2024 • Reviewed by Dan Bader
Python’s Built-in Functions Share Feedback