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Python: get string representation of PyObject?

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Original source (stackoverflow.com)
Tags: python c stackoverflow.com
Clipped on: 2016-06-18

I've got a C python extension, and I would like to print out some diagnostics.

I'm receiving a string as a PyObject*.

What's the canonical way to obtain a string rep of this object, such that it usable as a const char *?

update: clarified to emphasize access as const char *.

asked Mar 18 '11 at 19:15
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Mark Harrison
121k87221328
up vote 24 down vote accepted

Use PyObject_Repr (to mimic Python's repr function) or PyObject_Str (to mimic str), and then call PyString_AsString to get char * (you can, and usually should, use it as const char*, for example:

PyObject* objectsRepresentation = PyObject_Repr(yourObject);
const char* s = PyString_AsString(objectsRepresentation);

This method is OK for any PyObject. If you are absolutely sure yourObject is a Python string and not something else, like for instance a number, you can skip the first line and just do:

const char* s = PyString_AsString(yourObject);
answered Nov 21 '11 at 16:39
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piokuc
13.7k32657
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I am trying PyBytes_AsString(yourObject) for Python 3 and I am getting TypeError: expected bytes, str found – brita_ Feb 6 '15 at 18:08
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I didn't even mention PyBytes_AsString in my answer. Have you tried what I suggested in my answer? – piokuc Feb 9 '15 at 15:27
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I tried, in Py3.x PyString got replaced with PyBytes but with not quite the same functionality. I ended up using: PyUnicode_AsUTF8(objectsRepresentation) – brita_ Feb 9 '15 at 21:22
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Don't forget to Py_DECREF(objectsRepresentation) since PyObject_Repr() returns a new reference! – Steve Feb 19 at 23:47

Try PyObject_Repr (to mimic Python's repr) or PyObject_Str (to mimic Python's str).

Docs:

Compute a string representation of object o. Returns the string representation on success, NULL on failure. This is the equivalent of the Python expression repr(o). Called by the repr() built-in function.

answered Mar 18 '11 at 19:20
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Alexander Gessler
32.8k258102
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this looks like what I need... Once I've got the PyObject returned by one of these functions, how do I access that in a C-friendly way (eg. to call printf, etc) – Mark Harrison Mar 18 '11 at 19:26
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PyBytes_AS_STRING,PyUnicode_AS_STRING, ... – Alexander Gessler Mar 18 '11 at 20:18

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