python replace single backslash with double backslash

No need to use str.replace or string.replace here, just convert that string to a raw string:

>>> strs = r"C:\Users\Josh\Desktop\20130216"           ^           |       notice the 'r'

Below is the repr version of the above string, that's why you're seeing \\ here.But, in fact the actual string contains just '\' not \\.

>>> strs'C:\\Users\\Josh\\Desktop\\20130216'>>> s = r"f\o">>> s            #repr representation'f\\o'>>> len(s)   #length is 3, as there's only one `'\'`3

But when you're going to print this string you'll not get '\\' in the output.

>>> print strsC:\Users\Josh\Desktop\20130216

If you want the string to show '\\' during print then use str.replace:

>>> new_strs = strs.replace('\\','\\\\')>>> print new_strsC:\\Users\\Josh\\Desktop\\20130216

repr version will now show \\\\:

>>> new_strs'C:\\\\Users\\\\Josh\\\\Desktop\\\\20130216'

Let me make it simple and clear. Lets use the re module in python to escape the special characters.

Python script :

import res = "C:\Users\Josh\Desktop"print sprint re.escape(s)

Output :

C:\Users\Josh\DesktopC:\\Users\\Josh\\Desktop

Explanation :

Now observe that re.escape function on escaping the special chars in the given string we able to add an other backslash before each backslash, and finally the output results in a double backslash, the desired output.

Hope this helps you.

Use escape characters: "full\\path\\here", "\\" and "\\\\"