Difference Between Single and Double Quotes in Python (With Examples)

In Python, both single quotes (') and double quotes (") are used to define strings. They are functionally the same, and Python does not differentiate between them semantically. For example:

one = 'Hello World'
two = "Hello World"

print(one == two)  # Output: True

However, there are some practical differences that make one more convenient than the other depending on the context.

1. Avoiding Escape Characters

When your string contains a single quote ('), it's easier to use double quotes ("), and vice versa.

Example:

s1 = "I said 'Hello'"     # No need to escape
s2 = 'I said \'Hello\''   # Requires escaping

s3 = 'He said "Yes"'      # No need to escape
s4 = "He said \"Yes\""    # Requires escaping

2. Consistency and Style Guide (PEP 8)

According to PEP 8, Python's style guide, there’s no strict rule on choosing single vs. double quotes. However:

• Pick one style and stick to it consistently.
• Single quotes (') are commonly used for simple strings.
• Double quotes (") are often used when the string contains a single quote.

3. Triple Quotes (''' or """)

Used for multiline strings or docstrings.

text1 = '''This
is a
multiline
string.'''

text2 = """This is also
a multiline string."""

For docstrings (descriptive comments for functions/classes/modules), PEP 257 recommends using triple double quotes (""").

Summary Table

When to Use	Recommended Quote Style
No quotes inside the string	'text' or "text" (either)
String contains single quote (')	Use double quotes (")
String contains double quote (")	Use single quotes (')
Multiline string or docstring	Use triple quotes (''' or """)

If you want consistent quote style across your codebase, tools like Black (a code formatter) will automatically format strings using double quotes (") unless single quotes are required.