Comparing input functions

Question

What is the difference between input() and raw_input() in Python?

Answer 1

raw_input() has been discontinued in Python 3.x. However, in 2.x it returned the use input as a string while input() returned the use input as an expression.

In 3.x, input() performs the same function that raw_input() did in 2.x.

Answer 2

In python 2.x, raw_input() returns a string and input() evaluates the input in the execution context in which it is called

1. >>> x = input()
2. "hello"
3. >>> y = input()
4. x + " world"
5. >>> y
6. 'hello world'

In python 3.x, input has been scrapped and the function previously known as raw_input is now input. So you have to manually call compile and than eval if you want the old functionality.

1. python2.x python3.x
2.  
3. raw_input() --------------> input()
4. input() -------------------> eval(input())

In 3.x, the above session goes like this

1. >>> x = eval(input())
2. 'hello'
3. >>> y = eval(input())
4. x + ' world'
5. >>> y
6. 'hello world'
7. >>>

So you were probably getting an error at the interpretor because you weren't putting quotes around your input. This is necessary because it's evaluated.

Answer 3

• raw_input() was renamed to input() so now input() returns the exact string.
• Old input() was removed.

If you want to use the old input(), meaning you need to evaluate a user input as a python statement, you have to do it manually by using eval(input()).

Answer 4

In Python raw_input() allows you to enter the inputs by manually in a automated Python Script, whereas input() contains automated host name or port number which can be modified, by editting the python using IDLE GUI Console.