Printing with sep and end

15 min · Beginner

The print() function is Python's most versatile debugging and display tool. Mastering sep and end eliminates ugly manual string concatenation.

Printing multiple items

Pass several comma-separated values to print(). Python turns each one into text and puts a space between them.

Python

day = 1month = "November"year = 2026print(day, month, year)

Example 1 · One line order summary

Python

order_id = 1042amount = 2599.5print("Order", order_id, "total", amount)print("Status:", "Packed")

Output

Order 1042 total 2599.5
Status: Packed

What this code does

Each comma-separated value becomes text, then print puts a space between them.
The number 1042 and the float 2599.5 need no conversion.
The second print starts on a new line, because end is still its default.

The console shows 1 November 2026. You did not need str() or +, so numbers and text mix freely.

Custom separators with sep

Separator is the text print() puts between the values it prints. It is one space unless you set sep.

A space is not always what you want between values. The sep argument changes it.

Python

print("2026", "11", "02", sep="-")print("user", "server", "db", sep=" > ")

Example 2 · Dates and paths with sep

Python

print(2026, 11, 3, sep="-")print("home", "user", "reports", sep="/")

Output

2026-11-3
home/user/reports

What this code does

sep="-" replaces the default space between the three numbers.
The same argument builds a path-like text with /.

The output is 2026-11-02 and user > server > db. Setting sep="" joins the values with nothing between them.

Controlling line endings with end

End string is the text print() writes after its last value. It is a new line ("\n") unless you set end.

Each print() normally finishes with a new line. The end argument changes what is written after the last value, so the next print continues on the same line.

Python

print("Loading", end="...")print("Done!")

Example 3 · Progress on one line

Python

print("Packing", end=" ... ")print("Shipping", end=" ... ")print("Done")

Output

Packing ... Shipping ... Done

What this code does

The first two prints end with ... instead of a new line.
The last print uses the default end, so the cursor moves to the next line.

The console shows Loading...Done! on one line, because the first print ended with ... instead of a new line.

Newlines and tabs inside text

Escape sequence is a backslash plus a letter inside a string that stands for one special character, such as \n for a new line.

Some characters cannot be typed inside quotes directly. A backslash starts an escape: \n is a new line and \t is a tab.

Python

print("Item\tQty")print("Pen\t4\nBook\t2")print()

Example 4 · A small table with tab and newline

Python

print("Item\tQty\nPen\t4\nBook\t2")

Output

Item	Qty
Pen	4
Book	2

What this code does

One print call writes three lines, because \n ends a line inside the text.
\t pushes the quantity to the next tab stop.

Each \t jumps to the next tab stop, so the columns line up. A print() with no values writes only a blank line.

Next step

Check your understanding

9 quick questions

Printing with sep and end

15 min · Beginner

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The print() function is Python's most versatile debugging and display tool. Mastering sep and end eliminates ugly manual string concatenation.

Printing multiple items

Pass several comma-separated values to print(). Python turns each one into text and puts a space between them.

Python

day = 1month = "November"year = 2026print(day, month, year)

Example 1 · One line order summary

Python

order_id = 1042amount = 2599.5print("Order", order_id, "total", amount)print("Status:", "Packed")

Output

Order 1042 total 2599.5
Status: Packed

What this code does

Each comma-separated value becomes text, then print puts a space between them.
The number 1042 and the float 2599.5 need no conversion.
The second print starts on a new line, because end is still its default.

The console shows 1 November 2026. You did not need str() or +, so numbers and text mix freely.

Custom separators with sep

Separator is the text print() puts between the values it prints. It is one space unless you set sep.

A space is not always what you want between values. The sep argument changes it.

Python

print("2026", "11", "02", sep="-")print("user", "server", "db", sep=" > ")

Example 2 · Dates and paths with sep

Python

print(2026, 11, 3, sep="-")print("home", "user", "reports", sep="/")

Output

2026-11-3
home/user/reports

What this code does

sep="-" replaces the default space between the three numbers.
The same argument builds a path-like text with /.

The output is 2026-11-02 and user > server > db. Setting sep="" joins the values with nothing between them.

Controlling line endings with end

End string is the text print() writes after its last value. It is a new line ("\n") unless you set end.

Each print() normally finishes with a new line. The end argument changes what is written after the last value, so the next print continues on the same line.

Python

print("Loading", end="...")print("Done!")

Example 3 · Progress on one line

Python

print("Packing", end=" ... ")print("Shipping", end=" ... ")print("Done")

Output

Packing ... Shipping ... Done

What this code does

The first two prints end with ... instead of a new line.
The last print uses the default end, so the cursor moves to the next line.

The console shows Loading...Done! on one line, because the first print ended with ... instead of a new line.

Newlines and tabs inside text

Escape sequence is a backslash plus a letter inside a string that stands for one special character, such as \n for a new line.

Some characters cannot be typed inside quotes directly. A backslash starts an escape: \n is a new line and \t is a tab.

Python

print("Item\tQty")print("Pen\t4\nBook\t2")print()

Example 4 · A small table with tab and newline

Python

print("Item\tQty\nPen\t4\nBook\t2")

Output

Item	Qty
Pen	4
Book	2

What this code does

One print call writes three lines, because \n ends a line inside the text.
\t pushes the quantity to the next tab stop.

Each \t jumps to the next tab stop, so the columns line up. A print() with no values writes only a blank line.

Next step

Check your understanding

9 quick questions