What are the differences between string encodings in Python?

What are the differences between string encodings in Python?

In Python, the most common string encodings are UTF-8, ASCII, and UTF-16. UTF-8 is variable-length and can represent any character in the Unicode standard, while ASCII is a fixed-length encoding that only supports the first 128 Unicode characters. UTF-16 uses two bytes for most characters but can use four bytes for others.

Can you explain when to use UTF-8 over ASCII?

You should use UTF-8 when you need to support a wide range of characters, such as in web applications or when dealing with international text. ASCII is sufficient for basic English text but will fail with characters from other languages.

What happens if I try to decode a UTF-8 string with ASCII?

If you try to decode a UTF-8 string with ASCII and the string contains characters outside the ASCII range, you'll encounter a UnicodeDecodeError. This error occurs because ASCII cannot represent those characters.

Are there any performance differences between these encodings?

Yes, performance can vary. UTF-8 is generally more efficient for texts primarily in English, while UTF-16 can be more efficient for texts with many non-Latin characters. However, the choice also depends on the specific use case and the text being processed.