How to Fix – SyntaxError: (Unicode Error) ‘Unicodeescape’ Codec Can’t Decode Bytes

Encountering Unicode errors is not uncommon, especially when dealing with strings containing escape sequences. One such error, “Unicode Error: ‘unicodeescape’ codec can’t decode bytes in position 2-3: truncated \UXXXXXXXX escape,” can be perplexing for beginners. In this article, we will see what is SyntaxError: (Unicode Error) ‘Unicodeescape’ Codec Can’t Decode Bytes error and how to fix it.

What is SyntaxError: (Unicode Error) ‘Unicodeescape’ Codec Can’t Decode Bytes in Python?

The “Unicode Error: ‘unicodeescape’ codec can’t decode bytes” occurs when Python’s Unicode decoder encounters an invalid Unicode escape sequence in a string. The specific error message “truncated \UXXXXXXXX escape” indicates that the escape sequence is incomplete or truncated.

Error Syntax

SyntaxError: (unicode error) 'unicodeescape' codec can't decode bytes in position 2-3: truncated \UXXXXXXXX escape

Below are the reasons to which SyntaxError: (unicode error) ‘unicodeescape’ codec can’t decode bytes in position 2-3: truncated \UXXXXXXXX escape occurs in Python:

1. Invalid Escape Sequences
2. Truncated Escape Sequences

Invalid Escape Sequences

In this code, a file path is assigned to the variable file_path, but the backslashes in the Windows file path should be escaped to avoid interpreting them as escape sequences. Using backslashes in strings without properly escaping them or forming valid Unicode escape sequences can trigger this error.

Python3

# Problematic code with an invalid escape sequence
file_path = "C:\Users\User\Documents\data.txt"

Output:

Hangup (SIGHUP)
  File "Solution.py", line 2
    file_path = "C:\Users\User\Documents\data.txt"
               ^
SyntaxError: (unicode error) 'unicodeescape' codec can't decode bytes in position 2-3: truncated \UXXXXXXXX escape

Truncated Escape Sequences

In this code, the file path assigned to file_path contains a truncated escape sequence (\U) which might lead to unexpected behavior or errors.

Python3

# Problematic code with a truncated escape sequence
file_path = "C:\Users\User\Documents\data\U1234.txt"

Output:

Hangup (SIGHUP)
  File "Solution.py", line 2
    file_path = "C:\Users\User\Documents\data\U1234.txt"
               ^
SyntaxError: (unicode error) 'unicodeescape' codec can't decode bytes in position 2-3: truncated \UXXXXXXXX escape

Solution for SyntaxError: (Unicode Error) ‘Unicodeescape’ Codec Can’t Decode Bytes

Below are the solution for SyntaxError: (unicode error) ‘unicodeescape’ codec can’t decode bytes in position 2-3: truncated \UXXXXXXXX escape:

Use Raw Strings

Utilize raw strings by prefixing string literals with ‘r’, which treats backslashes as literal characters and prevents Python from interpreting them as escape sequences.

Python3

file_path = r"C:\Users\User\Documents\data.txt"

print(file_path)

Output

C:\Users\User\Documents\data.txt

Double Backslashes

Escape backslashes by doubling them (\), explicitly indicating that they should be treated as literal characters.

Python3

file_path = "C:\\Users\\User\\Documents\\data.txt"

print(file_path)

Output

C:\Users\User\Documents\data.txt

Complete Escape Sequences

Ensure that escape sequences are complete and valid. For example, if using the ‘\U’ escape sequence, provide eight hexadecimal digits after ‘\U’ to form a complete Unicode code point.

Python3

file_path = "C:\\Users\\User\\Documents\\data\\U12345678.txt"

print(file_path)

Output

C:\Users\User\Documents\data\U12345678.txt