Python – Retain first N Elements of a String and Replace the Remaining by K

Last Updated : 01 Oct, 2020

Given a String, retain first N elements and replace rest by K.

Input : test_str = ‘geeksforgeeks’, N = 5, K = “@”
Output : geeks@@@@@@@@
Explanation : First N elements retained and rest replaced by K.
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Input : test_str = ‘geeksforgeeks’, N = 5, K = “*”
Output : geeks********
Explanation : First N elements retained and rest replaced by K.

Method #1 : Using * operator + len() + slicing

In this, slicing is used to retain N, and then the length of remaining is extracted by subtracting the total length extracted by len(), from N, and then repeat K char using * operator.

Python3

# Python3 code to demonstrate working of
# Retain N and Replace remaining by K
# Using * operator + len() + slicing
  
# initializing string
test_str = 'geeksforgeeks'
  
# printing original string
print("The original string is : " + str(test_str))
  
# initializing length needed
N = 4
  
# initializing remains char
K = "@"
  
# using len() and * operator to solve problem
res = test_str[:N] + K * (len(test_str) - N)
  
# printing result
print("The resultant string : " + str(res))

Output

The original string is : geeksforgeeks
The resultant string : geek@@@@@@@@@

Method #2 : Using ljust() + slicing + len()

In this, the task of assigning remaining characters is done using ljust, rather than the * operator.

Python3

# Python3 code to demonstrate working of
# Retain N and Replace remaining by K
# Using ljust() + slicing + len()
  
# initializing string
test_str = 'geeksforgeeks'
  
# printing original string
print("The original string is : " + str(test_str))
  
# initializing length needed
N = 4
  
# initializing remains char
K = "@"
  
# ljust assigns K to remaining string
res = test_str[:N].ljust(len(test_str), K)
  
# printing result
print("The resultant string : " + str(res))

Output

The original string is : geeksforgeeks
The resultant string : geek@@@@@@@@@

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Python – Retain first N Elements of a String and Replace the Remaining by K

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