Python String isidentifier() Method

The isidentifier() method in Python is used to check whether a given string qualifies as a valid identifier according to the Python language rules. Identifiers are names used to identify variables, functions, classes, and other objects. A valid identifier must begin with a letter (A-Z or a-z) or an underscore (_), should contain only alphanumeric characters (A-Z, a-z, 0-9) and underscores (_), and should not be a reserved keyword in Python. In this article, we will see how the isidentifier() method works:

Let’s understand with the help of an example:

s = "variable_name"
print(s.isidentifier())

True

Explanation:

• The string "variable_name" follows all the rules of a valid Python identifier:
  • It contains only letters, digits, and underscores.
  • It does not start with a digit.
  • It is not a Python keyword.
• Hence, the method returns True.

Syntax of isidentifier()

string.isidentifier()

Parameters

• The isidentifier() method does not take any parameters.

Return Type

• Returns True if the string is a valid identifier.
• Returns False otherwise.

Examples of isidentifier method()

1. Starting with a number

An identifier cannot start with a number.

# Starts with a number
s = "1variable"  

print(s.isidentifier()) 

Explanation:

• The string "1variable" begins with the digit 1, which violates the rules for identifiers.
• Consequently, the method returns False.

2. Containing special characters

Special characters, apart from the underscore, are not allowed in identifiers.

s = "var!name"  # Contains a special character (!)
print(s.isidentifier())  

Explanation:

• The string "var!name" includes the special character !, making it an invalid identifier.
• The method appropriately returns False.

3. Reserved keywords

Python’s reserved keywords cannot be used as identifiers. While they follow the naming rules, their special meaning in the language makes them invalid as identifiers:

s = "class"  # Reserved keyword in Python
print(s.isidentifier()) 

Explanation:

• The string "class" follows all identifier rules, so isidentifier() returns True.
• However, using it as an identifier in code will lead to a SyntaxError because it is a reserved keyword.

4. Empty string

An empty string cannot qualify as an identifier:

s = ""  # Empty string
print(s.isidentifier())  

Explanation:

• The string is empty, so it cannot meet the rules for identifiers.
• The method returns False accordingly.

Frequently Asked Questions on isidentifier()

1. Can a single underscore _ be a valid identifier?

Yes, a single underscore _ is a valid identifier in Python and is often used as a temporary or insignificant variable name.

s = "_"
print(s.isidentifier())  # Output: True

2. How can we check if a string is a reserved keyword in Python?

We can use the keyword module to check if a string is a reserved keyword:

import keywords = "class"
print(keyword.iskeyword(s))  # Output: True

3. Can identifiers contain non-ASCII characters?

Yes, Python supports identifiers with Unicode characters. For example, variable names in languages other than English are allowed:

s = "वैरीय"  # Hindi word for 'variable'
print(s.isidentifier())  # Output: True

4. Does the isidentifier() method verify reserved keywords?

No, the isidentifier() method only checks the structural validity of a string as an identifier. It does not consider whether the string is a reserved keyword.

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Article Tags :

• Python
• python-string

Practice Tags :

• python