textwrap.dedent()

String

Removes common leading whitespace from all lines of a multi-line string.

Signature

textwrap.dedent(text)

Returns

str

Example

from textwrap import dedent
query = dedent('''\
    SELECT *
    FROM users
    WHERE active = true
''')
print(query)

About textwrap.dedent()

textwrap.dedent is a Python string function with the signature textwrap.dedent(text). Removes common leading whitespace from all lines of a multi-line string. It returns a value of type str.

Python provides a rich set of built-in functions and standard library modules that cover common programming tasks. Understanding these functions helps you write more idiomatic, efficient Python code. The textwrap.dedentfunction is commonly used in data processing, web development, scripting, and automation tasks.

When working with textwrap.dedent(), consider edge cases like empty inputs, None values, and type mismatches. Python's duck typing means many built-in functions work with any object that implements the required protocol (e.g., __len__ for len(), __iter__ for iteration). This flexibility is a key strength of Python's design philosophy.

Related Functions

str()format()repr()print()