Python unicodedata.name() Function: Usage and Examples

Look up official Unicode character names with unicodedata.name().

How It Works

unicodedata.name(character, default) returns the standardized Unicode name for a single character. Some characters have no assigned name and raise ValueError unless a default is supplied.

Step-by-Step Example

import unicodedata
print(unicodedata.name('A'))
print(unicodedata.name('€'))

Understanding the Example

• The print() call exposes the result so you can compare it with the behavior described above. Check the value and its type when experimenting.

A successful run of this example prints the following output:

LATIN CAPITAL LETTER A
EURO SIGN

Where This Fits in a Real Program

Start by writing down examples that should match and examples that must fail. Check whether you need to locate a substring, match a prefix or validate an entire field; these are different operations. Unicode and escape sequences can also change which characters are matched, so test accented text and empty input.

Practice: Try It Yourself

Use ord() to obtain the numeric code point of a character.

For this exercise, predict the result before running the changed code. Then explain the difference between the original and modified cases using the actual values, not just whether the program completed.

Further Reading

Read the official Python documentation for complete parameters, return types and exceptions.

Common Beginner Mistakes

• Passing an entire multi-character word instead of one Unicode character.
• Inspect the Unicode names of punctuation in sample text.

Key Takeaways

• Look up official Unicode character names with unicodedata.name().
• unicodedata.name(character, default) returns the standardized Unicode name for a single character.
• Apply the demonstrated operation to the practice input and verify its result before depending on it in a larger program.