How to Convert a String to an Operator in Python

In Python, operators are used to perform operations on variables and values. In this tutorial, we will learn to convert a string into an operator. This might sound a little tricky, but Python makes it pretty simple. Let’s understand each step in detail.

Step 1: Import necessary Libraries

Firstly, we need to import the operator module which is inherently a part of Python. This library contains a set of functions corresponding to the intrinsic operators of Python.

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import operator

Step 2: Create a Dictionary Mapping

Next, we map the operator functions like ‘add’, ‘sub’, ‘mul’, and ‘div’ to their respective operator symbols.

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operator_mapping = {
                    '+': operator.add,
                    '-': operator.sub,
                    '*': operator.mul,
                    '/': operator.truediv
                   }

Step 3: Define the Function

Now, we define a function that accepts two numbers and the operator as a string. The function would find the correct operator using the dictionary mapping and then apply it to the numbers. This will effectively convert a string to an operator and perform the operation.

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def apply_operation(left_operand, right_operand, string_operator):
    return operator_mapping[string_operator](left_operand, right_operand)

Step 4: Use the Function

Finally, we put to use our function apply_operation. This should effectively convert the string into an operator.

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print(apply_operation(5, 3, '+'))

Here the output will be 8, showing us that the string ‘+’ was successfully converted into an operator and the addition operation was carried out effectively.

Full Python Code:

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import operator
 
operator_mapping = {
                    '+': operator.add,
                    '-': operator.sub,
                    '*': operator.mul,
                    '/': operator.truediv
                    }
 
def apply_operation(left_operand, right_operand, string_operator):
    return operator_mapping[string_operator](left_operand, right_operand)
 
print(apply_operation(5, 3, '+'))
 
8

Conclusion:

In this way, we can convert a String to an Operator in Python. Remember, the key to this conversion lies in Python’s operator module.

This method can be quite handy in situations where operators need to be dynamic in a program. You can explore Python’s operator module documentation to dive deeper into this concept.