Python String lstrip() Method

• lstrip() method returns a copy of the string after removing the starting/leading characters from the string.


• lstrip() either accepts zero argument which means removing spaces or it accepts one argument.


• Similar to strip() method lstrip() also strips only strings. Otherwise it throws TypeError

Syntax:

str.lstrip('characters')

'characters' is optional

Let's see with Examples:

str = 'Welcome to getechready'
new_str = str.lstrip('Wel') #the argument is case senstitve
print(new_str)

Output:

>>>come to getechready

Removing the leading spaces :

str = '  Welcome to getechready'
new_str = str.lstrip()
print(new_str)

Output:

>>>Welcome to getechready

Similar to strip() method the order and number of the characters passed in the lstrip() method does not matter.

str = '   mississippi river'
new_str = str.lstrip('is m')
print(new_str)

Output:

>>>ppi river

As you can see the space can be provided at any position, it is not mandatory to provide space at first position only. Let's see if we do not provide space

str = '   mississippi river'
new_str = str.lstrip('ism')
print(new_str)

Output:

>>>   mississippi river

Nothing is removed as lstrip() was expecting a space also to match the starting characters.

Also read: strip() method and rstrip() method