Truncate String

Zero-dependency Python snippets for truncating strings using the standard library.

5 snippets available in this sub-category.

---

Simple

Truncate string to length

string truncate length slice text

Truncate string to specified maximum length

def truncate_string(text, max_length):
    """Truncate string to specified length."""
    if len(text) <= max_length:
        return text
    return text[:max_length]


text = "This is a very long string that needs to be truncated"
result = truncate_string(text, 20)
print(result)  # "This is a very long"

Notes

• Simple length-based truncation
• Preserves original if within limit
• Uses slice notation
• No ellipsis added

---

Truncate with ellipsis

string truncate ellipsis length text

Truncate string and add ellipsis indicator

def truncate_with_ellipsis(text, max_length, ellipsis="..."):
    """Truncate string and add ellipsis if needed."""
    if len(text) <= max_length:
        return text

    # Account for ellipsis length
    truncate_length = max_length - len(ellipsis)
    if truncate_length < 0:
        return ellipsis[:max_length]

    return text[:truncate_length] + ellipsis


text = "This is a very long string that needs to be truncated"
result = truncate_with_ellipsis(text, 20)
print(result)  # "This is a very..."

Notes

• Adds ellipsis when truncated
• Accounts for ellipsis length
• Handles edge cases
• Common UI pattern

---

Complex

Truncate at word boundary

string truncate word boundary ellipsis text

Truncate string at word boundary to avoid cutting words

def truncate_at_word(text, max_length, ellipsis="..."):
    """Truncate string at word boundary."""
    if len(text) <= max_length:
        return text

    # Find the last space within the limit
    truncated = text[:max_length]
    last_space = truncated.rfind(" ")

    if last_space > 0:
        # Truncate at word boundary
        result = truncated[:last_space]
    else:
        # No space found, truncate at character boundary
        result = truncated

    # Add ellipsis if truncated
    if len(result) < len(text):
        result += ellipsis

    return result


text = "This is a very long string that needs to be truncated"
result = truncate_at_word(text, 25)
print(result)  # "This is a very long..."

Notes

• Prevents word cutting
• Falls back to character truncation
• Maintains readability
• Useful for UI text display

---

Truncate with custom rules

string truncate advanced options directions text

Truncate string with advanced options and directions

def truncate_advanced(text, max_length, options=None):
    """Truncate string with advanced options."""
    if options is None:
        options = {
            "ellipsis": "...",
            "at_word": True,
            "preserve_html": False,
            "direction": "end",  # 'start', 'end', 'middle'
        }

    if len(text) <= max_length:
        return text

    ellipsis = options.get("ellipsis", "...")
    at_word = options.get("at_word", True)
    direction = options.get("direction", "end")

    # Calculate available length for text
    available_length = max_length - len(ellipsis)

    if direction == "start":
        # Truncate from start
        if at_word:
            truncated = text[-(available_length):]
            first_space = truncated.find(" ")
            if first_space > 0:
                truncated = truncated[first_space:]
        else:
            truncated = text[-(available_length):]
        return ellipsis + truncated

    elif direction == "middle":
        # Truncate from middle
        half_length = available_length // 2
        start = text[:half_length]
        end = text[-(half_length):]
        return start + ellipsis + end

    else:  # direction == 'end'
        # Truncate from end
        if at_word:
            truncated = text[:available_length]
            last_space = truncated.rfind(" ")
            if last_space > 0:
                truncated = truncated[:last_space]
        else:
            truncated = text[:available_length]
        return truncated + ellipsis


# Examples
text = "This is a very long string that needs to be truncated"

# Truncate from start
result = truncate_advanced(text, 25, {"direction": "start"})
print(result)  # "...long string that needs"

# Truncate from middle
result = truncate_advanced(text, 25, {"direction": "middle"})
print(result)  # "This is a...truncated"

Notes

• Multiple truncation directions
• Word boundary preservation
• Configurable ellipsis
• Flexible truncation rules

---

Validate string length

string validate length range min max text

Validate string length within specified range

def validate_length(text, min_length=0, max_length=None):
    """Validate string length within range."""
    if not text:
        return len(text) >= min_length

    if max_length is None:
        return len(text) >= min_length
    else:
        return min_length <= len(text) <= max_length


# Examples
print(validate_length("Hello", 3, 10))  # True
print(validate_length("Hi", 5, 10))  # False
print(validate_length("Very long text", max_length=5))  # False
print(validate_length("", 0, 10))  # True
print(validate_length("", 1, 10))  # False

Notes

• Configurable min/max length
• Flexible validation rules
• Handles edge cases
• Common form validation

---

🔗 Cross Reference

• Reference: See 📂 Pad String
• Reference: See 📂 Format String

🏷️ Tags

string, truncate, ellipsis, length, options, text

📝 Notes

• Use slicing or textwrap.shorten for truncation
• Configurable ellipsis and word boundary options
• Useful for UI, previews, and summaries