python - How does v differ from x0b or x0c?

Question

Typing string.whitespace gives you a string containing all whitespace characters defined by Python's string module:

'
x0bx0c
 '

Both x0b and x0c seem to give a vertical tab.

>>> print 'firstx0bsecond'
first
     second

v gives the same effect. How are these three different? Why does the string module use x0b or x0c over the simpler v?

Answer 1

v is x0b:

>>> 'v'
'x0b'

but the string literal representation in Python is using the x0b notation instead.

The Python string literal representation only ever uses , and , everything else that is not a printable ASCII character is represented using the xhh notation instead.

x0c is a form feed; it forces a printer to move to the next sheet of paper. You can also express it as f in Python:

>>> 'f'
'x0c'

In terminals the effects of v and f are often the same.