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22 of 108Python - bytes Data Type
Introduction
The bytes data type is used to store a group of byte values.
It is mainly used to represent binary data.
A bytes object is similar to an array of byte values.
What is bytes Data Type?
The bytes data type stores binary data.
Each element in a bytes object must be in the range 0 to 255.
The bytes data type is immutable.
This means its values cannot be changed after the object is created.
Creating a bytes Object
We can create a bytes object by using the bytes() function.
Example - Creating bytes Object
main.py
No output captured.
Accessing Elements from bytes
We can access elements of a bytes object using indexes.
Both positive and negative indexing are supported.
Example - Accessing Elements
main.py
10 40
Iterating bytes Data Type
We can iterate through a bytes object using a loop.
Example - Iteration
main.py
10 20 30 40
Important Conclusion 1
The allowed values for a bytes object are 0 to 255.
If any value is outside this range, Python raises a ValueError.
Example - Invalid Value
main.py
ValueError: bytes must be in range(0, 256)
Important Conclusion 2
Once a bytes object is created, its values cannot be modified.
This is because the bytes data type is immutable.
Example - Invalid Modification
main.py
TypeError: 'bytes' object does not support item assignment
Understanding Immutability
Immutability means the object's data cannot be changed after creation.
Example
main.py
b'\x01\x02\x03'
Example of Binary Data
The bytes data type is commonly used to represent binary information such as:
- Images
- Video files
- Audio files
- Network packets
Example - ASCII Values
main.py
b'ABC'
Explanation
| ASCII Value | Character |
|---|---|
| 65 | A |
| 66 | B |
| 67 | C |
Length of bytes Object
We can use the len() function to find the number of elements in a bytes object.
Example - len() Function
main.py
3
Checking bytes Data Type
We can use the type() function to check the data type.
Example - type() Function
main.py
No output captured.
Difference Between list and bytes
| list | bytes |
|---|---|
| Mutable | Immutable |
| Stores any type of values. | Stores only integers from 0 to 255. |
Example: [1, 2, 3] |
Example: bytes([1, 2, 3]) |
Example - list
main.py
[100, 20, 30]
Example - bytes
main.py
TypeError
Important Notes
bytesis an immutable data type.- Each element must be between 0 and 255.
- It is mainly used to store binary data.
- It supports indexing.
- It supports iteration using loops.
Key Points
- The
bytesdata type stores binary data. - Use the
bytes()function to create a bytes object. - Only integer values from 0 to 255 are allowed.
- The
bytesobject is immutable. - It supports indexing, iteration,
len(), andtype(). - It is commonly used for images, audio, videos, and network data.
Quick Summary
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Data Type | bytes |
| Mutable | No (Immutable) |
| Allowed Values | 0 to 255 |
| Supports Indexing | Yes |
| Supports Iteration | Yes |
| Main Usage | Binary Data Storage |