String capitalize() Method in Python

Python String capitalize() method returns a copy of the original string and converts the first character of the string to a capital (uppercase) letter while making all other characters in the string lowercase letters.

Example

# initializing a string
name = "draco malfoy"
#using capitalize function
print(name.capitalize())

Draco malfoy

Definition of capitalize() Function

The capitalize() function in Python is used to capitalize the first letter of a string. It turns the rest of all letters to lowercase.

If the first letter is not an alphabet, capitalize() function will leave it as it is and converts rest of the characters to small case.

capitalize() Method Syntax

string_name.capitalize()

Parameter

The capitalize() function does not take any parameter. 

Return

The capitalize() function returns a string with the first character in the capital.

capitalize() Method Examples

Let’s look at some capitalize in Python examples, to understand the function better.

name = "geeks FOR geeks"

print(name.capitalize())

Output:

Geeks for geeks

Example 1: capitalize() only capitalizes the first letter of a string and lowers all the remaining characters

string = "roses are red"
print("Original string:", string)
print("After using capitalzie:", string.capitalize())

Output:

Original string: roses are red
After using capitalize: Roses are red

Example 2: Python String capitalize () Method Doesn’t Modify the Original String

Python String capitalize () Method creates and returns a copy of the original string after modifications.

string = "geeks for geeks"
string_2 = string.capitalize()

print("New string after using capitalize():", string_2)

print("Original string:", string)

New string after using capitalize(): Geeks for geeks
Original string: geeks for geeks

We have covered how to capitalize a string in Python using the capitalize () function. It is useful for data formatting.

Example 3: Python String capitalize () Method leave as it is if first letter is not an alphabet

string1 = "$this is an Example StRing"
string2 = "this is an Example StRing"

# using capitalize function
print(string1.capitalize())  # Output : $this is an example string
print(string2.capitalize())  # Output : This is an example string

$this is an example string
This is an example string

Related Article: String Methods

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