sep in Python: print() Separator Examples

sep in Python is the keyword argument that tells print() what to place between multiple objects. By default, Python uses one space. Change sep when you want commas, tabs, hyphens, new lines, or no gap between printed values.

Contents

Syntax

print(*objects, sep=" ", end="
", file=None, flush=False)

The *objects part means print() can receive any number of non-keyword arguments. Python converts those objects to strings, writes them in order, places sep between them, and then writes end after the final object.

Default sep value

If you do not pass sep, Python inserts a single space between printed objects.

print("Python", "Pool")

Python Pool

This only applies between separate objects. It does not insert spaces inside a single string.

Use a custom separator

Pass sep="-", sep=",", or any other string to control the separator.

print("2026", "07", "07", sep="-")
print("red", "green", "blue", sep=", ")

2026-07-07
red, green, blue

This is useful for quick console output, simple logs, generated labels, and command-line formatting.

Use sep with unpacked lists

sep becomes more useful when you unpack a list or tuple into print(). The star operator passes each item as a separate printed object, so sep can appear between the items.

languages = ["Python", "JavaScript", "Go"]
print(*languages, sep=" | ")

Python | JavaScript | Go

Without the star operator, Python prints the list object itself, and sep has nothing to separate because there is only one printed object.

sep must be a string or None

The sep value must be a string or None. Passing an integer, list, or other non-string value raises a TypeError. If you want the number 1 as a separator, write sep="1", not sep=1.

print("a", "b", sep="1")  # a1b

Use sep=”” for no gap

Set sep="" when the printed objects should touch each other.

print("A", "B", "C", sep="")

ABC

Use this carefully. If you are building a string for later use, join() or an f-string is usually clearer than relying on printed output.

Use tabs and newlines as separators

The separator can contain escape sequences. Use " " for tab-separated output and " " to print each object on a separate line.

print("name", "score", sep="	")
print("one", "two", "three", sep="
")

name    score
one
two
three

If you are formatting rows for a real CSV or TSV file, prefer the csv module. sep is fine for display, but it does not handle quoting, escaping, or embedded separators.

sep vs end

sep goes between objects. end goes after the last object. They solve different formatting problems.

print("Loading", "data", sep="...", end=" done
")

Loading...data done

If you want to remove the newline after print(), change end, not sep. See our guide to Python print without newline for that case.

sep vs join()

Use sep when you are printing values directly. Use str.join() when you need to create a string value and store, return, compare, or write it later.

colors = ["red", "green", "blue"]

print(*colors, sep=", ")
text = ", ".join(colors)

The first line prints text to standard output. The second line creates the string "red, green, blue". For more string-building patterns, see append strings in Python.

sep vs split()

sep is for output formatting. split() is for breaking an existing string into pieces.

text = "red,green,blue"
parts = text.split(",")
print(*parts, sep=" | ")

red | green | blue

Read more in our guide on what split() does in Python.

Common mistakes

Using sep with one object and expecting it to change the string. sep only appears between multiple printed objects.
Passing a non-string separator, such as sep=1. Use a string like sep="1".
Using sep when end is the argument that controls the final newline.
Using sep to build data that should be saved or reused. Use join() for that.