How to convert 'binary string' to normal string in Python3?

Question

For example, I have a string like this(return value of subprocess.check_output):

>>> b'a string' b'a string' 

Whatever I did to it, it is always printed with the annoying b' before the string:

>>> print(b'a string') b'a string' >>> print(str(b'a string')) b'a string' 

Does anyone have any ideas about how to use it as a normal string or convert it into a normal string?

Answer 1

Decode it.

>>> b'a string'.decode('ascii') 'a string' 

To get bytes from string, encode it.

>>> 'a string'.encode('ascii') b'a string' 

Answer 2

If the answer from falsetru didn't work you could also try:

>>> b'a string'.decode('utf-8') 'a string'