* in print function in python

Question

text = 'PYTHON'
for index in range(len(text)):
    print(*text[:index + 1])

The * in the print function is producing a space between the characters on sys.stdout. Can someone please tell me what is it called and what does it actually do?

Answer 1

The print of * for a text is equal as printing print(text[0], text[1], ..., text[n]) and this is printing each part with a space between. you can do

text = 'PYTHON'
for index in range(len(text))
    print("".join(list(text)[:index + 1]))

or

text = 'PYTHON'
for index in range(len(text))
    print(*text[:index + 1], sep='')

that will print each part without space in between. Output

P
PY
PYT
PYTH
PYTHO
PYTHON