python find repeated substring in string [closed]

Question

I am looking for a function in Python where you give a string as input where a certain word has been repeated several times until a certain length has reached.

The output would then be that word. The repeated word isn't necessary repeated in its whole and it is also possible that it hasn't been repeated at all.

For example:

"pythonpythonp" => "python"

"hellohello" => "hello"

"appleapl" => "apple"

"spoon" => "spoon"

Can someone give me some hints on how to write this kind of function?

Answer 1

You can do it by repeating the substring a certain number of times and testing if it is equal to the original string.

You'll have to try it for every single possible length of string unless you have that saved as a variable

Here's the code:

def repeats(string):
    for x in range(1, len(string)):
        substring = string[:x]

        if substring * (len(string)//len(substring))+(substring[:len(string)%len(substring)]) == string:
            print(substring)
            return "break"

    print(string)

repeats("pythonpytho")