Python: get string representation of PyObject?

Question

I've got a C python extension, and I would like to print out some diagnostics.

I'm receiving a string as a PyObject*.

What's the canonical way to obtain a string representation of this object, such that it usable as a const char *?

update: clarified to emphasize access as const char *.

Answer 1

Use PyObject_Repr (to mimic Python's repr function) or PyObject_Str (to mimic str), and then call PyString_AsString to get char * (you can, and usually should, use it as const char*, for example:

PyObject* objectsRepresentation = PyObject_Repr(yourObject); const char* s = PyString_AsString(objectsRepresentation); 

This method is OK for any PyObject. If you are absolutely sure yourObject is a Python string and not something else, like for instance a number, you can skip the first line and just do:

const char* s = PyString_AsString(yourObject); 

Answer 2

Here is the correct answer if you are using Python 3:

static void reprint(PyObject *obj) {     PyObject* repr = PyObject_Repr(obj);     PyObject* str = PyUnicode_AsEncodedString(repr, "utf-8", "~E~");     const char *bytes = PyBytes_AS_STRING(str);      printf("REPR: %s\n", bytes);      Py_XDECREF(repr);     Py_XDECREF(str); }