How can I do a line break (line continuation) in Python (split up a long line of source code)?

When writing Python code, you might come across situations where a single line gets too long and hard to read. So, how can you split or continue a long line of Python code across multiple lines without causing syntax errors?

Here are the common ways to do line continuation in Python:

Using the backslash for explicit line continuation:

You can place a backslash at the end of a line to tell Python that the statement continues on the next line.

Example:

total = 1 + 2 + 3 + 

        4 + 5 + 6

Just make sure nothing comes after the backslash except a newline.

Using parentheses, brackets, or braces for implicit line continuation:

Python allows you to split expressions inside parentheses (), square brackets [], or curly braces {} across multiple lines without a backslash.

This is often cleaner and preferred.

Example:

total = (1 + 2 + 3 +

         4 + 5 + 6)

Same applies for lists or dictionaries:

my_list = [

    'apple', 'banana',

    'cherry', 'date'

]

Quick tips:

• Avoid mixing tabs and spaces when continuing lines.
  
• Use implicit continuation inside parentheses when possible, as it’s more readable and less error-prone.
  
• For very long strings, consider using triple quotes or string concatenation.
  

In summary, Python offers both explicit () and implicit (parentheses or brackets) ways to split long lines, helping you keep your code clean and easy to read!