Python String to Bytes: `bytes()` vs. `encode()` — Which is More Pythonic?

Converting Strings to Bytes in Python 3

The unavoidable "TypeError: 'str' does not support the buffer interface" error often arises when attempting to convert a string to bytes. To address this issue, two primary methods are suggested:

b = bytes(mystring, 'utf-8')

b = mystring.encode('utf-8')

Which method is considered more Pythonic?

Bytes and Bytearrays

Consult the Python documentation for bytes. Note that it directs you to bytearray, which serves a broader purpose than solely encoding strings.

bytearray([source[, encoding[, errors]]])

Bytearray initializes a mutable sequence of integers from various sources, including strings:

• For string sources, it relies on str.encode().
• Other supported sources include integers, buffers, and iterables of integers.

Pythonic Considerations

To encode a string, some_string.encode(encoding) is deemed more Pythonic. The use of the encode() method clearly expresses the intent to transform the input string into bytes using a specific encoding. The bytes() constructor, while suitable for more comprehensive operations, is less explicit in this scenario.

Furthermore, unicode_string.encode(encoding) mirrors the symmetry of byte_string.decode(encoding) for converting bytes back to strings, enhancing code readability and consistency.

Internal Implementation

CPython's implementation converts Unicode strings to bytes using PyUnicode_AsEncodedString, which essentially invokes the encode() method internally. Therefore, calling encode() directly saves you an extra step.

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