Remove whitespace in Python using string.whitespace

Question

Python\'s string.whitespace is great:

>>> string.whitespace
\'\\t\\n\\x0b\\x0c\\r \'

How do I use this with a string without resor

Answer 1

What's wrong with the \s character class?

>>> import re

>>> pattern = re.compile(r'\s+')
>>> re.sub(pattern, ' ', "Please \n don't \t hurt \x0b me.")
"Please don't hurt me."