Python split string without splitting escaped character

Question

Is there a way to split a string without splitting escaped character? For example, I have a string and want to split by \':\' and not by \'\\:\'

http\\://ww         


        

Answer 1

building on @user629923's suggestion, but being much simpler than other answers:

import re
DBL_ESC = "!double escape!"

s = r"Hello:World\:Goodbye\\:Cruel\\\:World"

map(lambda x: x.replace(DBL_ESC, r'\\'), re.split(r'(?