Python converting '\' to '\\'

Question

I am writing a program to sort a list fo input strings (song names). Those songnames contains latex chars like $\\lambda$, which i want to get sorted like \'lambda\' instead, s

Answer 1

But for some reason, when i append the lambda sign or \her it converts it to \\her or $\\lambda$...

No it doesn't. What you're seeing is the representation, which always doubles solo backslashes for clarity. If you print the actual strings instead you'll see that they're fine.