Python regex to replace double backslash with single backslash

Question

I\'m trying to replace all double backslashes with just a single backslash. I want to replace \'class=\\\\\"highlight\' with \'class=\\\"highlight\'

Answer 1

You only got one backslash in string:

>>> string = 'class=\\"highlight' 
>>> print string
class=\"highlight

Now lets put another one in there

>>> string = 'class=\\\\"highlight' 
>>> print string
class=\\"highlight

and then remove it again

>>> print re.sub('\\\\\\\\', r'\\', string)
class=\"highlight

Answer 2

why not use string.replace()?

>>> s = 'some \\\\ doubles'
>>> print s
some \\ doubles
>>> print s.replace('\\\\', '\\')
some \ doubles

Or with "raw" strings:

>>> s = r'some \\ doubles'
>>> print s
some \\ doubles
>>> print s.replace('\\\\', '\\')
some \ doubles

Since the escape character is complicated, you still need to escape it so it does not escape the '