> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://mintlify.com/python/cpython/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Unicode Objects

> Working with Python str type (Unicode strings)

## Overview

Python strings are Unicode (UTF-8) text. The C API provides extensive functions for creating and manipulating Unicode strings.

## Type Object

```c theme={null}
PyTypeObject PyUnicode_Type
```

## Type Checking

```c theme={null}
int PyUnicode_Check(PyObject *o)
int PyUnicode_CheckExact(PyObject *o)
```

## Creating Unicode Strings

### From C Strings

```c theme={null}
PyObject* PyUnicode_FromString(const char *u)
```

Create from UTF-8 encoded C string (null-terminated).

**Example:**

```c theme={null}
PyObject *hello = PyUnicode_FromString("Hello, World!");
return hello;
```

### With Length

```c theme={null}
PyObject* PyUnicode_FromStringAndSize(const char *u, Py_ssize_t size)
```

**Example:**

```c theme={null}
PyObject *str = PyUnicode_FromStringAndSize("Hello", 5);
```

### From Format String

```c theme={null}
PyObject* PyUnicode_FromFormat(const char *format, ...)
```

Like `sprintf` for Python strings.

**Format codes:**

* `%s` - C string (UTF-8)
* `%d`, `%ld` - Integers
* `%S` - PyObject\* (via `PyObject_Str()`)
* `%R` - PyObject\* (via `PyObject_Repr()`)

**Example:**

```c theme={null}
PyObject *msg = PyUnicode_FromFormat("Value: %d, Name: %s", 42, "test");
```

## Converting to C Strings

```c theme={null}
const char* PyUnicode_AsUTF8(PyObject *unicode)
```

Get UTF-8 encoded C string. Returns `NULL` on error.

**Example:**

```c theme={null}
const char *str = PyUnicode_AsUTF8(obj);
if (str == NULL)
    return NULL;
printf("String: %s\\n", str);
```

<Warning>
  The returned pointer is owned by the Unicode object. Don't free it!
</Warning>

## String Operations

```c theme={null}
Py_ssize_t PyUnicode_GetLength(PyObject *unicode)
PyObject* PyUnicode_Concat(PyObject *left, PyObject *right)
PyObject* PyUnicode_Join(PyObject *separator, PyObject *seq)
PyObject* PyUnicode_Split(PyObject *s, PyObject *sep, Py_ssize_t maxsplit)
```

**Example:**

```c theme={null}
PyObject *parts = PyUnicode_Split(str, PyUnicode_FromString(","), -1);
```

## Complete Example

```c theme={null}
static PyObject* format_name(PyObject *self, PyObject *args) {
    const char *first, *last;
    
    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "ss", &first, &last))
        return NULL;
    
    return PyUnicode_FromFormat("%s %s", first, last);
}
```

## See Also

* [Bytes Objects](/c-api/bytes)
* [Object Protocol](/c-api/object)