'''strings1.py

   Jeff Ondich, 2 April 2009

   This sample program will introduce you to string indexes
   and slicing.
'''

# Indexes (or indices, if you prefer the fancy plural).  You can get
# at the individual characters in a string via their numerical
# position in the string using the square bracket notation as
# shown below.  The numerical position of a character is
# called its "index".
#
# -- What is the index of the first character in a string?
# -- What happens if you access a negative index of a string?
# -- What happens if you try to access a really big index (e.g. s[100])?
# -- What do you think: should we say "indexes" or "indices"?  I am
#      ambivalent on the question.

s = 'big bad wolf'
print 's =', s
print 'len(s) =', len(s)
print 's[0] =', s[0]
print 's[1] =', s[1]
print 's[2] =', s[2]
print 's[-1] =', s[-1]
print 's[-2] =', s[-2]
print 's[-3] =', s[-3]
print


# Slices.
#
# -- What slice would give you the string 'bad'?
# -- How would you print the first 5 characters of the string?
# -- How would you print the last 5 characters of the string?

print 's[0:3] =', s[0:3]
print 's[2:5] =', s[2:5]
print 's[2:] =', s[2:]
print 's[:2] =', s[:2]
print 's[2:-2] =', s[2:-2]
print