What does the repr() function do in Python?

• A. Returns a string representation of an object
• B. Displays objects in a user-friendly way
• C. Formats strings for output
• D. Translates strings to JSON

Answer: (A)

The repr() function in Python is designed to return a string representation of an object that ideally could be used to recreate the object if passed to the eval() function. This representation is meant for developers and is often useful for debugging because it provides more detail about the object than its user-friendly counterpart that is produced by the print() function.

For example, when called on a string object, repr() will include quotes around the string, showing precisely where the string begins and ends. This can be particularly helpful in identifying issues such as leading or trailing whitespace that may not be visible with a regular print statement.

Answering the question correctly illustrates an understanding of the distinction between how objects are represented for developers versus end-users, and highlights the utility of repr() for obtaining a more explicit description of the object’s characteristics.