Difference between input() and raw_input() functions in Python

In Python, both input() and raw_input() functions are used to take user input.

Note: raw_input() was used in Python 2 but is no longer available in Python 3, as it has been deprecated.

Let’s understand the difference clearly.

input() function

The input() function is used to take input from the user as a string. It waits for the user to type something and press Enter, then returns that input as a string which can be stored or processed in the program. 

Example program in Python3 

val1 = input("Enter the name: ")
print(type(val1))
print(val1)

val2 = input("Enter the number: ")
print(type(val2))

val2 = int(val2)
print(type(val2))
print(val2)

Input and Output

Here, the value "python3" take from the user and store it in the val1 variable. The type of the value stored is always string for input function only for Python 3.x. The value "1997" take from the user and store it in the variable val2. Now, the type of variable val2 is a string and we have to convert the type to an integer using int() function. The val2 variable stores the value "1997" as an integer type. 

Example program in Python2 

# Python program to demonstrate
# input() function in Python2.x


val1 = input("Enter the name: ")
print(type(val1))
print(val1)

val2 = input("Enter the number: ")
print(type(val2))
print(val2)

Input and Output

 Here, the value "python3" take from the user and store it in the val1 variable. The function takes the value and type of the input you enter as it is without modifying the type. The type of value in val1 is string type. The value "1997" takes from the user and store it in the variable val2. Now, the type of variable val2 is integer type. We don't need to explicitly change the variable type.

raw_input() function

Python raw_input function is used to get the values from the user. We call this function to tell the program to stop and wait for the user to input the values. It is a built-in function. The input function is used only in Python 2.x version. The Python 2.x has two functions to take the value from the user. The first one is input function and another one is raw_input() function. The raw_input() function is similar to input() function in Python 3.x. Developers are recommended to use raw_input function in Python 2.x.

Example program in Python2 

val1 = raw_input("Enter the name: ")
print(type(val1))
print(val1)

val2 = raw_input("Enter the number: ")
print(type(val2))
val2 = int(val2)
print(type(val2))
print(val2)

Input and Output

Here, the value "python3" take from the user and store it in the val1 variable. The type of the value stored is always string for raw_input function. The value "1997" take from the user and store it in the variable val2. Now, the type of variable val2 is a string and we have to convert the type to an integer using int() function. The val2 variable stores the value "1997" as an integer type.

Let us see the differences in a tabular form -: