I'm trying to have the user's cursor in an input statement at a specific point (after the ": |") so it types at that point

Question

Here is my code:

print("Make a 20-digit code with numbers 0-9: |___|", end="\r", flush=True)
addDigits = input("Make a 20-digit code with numbers 0-9: |")

More specifically, I am trying to place the cursor like this, so the user types in-between the two |s:

"Make a 20-digit code with numbers 0-9: |(This is where the cursor should be)|"

(I do have import sys at the top, so it isn't that. Any ideas? Thank you.)

This question is similar to: Printing String after the user input on the same line. If you believe it’s different, please edit the question, make it clear how it’s different and/or how the answers on that question are not helpful for your problem. — Ben Zeen
– Ben Zeen, Commented Oct 28 at 15:11
it may need to use modules like curses but it will need longer code (to check if it is digit and if there are only 4 items. And it may work only in some terminals. — furas
– furas, Commented Oct 29 at 22:19

jackal · Accepted Answer · 2025-10-28 16:07:10Z

2

Python supports the standard backspace character although your terminal may not.

Assuming your terminal does handle it then:

prompt = "Make a 20-digit code with numbers 0-9: |___|"
first_pipe = prompt.find("|") + 1
assert first_pipe > 0
bs = "\b" * (len(prompt) - first_pipe)
value = input(prompt + bs)
print(value)

In this example, there are 3 underscores in the prompt. There's nothing here that would prevent overrunning the prompt. You'd need to use some raw input tooling to handle that.

answered Oct 28 at 16:07

jackal

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2 Comments

define_duck Oct 29 at 14:21

It didn't work but thanks anyway.

jackal Oct 30 at 8:07

@define_duck You will have noted the caveat in my answer that not all terminals support this approach. What is your OS and terminal type?

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