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InString[n]

is a global object that is assigned to be the text of the n^(th) input line.

Details
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Examples  
Basic Examples  
Scope  
Properties & Relations  
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InString

InString[n]

is a global object that is assigned to be the text of the n^(th) input line.

Details

  • InString[n] gives the string that the Wolfram Language read for the n^(th) input line. In a text-based interface, the string includes all intermediate newlines in the input, but not the newline at the end.
  • In a notebook interface, InString will typically return a string representing a typeset expression.
  • The value of InString[n] is assigned after the input is verified to be syntactically correct, and after any function given as the value of $PreRead has been applied.
  • InString[] gives the text of the last input line.
  • InString[-k] gives the text of the input k lines back.

Examples

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Basic Examples  (1)

Show input as a string:

With StandardForm input, the string represents a typeset expression:

Scope  (1)

Create three inputs:

Retrieve the first input string:

Get the next-to-last input string:

Properties & Relations  (1)

InString returns a string:

In StandardForm, calling ToExpression on the result will return a typeset expression:

MakeExpression converts the typeset expression to the input expression:

Wolfram Research (1991), InString, Wolfram Language function, https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/InString.html.

Text

Wolfram Research (1991), InString, Wolfram Language function, https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/InString.html.

CMS

Wolfram Language. 1991. "InString." Wolfram Language & System Documentation Center. Wolfram Research. https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/InString.html.

APA

Wolfram Language. (1991). InString. Wolfram Language & System Documentation Center. Retrieved from https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/InString.html

BibTeX

@misc{reference.wolfram_2025_instring, author="Wolfram Research", title="{InString}", year="1991", howpublished="\url{https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/InString.html}", note=[Accessed: 16-August-2025]}

BibLaTeX

@online{reference.wolfram_2025_instring, organization={Wolfram Research}, title={InString}, year={1991}, url={https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/InString.html}, note=[Accessed: 16-August-2025]}