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Python’s built-in complex() converts a string or number to a complex value, or creates one from real and imaginary parts. For example, complex(3, 4) returns (3+4j), while complex('3+4j') parses that representation. The examples and version notes below follow the Python 3.14 built-in-functions reference.

What does complex() do?

A complex number has a real part and an imaginary part. Python writes the imaginary unit with a j or J suffix; the value 3+4j therefore has real part 3 and imaginary part 4. Use complex() either to convert one input or to construct a value from two inputs.

Python complex values expose their components through .real and .imag:

z = complex(3, 4)
print(z.real)  # 3.0
print(z.imag)  # 4.0

Both components are floating-point numbers. See the Python 3.14.8 numeric-types reference.

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Choose the right call form

Call form Use it for Example Typical issue
One string Parsing a textual complex value complex('3+4j') Malformed syntax raises ValueError.
One number Converting a numeric value, with zero imaginary part complex(1.23) gives (1.23+0j) The input must support the documented conversion protocol.
Two numbers Supplying real and imaginary parts separately complex(-1.23, 4.5) gives (-1.23+4.5j) Both arguments must be numeric; this form is not string parsing.
No arguments Creating zero complex() gives 0j None.

Convert a string to a complex number

A string can represent a real value, an imaginary value, or a real-plus-imaginary value. The imaginary component uses j or J; when both components appear, the imaginary component must have an explicit sign.

complex('5')       # (5+0j)
complex('4j')      # 4j
complex('3+4j')    # (3+4j)
complex('3-4J')    # (3-4j)
complex('  (3+4j)  ')  # (3+4j)

Whitespace surrounding the expression and parentheses are allowed. Whitespace inside the expression is restricted: complex('1 + 2j') raises ValueError. If input comes from a user or file, validate or normalize its format rather than assuming spaces around the operator are accepted.

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Construct a value from real and imaginary parts

Pass the real component first and the imaginary component second. This is useful when the two values are already separate variables; do not add a j suffix to the second argument.

real_part = -1.23
imag_part = 4.5
z = complex(real_part, imag_part)
print(z)  # (-1.23+4.5j)

How conversion handles other objects

For an object that is not already a supported string or number, complex(x) tries conversion methods in this order: x.__complex__(), then x.__float__(), then x.__index__(). The __index__() fallback was added in Python 3.8. This protocol order matters when implementing a custom numeric class: define the method that best represents conversion to a complex value.

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Python 3.14 also adds complex.from_number(x), a distinct class method for converting a number. It is not another spelling of the two-argument construction form; consult the built-in-functions reference when targeting that version or later.

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What operations work on complex values?

Complex numbers support arithmetic such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. They do not support ordering comparisons such as < or >; floor division and some other operations listed for real numeric types are unavailable for complex values. If code needs to sort or compare values, choose a meaningful component or magnitude explicitly instead of ordering complex numbers directly.

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