title: Correct way to define Python source code encoding
body: <p><a href="http://www.python.org/dev/peps/pep-0263/" rel="noreferrer">PEP 263</a> defines how to declare Python source code encoding.</p>
  
  <p>Normally, the first 2 lines of a Python file should start with:</p>
  
  <pre><code>#!/usr/bin/python
  # -*- coding: &lt;encoding name&gt; -*-
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>But I have seen a lot of files starting with:</p>
  
  <pre><code>#!/usr/bin/python
  # -*- encoding: &lt;encoding name&gt; -*-
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>=> <strong>encoding</strong> instead of <strong>coding</strong>.</p>
  
  <p>So what is the correct way of declaring the file encoding?</p>
  
  <p>Is <strong>encoding</strong> permitted because the regex used is lazy? Or is it just another form of declaring the file encoding?</p>
  
  <p>I'm asking this question because the PEP does not talk about <strong>encoding</strong>, it just talks about <strong>coding</strong>.</p>