Cheatsheets / Learn Python 3

Lists
Lists
In Python, lists are ordered collections of items that
allow for easy use of a set of data. primes = [2, 3, 5, 7, 11]
List values are placed in between square brackets [ ] , print(primes)
separated by commas. It is good practice to put a
space between the comma and the next value. The
empty_list = []
values in a list do not need to be unique (the same
value can be repeated).
Empty lists do not contain any values within the square
brackets.

Adding Lists Together

In Python, lists can be added to each other using the
plus symbol + . As shown in the code block, this will items = ['cake', 'cookie', 'bread']
result in a new list containing the same items in the total_items = items + ['biscuit', 'tart']
same order with the first list’s items coming first. print(total_items)
Note: This will not work for adding one item at a time
# Result: ['cake', 'cookie', 'bread',
(use .append() method). In order to add one item,
'biscuit', 'tart']
create a new list with a single value and then use the
plus symbol to add the list.

Python Lists: Data Types

In Python, lists are a versatile data type that can
contain multiple different data types within the same numbers = [1, 2, 3, 4, 10]
square brackets. The possible data types within a list names = ['Jenny', 'Sam', 'Alexis']
include numbers, strings, other objects, and even other mixed = ['Jenny', 1, 2]
lists. list_of_lists = [['a', 1], ['b', 2]]

List Method .append()

In Python, you can add values to the end of a list using
the .append() method. This will place the object orders = ['daisies', 'periwinkle']
passed in as a new element at the very end of the list. orders.append('tulips')
Printing the list afterwards will visually show the print(orders)
appended value. This .append() method is not to be # Result: ['daisies', 'periwinkle',
confused with returning an entirely new list with the
'tulips']
passed object.

Zero-Indexing
In Python, list index begins at zero and ends at the
length of the list minus one. For example, in this list, names = ['Roger', 'Rafael', 'Andy',
'Andy' is found at index 2 . 'Novak']
List Indices
Python list elements are ordered by index, a number
referring to their placement in the list. List indices start berries = ["blueberry", "cranberry",
at 0 and increment by one. "raspberry"]
To access a list element by index, square bracket
notation is used: list[index] . berries[0]   # "blueberry"
berries[2]   # "raspberry"

Negative List Indices

Negative indices for lists in Python can be used to
reference elements in relation to the end of a list. This soups = ['minestrone', 'lentil', 'pho',
can be used to access single list elements or as part of 'laksa']
defining a list range. For instance: soups[-1]   # 'laksa'
soups[-3:]  # 'lentil', 'pho', 'laksa'
To select the last element, my_list[-1] .
soups[:-2]  # 'minestrone', 'lentil'
To select the last three elements, my_list[-3:] .

To select everything except the last two

elements, my_list[:-2] .

Modifying 2D Lists
In order to modify elements in a 2D list, an index for the
sublist and the index for the element of the sublist # A 2D list of names and hobbies
need to be provided. The format for this is class_name_hobbies = [["Jenny",
list[sublist_index][element_in_sublist_index] =
"Breakdancing"], ["Alexus",
new_value .
"Photography"], ["Grace", "Soccer"]]

# The sublist of Jenny is at index 0. The

hobby is at index 1 of the sublist.
class_name_hobbies[0][1] = "Meditation"
print(class_name_hobbies)

# Output
# [["Jenny", "Meditation"], ["Alexus",
"Photography"], ["Grace", "Soccer"]]
Accessing 2D Lists
In order to access elements in a 2D list, an index for the
sublist and the index for the element of the sublist both # 2D list of people's heights
need to be provided. The format for this is heights = [["Noelle", 61], ["Ali", 70],
list[sublist_index][element_in_sublist_index] . ["Sam", 67]]
# Access the sublist at index 0, and then
access the 1st index of that sublist.
noelles_height = heights[0][1]
print(noelles_height)

# Output
# 61

List Method .remove()

The .remove() method in Python is used to remove an
element from a list by passing in the value of the # Create a list
element to be removed as an argument. In the case shopping_line = ["Cole", "Kip", "Chris",
where two or more elements in the list have the same "Sylvana", "Chris"]
value, the first occurrence of the element is removed.

# Removes the first occurance of "Chris"

shopping_line.remove("Chris")
print(shopping_line)

# Output
# ["Cole", "Kip", "Sylvana", "Chris"]

List Method .count()

The .count() Python list method searches a list for
whatever search term it receives as an argument, then backpack = ['pencil', 'pen', 'notebook',
returns the number of matching entries found. 'textbook', 'pen', 'highlighter', 'pen']
numPen = backpack.count('pen')

print(numPen)
# Output: 3

Determining List Length with len()

The Python len() function can be used to determine
the number of items found in the list it accepts as an knapsack = [2, 4, 3, 7, 10]
argument. size = len(knapsack)
print(size)
# Output: 5
List Method .sort()
The .sort() Python list method will sort the contents
of whatever list it is called on. Numerical lists will be exampleList = [4, 2, 1, 3]
sorted in ascending order, and lists of Strings will be exampleList.sort()
sorted into alphabetical order. It modifies the original print(exampleList)
list, and has no return value.
# Output: [1, 2, 3, 4]

List Slicing
A slice, or sub-list of Python list elements can be
selected from a list using a colon-separated starting tools = ['pen', 'hammer', 'lever']
and ending point. tools_slice = tools[1:3] # ['hammer',
The syntax pattern is myList[START_NUMBER:END_NUMBER] . 'lever']
The slice will include the START_NUMBER index, and tools_slice[0] = 'nail'
everything until but excluding the END_NUMBER item.
When slicing a list, a new list is returned, so if the slice
# Original list is unaltered:
is saved and then altered, the original list remains the
print(tools) # ['pen', 'hammer', 'lever']
same.

sorted() Function
The Python sorted() function accepts a list as an
argument, and will return a new, sorted list containing unsortedList = [4, 2, 1, 3]
the same elements as the original. Numerical lists will sortedList = sorted(unsortedList)
be sorted in ascending order, and lists of Strings will be print(sortedList)
sorted into alphabetical order. It does not modify the # Output: [1, 2, 3, 4]
original, unsorted list.

List Method .insert()

The Python list method .insert() allows us to add an
element to a specific index in a list. # Here is a list representing a line of
It takes in two inputs: people at a store
store_line = ["Karla", "Maxium",
The index that you want to insert into.
"Martim", "Isabella"]
The element that you want to insert at the
specified index. # Here is how to insert "Vikor" after
"Maxium" and before "Martim"
store_line.insert(2, "Vikor")

print(store_line)
# Output: ['Karla', 'Maxium', 'Vikor',
'Martim', 'Isabella']
List Method .pop()
The .pop() method allows us to remove an element
from a list while also returning it. It accepts one cs_topics = ["Python", "Data Structures",
optional input which is the index of the element to "Balloon Making", "Algorithms", "Clowns
remove. If no index is provided, then the last element in 101"]
the list will be removed and returned.

# Pop the last element

removed_element = cs_topics.pop()

print(cs_topics)
print(removed_element)

# Output:
# ['Python', 'Data Structures', 'Balloon
Making', 'Algorithms']
# 'Clowns 101'

# Pop the element "Baloon Making"

cs_topics.pop(2)
print(cs_topics)

# Output:
# ['Python', 'Data Structures',
'Algorithms']