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Lists

Lists

In Python, lists are ordered collections of items that allow primes = [2, 3, 5, 7, 11]
for easy use of a set of data.
print(primes)
List values are placed in between square brackets [ ] ,
separated by commas. It is good practice to put a space
between the comma and the next value. The values in a empty_list = []
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 items = ['cake', 'cookie', 'bread']
symbol + . As shown in the code block, this will result in a
total_items = items + ['biscuit', 'tart']
new list containing the same items in the 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 (use # Result: ['cake', 'cookie', 'bread',
.append() method). In order to add one item, create a
'biscuit', 'tart']
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 numbers = [1, 2, 3, 4, 10]
multiple different data types within the same square
names = ['Jenny', 'Sam', 'Alexis']
brackets. The possible data types within a list include
numbers, strings, other objects, and even other lists. mixed = ['Jenny', 1, 2]
list_of_lists = [['a', 1], ['b', 2]]

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List Method .append()

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

Zero-Indexing

In Python, list index begins at zero and ends at the length names = ['Roger', 'Rafael', 'Andy',
of the list minus one. For example, in this list, 'Andy' is
'Novak']
found at index 2 .

List Indices

Python list elements are ordered by index, a number berries = ["blueberry", "cranberry",
referring to their placement in the list. List indices start at
"raspberry"]
0 and increment by one.
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 soups = ['minestrone', 'lentil', 'pho',
reference elements in relation to the end of a list. This
'laksa']
can be used to access single list elements or as part of
defining a list range. For instance: soups[-1] # 'laksa'
To select the last element, my_list[-1] . soups[-3:] # 'lentil', 'pho', 'laksa'
To select the last three elements, my_list[-3:] .
soups[:-2] # 'minestrone', 'lentil'
To select everything except the last two elements,
my_list[:-2] .

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Modifying 2D Lists

In order to modify elements in a 2D list, an index for the # A 2D list of names and hobbies
sublist and the index for the element of the sublist need
class_name_hobbies = [["Jenny",
to be provided. The format for this is list[sublist_index]
[element_in_sublist_index] = new_value . "Breakdancing"], ["Alexus",
"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 # 2D list of people's heights
sublist and the index for the element of the sublist both
heights = [["Noelle", 61], ["Ali", 70],
need to be provided. The format for this is
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

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List Method .remove()

The .remove() method in Python is used to remove an # Create a list

element from a list by passing in the value of the element
shopping_line = ["Cole", "Kip", "Chris",
to be removed as an argument. In the case where two or
more elements in the list have the same value, the first "Sylvana", "Chris"]
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 backpack = ['pencil', 'pen', 'notebook',
whatever search term it receives as an argument, then
'textbook', 'pen', 'highlighter', 'pen']
returns the number of matching entries found.
numPen = backpack.count('pen')

print(numPen)
# Output: 3

Determining List Length with len()

The Python len() function can be used to determine the knapsack = [2, 4, 3, 7, 10]
number of items found in the list it accepts as an
size = len(knapsack)
argument.
print(size)
# Output: 5

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List Method .sort()

The .sort() Python list method will sort the contents of exampleList = [4, 2, 1, 3]
whatever list it is called on. Numerical lists will be sorted
exampleList.sort()
in ascending order, and lists of Strings will be sorted into
alphabetical order. It modifies the original list, and has no print(exampleList)
return value. # Output: [1, 2, 3, 4]

List Slicing

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

sorted() Function

The Python sorted() function accepts a list as an unsortedList = [4, 2, 1, 3]

argument, and will return a new, sorted list containing the
sortedList = sorted(unsortedList)
same elements as the original. Numerical lists will 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.

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List Method .insert()

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

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List Method .pop()

The .pop() method allows us to remove an element cs_topics = ["Python", "Data Structures",
from a list while also returning it. It accepts one optional
"Balloon Making", "Algorithms", "Clowns
input which is the index of the element to remove. If no
index is provided, then the last element in the list will be 101"]
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']

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