Year 9 – Python programming with sequences of data Handout
Python programming
Introduction
Python is a text-based programming language because it requires the user to write codes into the
computer.
● Lists
● List methods
● List functions
● List operators
● Strings
● String functions
● String operators
● Iterating over sequences
Lists
Lists are a type of data structure that involve
individual items organised in a sequence.
Lists are dynamic data structures: items can be
modified, added, or removed during program
execution.
Create a list
Syntax [comma-separated list of items]
Examples summer = ["June", "July", "August"] Lists are usually assigned when they are
created (so they can be referred to and
modified later on).
numbers = [] A list can be empty.
data = [8, True, "Hello", 3.14] Lists can feature items of different data
types.
Access individual list items
Syntax list[index]
The items in a list can be accessed through an index, i.e. their current
position in the list, with numbering starting at zero.
Examples month = summer[0] Retrieve the value of the first item (zero-
based index 0) in a list.
data[1] = False Assign a new value to the second item
(zero-based index 1) in a list.
previous = planets[position-1] The index can be the value of an
sum = numbers[i] + numbers[i+1] expression.
List slices
Syntax list[start index:end index:step]
A slice of a list is a new list that includes list items from a start index
up to (but not including) an end index. Specifying a step skips over
items.
Examples summer = months[5:8] The new list is a slice containing items 6 to
8.
head = data[:100] You can omit the start index (start from the
first item) and the end index (stop at the
last item).
skipped = values[::2] Skip every other item.
List methods
You can think of list methods as special functions
that are applied to lists. To call a list method, you
need to use dot notation (as shown in the examples
that follow).
Add or remove items
Syntax list.append(item)
Add an item to the end of the list.
Example numbers.append(42)
Syntax list.insert(index,item)
Insert an item at a given (zero-based) index.
Example cities.insert(2, "Oslo") Insert a new item at the third position
(zero-based index 2) in the list.
Syntax list.pop(index)
Remove the item at the given (zero-based) index in the list, and return
it. If no index is specified, remove and return the last item in the list.
Examples tasks.pop()
last = values.pop() The value removed from the list and
returned by pop can be assigned to a
variable.
queue.pop(0) Remove the first item (zero-based index 0)
from the list.
Syntax list.remove(item)
Remove the first item from the list with a particular value. Raises a
ValueError if there is no such item.
Example countries.remove("Japan")
List methods
You can think of list methods as special functions
that are applied to lists. To call a list method, you
need to use dot notation (as shown in the examples
that follow).
Find and count items
Syntax list.index(item)
Search for the first occurrence of an item in the list and return its (zero-
based) index. Raises a ValueError if there is no such item.
Example pos = planets.index("Mars")
Syntax list.count(item)
Return the number of times an item appears in the list.
Example nb_the = words.count("the")
Other list operations
Syntax list.reverse()
Reverse the items of the list.
Example values.reverse()
Syntax list.sort()
Sort the items in the list in ascending order.
Examples names.sort() The items can be strings (and sorting
arranges them in alphabetical order).
numbers.sort(reverse=True) Use the reverse=True argument to sort in
descending order.
List functions
Some functions can accept lists as arguments, process
them, and return a result.
Length of a list: the len function
Syntax len(list)
Return the length (number of items) of a list.
Example len(planets)
Other functions
Syntax sum(list)
min(list)
max(list)
Return the sum of the list elements, the lowest and greatest values in
the list, respectively.
List operators
List operators allow you to form expressions that
involve lists and can be evaluated.
List membership: the in operator
Syntax item in list
Check if the list contains items with a specific value.
This expression evaluates to True or False.
Examples "Pluto" in planets
answer in ["yes", "no"]
name in guests
not "London" in destinations There are two ways to check if a list does
"London" not in destinations not contain a specific value.
Adding lists together
Syntax list + list
This expression evaluates to a new list that comprises the two lists,
joined together in sequence.
Examples numbers = [4, 9, 3] + [6, 3, 2]
pupils = year7 + year8 + year9
Strings
Strings are a type of data structure where individual
characters are organised in a sequence.
Strings cannot be modified during program
execution.
Create a string
Syntax "character sequence"
Examples month = "August" Strings can be assigned to variables when
they are created (so they can be referred to
later on).
empty = "" A string can be empty.
Access individual string characters
Syntax string[index]
String character can be accessed through an index, i.e. their current
position in the string, with numbering starting at zero.
Examples letter = month[0] Retrieve the first character (zero-based
index 0) in a string.
character = password[position-1] The index can be the value of an
expression.
language[1] = "A" An individual character in a string cannot
be assigned a new value.
String slices
Syntax list[start index:end index:step]
A slice of a string is a new string that includes the characters from a
start index up to (but not including) an end index. Specifying a step
skips over items.
Examples substring = word[5:8] The new list is a slice containing items 6 to
8.
prefix = word[:3] You can omit the start index (start from the
first character) and the end index (stop at
the last character).
skipped = name[::2] Skip every other item.
String functions
Some functions can accept strings as arguments,
process them, and return a result.
Length of a string: the len function
Syntax len(list)
Return the length (number of characters) of a string.
Example len(password)
String operators
String operators allow you to form expressions that
involve strings and can be evaluated.
String membership: the in operator
Syntax substring in string
Check if a string is contained within a larger string.
This expression evaluates to True or False.
Examples "sub" in word
letter in "aeiou"
word in text
Adding strings together
Syntax string + string
This expression evaluates to a new string that comprises the two
strings joined together in sequence.
Examples greeting = "Hello " + name + "!"
fullname = firstname + lastname
Split and join
It is often convenient to split a string into a list, or
join the items of a list into a string.
Syntax string.split(separator)
separator.join(list)
Examples names = line.split(", ")
"".join(letters)
Iterating over sequences
The for-loop is a special type of control structure that
can be used to iterate over the elements of a
sequence.
Syntax for element in sequence:
block of statements
For every element in the sequence, execute the block of statements.
Iterating over list items
Syntax for item in list:
block of statements
Execute the block of statements for every item in the list.
Example for name in guests:
print(name)
Iterating over string characters
Syntax for character in string:
block of statements
Execute the block of statements for every character in the string.
Example for character in password:
print(character)
Using while instead of for
You can follow this pattern to use while to achieve a similar effect as
when using for:
Pattern index = 0 Iterate over all indices, retrieve the
while index < len(sequence): corresponding element in the sequence,
and execute the block of statements.
element = sequence[index]
block of statements
index = index + 1
