Python Lists

Learning Objectives

After this lesson, you will be able to:

  • Create lists in Python.

  • Print out specific elements in a list.

  • Perform common list operations.

Lists

What is a list?

A list is Python's name for an array. They function very similarly to Javascript arrays.

# Declaring lists
colors = ["red", "yellow", "green"]
my_class = ["James", "Zoe", "Steve", "Nhu", "Paulo"]

# Strings
colors = ["red", "yellow", "green"]

# Numbers
my_nums = [4, 7, 9, 1, 4]

# Both!
loosy_goosy = ["red", 7, "yellow", 1, 4]

If you want to access a specific element, you access it with bracket notations in the same way as Javascript. For example, to print 'Steve', we would write: print(my_class[2]).

List Operations

Basic List Operations

len()

To get the length of a list, use len(list_name). For example:

my_class = ["James", "Zoe", "Steve", "Nhu", "Paulo"]

num_students = len(my_class)
print("There are", num_students, "students in the class")
# => 5

append()

To add something on the end of a list, use list_name.append(item). For example:

my_class = ["James", "Zoe", "Steve", "Nhu", "Paulo"]

my_class.append("Sonyl")
print(my_class)
# => ["James", "Zoe", "Steve", "Nhu", "Paulo", "Sonyl"]

insert()

To add an element in a list at a specific index, use list_name.insert(index, item). For example:

my_class = ["James", "Zoe", "Steve", "Nhu", "Paulo", "Sonyl"]

my_class.insert(1, "Kelly")
print(my_class)
# => ["James", "Kelly", "Zoe", "Steve", "Nhu", "Paulo", "Sonyl"]

pop()

There are two ways to use pop(); with no parameters or with an index. If no parameter is set, pop() will remove the last item from a list and return it, otherwise it will remove the item at that specific index. For example:

my_class = ["James", "Kelly", "Zoe", "Steve", "Nhu", "Paulo", "Sonyl"]

student_that_left = my_class.pop()
print(student_that_left, "has left the class.")
# => "Sonyl has left the class"
print(my_class)
# => ["James", "Kelly", "Zoe", "Steve", "Nhu", "Paulo"]

second_student_to_leave = my_class.pop(1)
print(student_that_left, "has left the class.")
# => "Kelly has left the class"
print(my_class)
# => ["James", "Zoe", "Steve", "Nhu", "Paulo"]

Test it out!

  1. Declare a list with the names of your classmates

  2. Print out the length of that list

  3. Add a new classmate

  4. Print the 3rd name on the list

  5. Delete the first name on the list

  6. Move the last name on the list to be the second name

Answers ```python # 1. Declare a list with the names of your classmates classmates = ["James", "Tamis", "Parker", "Nhu", "Brad", "Q", "Kelly", "Paulo", "Doug"] # 2. Print out the length of that list print(len(classmates)) # 3. Add a new classmate classmates.append("Taylor") print(classmates) # 4. Print the 3rd name on the list print(classmates[2]) # 5. Delete the first name on the list print(classmates.pop(0)) # 6. Move the last name on the list to be the second name classmates.insert(1, classmates.pop()) print(classmates) ```

Numerical List Operations

These actions can only be used with lists of numbers.

sum()

This is used when you want to add all the numeric items in your list. For example:

# sum(numeric_list)

batting_avgs = [.328, .299, .208, .301, .275, .226, .253, .232, .287]
sum_avgs = sum(batting_avgs)
print("The total of all the batting averages is", sum_avgs)
# => 2.409

min() and max()

These will find the smallest and largest number in your list. For example:

# max(numeric_list)
# min(numeric_list)

batting_avgs = [.328, .299, .208, .301, .275, .226, .253, .232, .287]
print("The highest batting average is", max(batting_avgs))
# => 0.328
print("The lowest batting average is", min(batting_avgs))
# => 0.208

Test it out!

  1. Declare a list of numbers

  2. Print out the largest difference between numbers

  3. Print the mean of all the numbers

Answers

```python # Declare a list of numbers numberz = [4, 10, 8, 9, 77, 21, 3, 4] # Print out the largest difference between numbers big_diff = max(numberz) - min(numberz) print(big_diff) # Print the mean of all the numbers avg = sum(numberz)/len(numberz) print(avg) ```

Additional Resources

PreviousIntro to PythonNextPython Loops

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