Languages

Using the List Data Structure in Python

Python lists are extremely powerful features that cut down the lines of code and the time taken to write your code. In this article, we'll look at various ways to use the Python list data structure to create, update, and delete lists, along with other powerful list methods.

For more background on the different types of data structures in Python, check out my previous article.

Creating a List
Accessing Various Elements
List Slicing and Reversing
List Methods
List Comprehension
Conclusion

Creation

In Python, lists are represented by square brackets. Therefore, we create a list as follows.

colors = ['red', 'blue', 'green']

The above list, colors is stored in memory as shown below.

List, Visualization

We can also create a list that contains multiple data types, like strings, integers, and floats.

type = ['hello', 3.14, 420]

Accessing Various Elements

Python lists follow a zero indexing structure, meaning the list index starts from 0. Nested lists are accessed using nested indexing.

# List Initialization and Assignment
colors = ['red', 'blue', 'green']

# Output: 'red'
print(colors[0])

# Nested List
nest = [[0, 1, 2], [3, 4, 5]]

# Output: 4
print(nest[1][1])

# Error Thrown: IndexError
print(colors[3])

# Error Thrown: TypeError
print(colors[1.0])

Python has a very handy negative indexing feature as well, which starts from the end of the list:

colors = ['red', 'blue', 'green']

# Output: 'green'
print(colors[-1])

List Slicing and Reversing

We can reverse and slice lists using list indices, as follows

nums = [0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9]

# This notation slices from start index -> stop index - 1
# Output: [0, 1, 2, 3]
print(nums[0:4])

# The third number in the notation defines the step (indices to skip)
# By default, step is 1.
# Output: [0, 2]
print(nums[0:4:2])

# If step is a negative number, it slices from the end of list (reverse)
# Output: [9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 0]
print(nums[::-1])

# Output: [0, 1, 2, 3, 4] (beginning to 4th)
print(nums[:-5])

# Output: [0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9]
print(nums[:])

For more information regarding list slicing, refer to this link.

List Methods

list.index()

list.index() returns the index of a specified element in the list. The syntax is: list.index(element, start, end)

# vowels list
vowels = ['a', 'e', 'i', 'o', 'i', 'u']

# index of 'e' in vowels
index = vowels.index('e')
# Output: 1
print(index)

index = vowels.index('x')
# Output: Throws ValueError exception

list.append()

The list.append() method adds an item at the end of a list.

fruits = ['apple']
fruits.append('orange')

# Output: ['apple', 'orange']
print(fruits)

list.extend()

list.extend() extends the list by appending items.

animals = ['lion', 'tiger']
animals1 = ['wolf', 'panther']
animals.extend(animals1)
print(animals)
# Output: ['lion', 'tiger', 'wolf', 'panther']

list.insert()

list.insert() inserts an element into the mentioned index.

nums = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
nums.insert(5, 6)
# Note: the element 6 is inserted in the index 5
print(nums)
# Output: [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]

list.remove()

list.remove() removes the first element that matches from the specified list.

languages = ['english', 'tamil', 'french']
languages.remove('tamil')
print(languages)
# Output: ['english', 'french']

# Throws not in list exception
languages.remove('tamil')

list.count(x)

list.count() returns the number of times that 'x' appears in the list.

counts = [0, 1, 2, 3, 2, 1, 4, 6, 2]
print(list.count(2))
# Output: 3

list.pop()

The list.pop() method removes and returns the element specified in the parameter. If the parameter is not specified, it removes and returns the last element in the list.

alpha = ['a', 'b', 'c', 'd', 'e']
x = alpha.pop()

# Output: 'e'
print(x)
# Output: ['a', 'b', 'c', 'd']
print(alpha)

list.reverse()

The list.reverse() method reverses the list, and updates it. It has no return value.

alpha = ['a', 'b', 'c', 'd', 'e']
alpha.reverse()
# Output: ['e', 'd', 'c', 'b', 'a']
print(alpha)

list.sort()

The list.sort() method sorts the elements of the given list using the syntax: list.sort(key= , reverse= )

# vowels list
vowels = ['e', 'a', 'u', 'o', 'i']

# sort the vowels
vowels.sort()

# print vowels
print(vowels)
# Output: ['a', 'e', 'i', 'o', 'u']

# sort in reverse
vowels.sort(reverse=True)

# print vowels
print(vowels)
# Output: ['u', 'o', 'i', 'e', 'a']

list.copy()

The list.copy() method copies the list into another list.

list1 = [1, 2, 3]
list2 = list1.copy()

# Output: [1, 2, 3]
print(list2)

list.clear()

The list.clear() method empties the given list.

l = ['hello', 'world']

# Output: ['hello', 'world']
print(l)

# Clearing the list
l.clear()

# Output: []
print(l)

List Comprehension

List Comprehensions are advanced features in Python that enable you to create a new list from an existing list, and it consists of expressions within a for statement inside square brackets.

For example:

# The below statement creates a list with 5, 10, ...
p = [5 + x for x in range(5)]

# Output: [5, 10, 15, 20, 25]
print(p)

Conclusion

Lists are one of the most commonly used and most powerful data structures in Python. If one manages to master lists, he/she will perform very well in programming interviews. Once you're done reading and using the list methods, check out the below links and start solving programs based on lists.