Essential Python 3 code for lists
Tags: python, programming, beginners, interview
Published: 2019-03-07 20:47:38

---
title: Essential Python 3 code for lists
published: true
description: Examples of all the list code helpful for an interview, and coding in general
tags: python, programming, beginners, interview
cover_image: https://thepracticaldev.s3.amazonaws.com/i/nqtcfuscd3sftzkz3ng9.jpg
---

Python 3 examples for all of the things I listed in my previous article.

{% link https://dev.to/mortoray/essential-code-for-lists-and-vectors-in-an-interview-5255 %}

There are variations on much of this syntax, but so long as you know one way, you'll be fine. I tried to find the Pythonic way in most cases. You can use this as a cheat sheet.

## Basics

```py
# Create a list
mylist = []

# Add an element to the front or back
mylist.append( "abc" )
mylist.insert( 0, "def" )

# Pop element off front or back
end = mylist.pop()
start = mylist.pop( 0 )

# Forward iterate over elements
for item in mylist:
	print( item )
	
# Get the length of list
len( mylist )

# Test if empty
if not mylist:
	print( "list is empty" )
```

## Location Based Operations

```py
# Get item at location
mylist[2]

# Insert an item at location
mylist.insert( 3, "abc" ) 

# Remove an item from location
del mylist[2]

# Replace/Assign item at location
mylist[1] = "def"
```

## Sorting and searching

```py
# Find an item
if item in mylist:
	index = mylist.index(item)
	
# Using `index` and error handling
try:
	index = mylist.index( 'abc' )
except ValueError:
	index = None
	
# Using `next` and filtering
next((x for x in mylist if x == 'ghif'), None)


# Find and remove an item
if item in mylist:
	mylist.remove( item )
	
# with error handling
try:
	mylist.remove( item )
except ValueError:
	pass
	

# Find last matching item
# Index of found item, or None
next( (index for index in reversed( range( len( mylist ) ) ) if mylist[index] == item), None)

# Alternately, reverse list and use "Find an item", but that copies the list
revlist = mylist[::-1]
if item in revlist:
	index = revlist.index( item )


# Sort by natural order
# in-place sort
mylist.sort()

# Sort with custom comparator
mylist = [ ('a', 10), ('b', 7), ('c',13), ('d',1) ]
# sort by a key (sub-element
mylist.sort( key = lambda item: item[1] )
# custom comparator
def compare_fn( a, b ):
	return some_cond( a, b )
mylist.sort( key = functools.cmp_to_key( compare_fn ) )
```

## Segment Manipulation

```py
# Split the list at arbitrary location
tail_of_list = mylist[2:]
head_of_list = mylist[:2]

# Multiple splits based on a match
mylist = ['a', 'b', 'c', 'd', 'b', 'e']
[list(y) for x, y in itertools.groupby( mylist, lambda z: z == 'b') if not x]

# Clear the list
mylist.clear()

# Remove segment
# delete from position 1 up to, but excluding position 3
del mylist[1:3]

# Concatenate lists
mylist + other_list

# Insert list at location
# list slicing replaces the segment of list with another one, here we replace a zero-length slice
mylist[1:1] = other_list

# Get a sublist
# sublist starting at position 1 up to, but excluding, position 3
mylist[1:3]
```

## More Iteration

```py
# Backward
for item in reversed( mylist ):
	print( item )
	
# Partial segment iteration
# using itertools.islice avoids copying the list (which is what would happen if you used a slice)
for item in itertools.islice( mylist, 1, 4 ):
	print( item )
	
# Skipping elements
# step from element 1 to 6 (exclusive) by 2
for item in itertools.islice( mylist, 1, 6, 2 ):
	print( item )
```

## Creation

```py
# Create from a static list of items
mylist = [ 'abc', 'def', 'ghi']

# Create a range of numbers
# a list of numbers from 10..20 (exclusive)
numbers = list( range( 10, 20 ) )
```

## Data Manipulation

```py
# Mapping
[number * 10 for number in numbers]

# Filtering
[number for number in numbers if number % 2 == 0]

# Fold / Reduce
# Summing up numbers using builtin add
functools.reduce( operator.add, numbers )
# Joining string representations of items
functools.reduce( lambda left,right: str( left ) + '/' + str( right ), mylist )

# Zip
# the zip function produces a list of tuples
zip( lista, listb )
# to alternate items into one list use reduce
functools.reduce( operator.add, zip( lista, listb ) )
```

## Advanced

```py
# Swap elements at two locations
mylist[3], mylist[5] = mylist[5], mylist[3]

# Reserve capacity
# Python lists do not expose capacity

# Replace content in a list
mylist[:] = other_list

# Compare two lists
lista == listb

# Search a sorted list
# bisect_left/bisect_right work with sorted lists,
# find an item ndx using bisect_left, finds the left-most item
ndx = bisect_left( numbers, 4 )
if ndx != len(numbers) and numbers[ndx] == 4
	print( "Found at {}".format(ndx) )


# Iterators
# Manually stepping through an iterator
myiter = iter( mylist )
while True:
	try:
		n = next( myiter )
		print(n)
	except StopIteration:
		break

# Multiple iterators at the same time
itera = iter( lista )
iterb = iter( listb )
while True:
	try:
		a = next( itera )
		b = next( iterb )
		print( a, b )
	except StopIteration:
		break
```

---

_Do you want to learn more ways to become a great programmer? Read my book [What is Programming?](http://bit.ly/2tG8fGS). I look at the People, the reason software exists, the code at the heart of that software, and you, the person behind the keyboard._