Python ยท Chapter 15 of 45

Python Lists

A list is an ordered, mutable collection created with `[]`. Lists can hold items of ANY type, including other lists.

Access with `mylist[i]`, slice with `mylist[a:b]`, add with `append()`, remove with `remove()` or `pop()`.

Common methods

`append(x)`, `insert(i, x)`, `remove(x)`, `pop(i)`, `sort()`, `reverse()`, `len(list)`, `x in list`.

Mutability

Lists are mutable, so methods change them in place. Sorting returns None but modifies the list.

Example 1 (python)
nums = [3, 1, 4, 1, 5]
nums.append(9)
nums.sort()
print(nums)
Output
[1, 1, 3, 4, 5, 9]

Add then sort in place.

Example 2 (python)
colors = ["red", "green", "blue"]
print(colors[0], colors[-1])
print(colors[1:])
Output
red blue
['green', 'blue']

Indexing and slicing lists.

Key points

  • Ordered, mutable, allow duplicates.
  • Any type of item, mixed types OK.
  • Access with `[i]`, slice with `[a:b]`.
  • `append`, `pop`, `sort`, `reverse` modify in place.
๐Ÿ’ก Note: `sorted(list)` returns a NEW sorted list. `list.sort()` sorts in place and returns None.

๐Ÿ“ Quick Quiz

1. Which creates an empty list?

2. `[1,2,3].append(4)` results in:

3. Lists in Python are: