List

Definition

A list in Python is an ordered collection of items, where each item can be of a different data type. Lists are one of the most fundamental and versatile data structures in the Python programming language, allowing you to store and manipulate multiple values in a single variable.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Lists can contain elements of different data types, including numbers, strings, and other data structures like dictionaries and nested lists.
2. Lists are defined using square brackets '[]', and elements are separated by commas.
3. Lists are ordered, meaning the position of each element is important and can be accessed using indexing.
4. List elements can be modified, added, or removed using various list methods and operations.
5. Lists are widely used in Python for tasks such as storing collections of data, processing data, and implementing algorithms.

Review Questions

• Explain how lists can be used in the context of mixed data types (2.3 Mixed data types)
  • Lists in Python can store elements of different data types, including numbers, strings, and even other data structures like dictionaries or nested lists. This flexibility allows you to create heterogeneous collections of data, which is particularly useful when working with mixed data types. For example, a list could contain a combination of integers, floating-point numbers, and strings, enabling you to organize and manipulate diverse data within a single variable.
• Describe how lists can be used in the context of variable assignment and reassignment (3.3 Variables revisited)
  • Lists can be assigned to variables, and the contents of those lists can be modified, added to, or removed over time. This allows you to work with dynamic collections of data, where the specific elements stored in the list can change as your program executes. By assigning a list to a variable, you can reference and manipulate the list throughout your code, making lists a powerful tool for managing and updating data as your program's requirements evolve.
• Analyze the role of lists in the context of looping constructs (5.1 While loop, 5.2 For loop, 5.3 Nested loops)
  • Lists are commonly used in conjunction with looping constructs, such as the 'while' and 'for' loops, as well as nested loops. These loops allow you to iterate over the elements of a list, performing operations on each item or using the list elements to control the flow of your program. For example, you can use a 'for' loop to iterate over the elements of a list, accessing and manipulating them as needed. Nested loops can also be used to process multi-dimensional data structures, such as lists of lists. The ability to combine lists and loops is a powerful feature that enables you to automate and streamline many programming tasks.

Related terms

Mutable: Lists are mutable, meaning their elements can be modified, added, or removed after they are created.

Indexing: Lists use zero-based indexing, allowing you to access individual elements within the list using their position.

Slicing: Lists support slicing, which allows you to extract a subset of elements from the list based on their indices.