How to Get Length of List in Python

Learn how to get the length of a list in Python with simple and concise code snippets. Master the basic operation required for effective data manipulation and analysis using Python programming langua …

|Learn how to get the length of a list in Python with simple and concise code snippets. Master the basic operation required for effective data manipulation and analysis using Python programming language.|

How to Get Length of List in Python

Definition of the Concept

In Python, a list is an ordered collection of values that can be of any data type, including strings, integers, floats, and other lists. The length of a list refers to the number of elements it contains.

Step-by-Step Explanation

Getting the length of a list in Python involves using the built-in function called len(). This function takes one argument, which is the list itself, and returns its length.

Code Snippet

my_list = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
length_of_my_list = len(my_list)
print(length_of_my_list)  # Output: 5

In this code snippet:

• We define a list called my_list with five elements.
• We use the len() function to get the length of my_list.
• The length is stored in the variable length_of_my_list.
• Finally, we print out the value of length_of_my_list, which is 5.

Why Use len() Function?

The len() function provides a simple way to determine the number of elements in a list. This can be useful in various situations, such as:

• Iterating over a list and performing operations based on its length.
• Checking if a list is empty or not.
• Getting the index of the last element in a list.

Additional Examples

Here are some more examples to demonstrate how to use the len() function with different types of lists:

Example 1: List with Strings

fruits = ['apple', 'banana', 'cherry']
length_of_fruits = len(fruits)
print(length_of_fruits)  # Output: 3

Example 2: Empty List

empty_list = []
length_of_empty_list = len(empty_list)
print(length_of_empty_list)  # Output: 0

In this example, we create an empty list called empty_list and use the len() function to get its length. As expected, the output is 0.

Conclusion

Getting the length of a list in Python using the len() function is a fundamental operation that can be applied to various types of lists. With this knowledge, you’ll be able to write more effective and efficient code for data manipulation and analysis tasks.