How to Turn a String into a List in Python

Learn how to convert a string into a list in Python using various methods, including the split(), list(), and join() functions. Understand the importance of this concept in Python programming. …

Learn how to convert a string into a list in Python using various methods, including the split(), list(), and join() functions. Understand the importance of this concept in Python programming.

Definition

In Python, a string is a sequence of characters enclosed within quotes (single or double). A list, on the other hand, is an ordered collection of values that can be of any data type. The process of converting a string into a list involves breaking down the string into individual elements and storing them in a list.

Step-by-Step Explanation

Method 1: Using the split() Function

The split() function is used to split a string into a list where each word is a list item. By default, it splits at whitespace characters (spaces).

string = "Hello World"
list_from_string = string.split()
print(list_from_string)  # Output: ['Hello', 'World']

In this example, the split() function takes no arguments and splits the string at each space character. The resulting list contains two elements: 'Hello' and 'World'.

Method 2: Using the list() Function

The list() function can be used to convert a string into a list by iterating over each character in the string.

string = "Hello"
list_from_string = list(string)
print(list_from_string)  # Output: ['H', 'e', 'l', 'l', 'o']

In this example, the list() function takes the string as an argument and creates a new list containing each character of the string.

Method 3: Using List Comprehension

List comprehension is a concise way to create lists in Python. It can be used to convert a string into a list by iterating over each character in the string.

string = "Hello"
list_from_string = [char for char in string]
print(list_from_string)  # Output: ['H', 'e', 'l', 'l', 'o']

In this example, the list comprehension iterates over each character char in the string and adds it to the list.

Code Explanation

• In Method 1, the split() function takes no arguments and splits the string at each space character. The resulting list contains two elements: 'Hello' and 'World'.
• In Method 2, the list() function creates a new list containing each character of the string.
• In Method 3, the list comprehension iterates over each character in the string and adds it to the list.

Conclusion

Converting a string into a list is an essential concept in Python programming. It allows you to work with strings as if they were lists, which can simplify many tasks. By using the split(), list(), or list comprehension methods, you can easily convert a string into a list. This article has provided step-by-step explanations for each method, along with code snippets and explanations of each part of the code.

Exercise

Try converting the following strings into lists using different methods:

• "Hello World" using split() function
• "Python" using list() function
• "Programming" using list comprehension