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2.0 Python: Access List Items

2.1 Access Items​

List items are indexed and you can access them by referring to the index number:

2.1.1 Example​

Print the second item of the list:

thislist = ["apple", "banana", "cherry"]
print(thislist[1])
note

The first item has index 0.

2.2 Negative Indexing​

Negative indexing means start from the end

-1 refers to the last item, -2 refers to the second last item etc.

2.2.1 Example​

Print the last item of the list:

thislist = ["apple", "banana", "cherry"]
print(thislist[-1])

2.3 Range of Indexes​

You can specify a range of indexes by specifying where to start and where to end the range.

When specifying a range, the return value will be a new list with the specified items.

2.3.1 Example​

Return the third, fourth, and fifth item:

thislist = ["apple", "banana", "cherry", "orange", "kiwi", "melon", "mango"]
print(thislist[2:5])
note

The search will start at index 2 (included) and end at index 5 (not included).

By leaving out the start value, the range will start at the first item:

2.3.2 Example​

This example returns the items from the beginning to, but NOT including, "kiwi":

thislist = ["apple", "banana", "cherry", "orange", "kiwi", "melon", "mango"]
print(thislist[:4])

By leaving out the end value, the range will go on to the end of the list:

2.3.3 Example​

This example returns the items from "cherry" to the end:

thislist = ["apple", "banana", "cherry", "orange", "kiwi", "melon", "mango"]
print(thislist[2:])

2.4 Ranges of Negative Indexes​

Specify negative indexes if you want to start the search from the end of the list:

2.4.1 Example​

This example returns the items from "orange" (-4) to, but NOT including "mango" (-1):

thislist = ["apple", "banana", "cherry", "orange", "kiwi", "melon", "mango"]
print(thislist[-4:-1])

2.5 Check if Item Exists​

To determine if a specified item is present in a list use the in keyword:

2.5.1 Example​

Check if "apple" is present in the list:

thislist = ["apple", "banana", "cherry", "orange", "kiwi", "melon", "mango"]

if "apple" in thislist:
    print("Yes, 'apple' is in the fruits list")