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Python Python Collections (Retired) Slices Slice Functions

My solution works with using + list concatenation, but not by using .extend().

The following will pass the test case:

def first_and_last_4(iterable):
  return iterable[:4] + iterable[-4:]

#The following will return None:
def first_and_last_4(iterable):
  return iterable[:4].extend(iterable[-4:])

Why?

[markdown added by mod]

1 Answer

Chris Freeman
MOD
Chris Freeman
Treehouse Moderator 68,441 Points

The extend() list method does not return a value. Instead, it modifies a list "in place".

iterable[4:] creates a temporary local variable, then extend() add more elements. In the end there is no return value other than None

You can create a local variable, extend it, then return it:

#The following will return None:
def first_and_last_4(iterable):
    result = iterable[:4]
    result.extend(iterable[-4:])
    return result

Note that strings are iterables that do not have the extend() method. So this will fail on strings.