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Python Python Collections (2016, retired 2019) Slices First Slice

Posted by alenwong
alenwong
4,346 Points

The question asked - Copy the entire list with a slice a_list = [1, 2, 3] a_list ______ what is the answer

The question asked - Copy the entire list with a slice a_list = [1, 2, 3] a_list ______ what is the answer?

I don't understand the question...

3 Answers

Alexander Davison
Alexander Davison
65,469 Points

In Python, to make a copy of a list using slices, you have to slice from the very start to the very end. You can manually enter the indexes of the start and the finish, but it is easier to use Python's [:] trick:

>>> my_list = [1, 2, 3]
>>> my_list[0:3]  # This makes a copy!
[1, 2, 3]
>>> my_list[:]  # This also makes a copy!
[1, 2, 3]

I hope this helps! :grin: :zap: ~Alex

Vlad Vamos
Vlad Vamos
1,290 Points
Vlad Vamos
Vlad Vamos
1,290 Points

I think you need to select the whole list with the slicing method. Slicing example:

a_list = [1, 2, 3]
print(a_list[1:3])
-> [2, 3]
Alexander Davison
Alexander Davison
65,469 Points 
print(a_list[1, 3])

is invalid Python. You probably meant this:

print(a_list[1:3])
alenwong
alenwong
4,346 Points
alenwong
alenwong
4,346 Points

Thanks all :)