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

Emilio Andere
Emilio Andere
495 Points
Posted by Emilio Andere
Emilio Andere
495 Points

What does as a single value refer to?

does it mean to put it 's [:1], I don't get it!

slices.py 
def first_4(list1):
    return list1[:4]

first_4([2, 7, 9, 4, 6])

def first_and_last_4(list2)
    return list2

1 Answer

Manish Giri
Manish Giri
16,266 Points
Manish Giri
Manish Giri
16,266 Points

When slicing, you can indicate a start and end position, so my_list[1:5] will get you the elements at indices 1 through 4.

If either start or end is omitted, it is assumed to be the start, or end of the list respectively. So- 

my_list[1:] # gets you the elements from index 1 till the end of the list

my_list[:5] # gets you the elements from the start of the list(index 0) till index 4