Python Lists Under While Loop

Question

I want to make a while loop kind of like this

list=[]    
while x in range(r):
        list-x="something"

Where each time the loop begins it makes a new list with number (x). So if it loops over 5 times there will be different lists: list(1) list(2) list(3) list(4). '

Is this even possible?

I'm not entirely sure what you're asking here. Are you talking about a list of lists? — Blender
– Blender, Commented Apr 4, 2013 at 23:27
This is unclear... what is list(1), list(2), etc? ... I have a feeling we're heading for a list-comp .... — mgilson
– mgilson, Commented Apr 4, 2013 at 23:28
I think he/she wants to make r number of lists, created dynamically, according to the value of r, while naming them list-1 to list-r. — brbcoding
– brbcoding, Commented Apr 4, 2013 at 23:29
I think this is the same question as: stackoverflow.com/questions/2488457/… — Jonathan Clede
– Jonathan Clede, Commented Apr 4, 2013 at 23:34
Instead of list-x put the list in another list and write lists[x]. Don't use variable names to encode data, it's pointless. — Jochen Ritzel
– Jochen Ritzel, Commented Apr 4, 2013 at 23:42

Nick Burns · Accepted Answer · 2013-04-05 08:14:13Z

4

You are able to do this with the vars() function:

for i in range(5):
    list_name = ''.join(['list', str(i)])
    vars()[list_name] = []

You can then reference each list:

print(list1)
--> []
print(list2)
--> []

etc...

You can also achieve this using the locals() or globals() functions as below:

for i in range(5):
    locals()['list{}'.format(i)] = []

Hope that helps!

edited Apr 5, 2013 at 8:14

answered Apr 4, 2013 at 23:33

Nick Burns

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3 Comments

Stephane Rolland Over a year ago

I don't succeed in findind a link in the pythondocs or on google about that var() function. Can you pick a link that talks about it, or explain about it a little here ?

Nick Burns Over a year ago

can also use the locals() and globals() functions, will update the above answer

jamylak Over a year ago

''.join(['list', str(i)]) == 'list' + str(i). Also it's vars() not var(). Also 'list{}'.format(str(i)) == 'list{}'.format(i)

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