Search a list for a string and store it in Python

Question

I have a list of strings generated from a text file and I need to test an input string to see if it has any of the words in my list. I then need to store the matching string/strings so that they can be used later. Currently I am using

has_words = any(string in op_text for string in words)

but I believe this only returns true/false.

Martijn Pieters · Accepted Answer · 2013-12-27 21:24:27Z

6

You can create a list of matching words instead, using a list comprehension:

matching = [string for string in words if string in op_text]

answered Dec 27, 2013 at 21:24

Martijn Pieters

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1 Comment

CrazyBurrito Over a year ago

ok, a followup question. I have my words being imported from a text file where each line is a separate string that I am interested in searching for. words = open(fileName, 'database.doc') Will this matching have each index be a line in the document even if the line has spaces (ie multiple words in the line)?

Jon Clements · Accepted Answer · 2013-12-27 21:26:48Z

0

Depending on what so that they can be used later means, you can use a set...

op_words = {'one', 'bob', 'whatever'}
matching = op_words.intersection(words)

answered Dec 27, 2013 at 21:26

Jon Clements

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