How to Iterate Through a List in Python

In this quick tutorial, we will explore different ways to iterate through a list in Python. We will cover the following methods:

Follow are the way using which you iterate over the list in Python:

Using a for loop
Using the enumerate() function
Using a while loop
List comprehension
Using the itertools module

Let’s get started!

1 – Using a for loop:

The simplest way to iterate through a list is by using a for loop. Here’s an example:

fruits = ['apple', 'banana', 'cherry']

for fruit in fruits:
    print(fruit)

2 – Using the enumerate() function:

If you want to keep track of the index while iterating, you can use the enumerate() function:

fruits = ['apple', 'banana', 'cherry']

for index, fruit in enumerate(fruits):
    print(f"{index}: {fruit}")

3 – Using a while loop:

While less common, you can also use a while loop to iterate through a list:

fruits = ['apple', 'banana', 'cherry']
index = 0

while index < len(fruits):
    print(fruits[index])
    index += 1

4 – List comprehension:

List comprehensions are a concise way to iterate through a list and create a new list based on a condition or applying a function:

fruits = ['apple', 'banana', 'cherry']
fruits_upper = [fruit.upper() for fruit in fruits]

print(fruits_upper)

5 – Using the itertools module:

The itertools module provides several functions that can be used to iterate through a list. For example, the itertools.cycle() function can be used to iterate through a list indefinitely:

import itertools

fruits = ['apple', 'banana', 'cherry']
cycle_fruits = itertools.cycle(fruits)

for i, fruit in zip(range(6), cycle_fruits):
    print(f"{i}: {fruit}")

In summary, there are multiple ways to iterate through a list in Python. The most common methods are using a for loop and the enumerate() function. However, other methods like while loops, list comprehensions, and itertools module functions can also be used depending on the specific requirements of your code.

Category: Python