Overview
Python lists can be copied to a new list using the copy() method, list() function, or slice operator.
The copy() Method
The following copies my_list to a new list called new_list. The original list remains as it was.
my_list = ["Ferrari", "Maserati", "Alfa Romeo"]
new_list = my_list.copy()
print(new_list) #['Ferrari', 'Maserati', 'Alfa Romeo']The list() Function
my_list = ["Ferrari", "Maserati", "Alfa Romeo"]
new_list = list(my_list)
print(new_list) #['Ferrari', 'Maserati', 'Alfa Romeo']The slice Operator
You can also make a copy of a list by using the slice operator represented by a colon [:].
my_list = ["Ferrari", "Maserati", "Alfa Romeo"]
new_list = my_list[:]
print(new_list) #['Maserati', 'Lamborghini', 'Ferrari', 'Alfa Romeo']Python Notes:
- The most recent major version of Python is Python 3; however, Python 2 is still in use and quite popular, although not being updated with anything other than security updates
- Python uses new lines to complete a command, as opposed to other programming languages which often use semicolons or parentheses
- Python relies on indentation, using whitespace to define scope, such as the scope of loops, functions, and classes; other programming languages often use curly-brackets for this purpose
- Python string methods return new values, and DO NOT change the original string
- Python tuples are unchangeable after created (their items CANNOT be changed or re-ordered at a later point)
- Python sets are unordered (may appear in random orders when called), unchangeable (the value of individual items cannot be changed after creation), and unindexed (items cannot be referred to by index or key)
We’d like to acknowledge that we learned a great deal of our coding from W3Schools and TutorialsPoint, borrowing heavily from their teaching process and excellent code examples. We highly recommend both sites to deepen your experience, and further your coding journey. We’re just hitting the basics here at 1SMARTchicken.