How do I declare an array in Python?
variable = []
Now variable refers to an empty list*.
Of course this is an assignment, not a declaration. There's no way to say in Python "this variable should never refer to anything other than a list", since Python is dynamically typed.
*The default built-in Python type is called a list, not an array. It is an ordered container of arbitrary length that can hold a heterogenous collection of objects (their types do not matter and can be freely mixed). This should not be confused with the array module, which offers a type closer to the C array type; the contents must be homogenous (all of the same type), but the length is still dynamic.
This is surprisingly complex topic in Python.
Practical answer
Arrays are represented by class list (see reference and do not mix them with generators).
Check out usage examples:
# empty array
arr = []
# init with values (can contain mixed types)
arr = [1, "eels"]
# get item by index (can be negative to access end of array)
arr = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]
arr[0] # 1
arr[-1] # 6
# get length
length = len(arr)
# supports append and insert
arr.append(8)
arr.insert(6, 7)
Theoretical answer
Under the hood Python's list is a wrapper for a real array which contains references to items. Also, underlying array is created with some extra space.
Consequences of this are:
random access is really cheap (arr[6653] is same to arr[0])
append operation is 'for free' while some extra space
insert operation is expensive
Check this awesome table of operations complexity.
Also, please see this picture, where I've tried to show most important differences between array, array of references and linked list:
You don't actually declare things, but this is how you create an array in Python:
from array import array
intarray = array('i')
For more info see the array module: http://docs.python.org/library/array.html
Now possible you don't want an array, but a list, but others have answered that already. :)
I think you (meant)want an list with the first 30 cells already filled.
So
f = []
for i in range(30):
f.append(0)
An example to where this could be used is in Fibonacci sequence.
See problem 2 in Project Euler
This is how:
my_array = [1, 'rebecca', 'allard', 15]
For calculations, use numpy arrays like this:
import numpy as np
a = np.ones((3,2)) # a 2D array with 3 rows, 2 columns, filled with ones
b = np.array([1,2,3]) # a 1D array initialised using a list [1,2,3]
c = np.linspace(2,3,100) # an array with 100 points beteen (and including) 2 and 3
print(a*1.5) # all elements of a times 1.5
print(a.T+b) # b added to the transpose of a
these numpy arrays can be saved and loaded from disk (even compressed) and complex calculations with large amounts of elements are C-like fast.
Much used in scientific environments. See here for more.
JohnMachin's comment should be the real answer.
All the other answers are just workarounds in my opinion!
So:
array=[0]*element_count
A couple of contributions suggested that arrays in python are represented by lists. This is incorrect. Python has an independent implementation of array() in the standard library module array "array.array()" hence it is incorrect to confuse the two. Lists are lists in python so be careful with the nomenclature used.
list_01 = [4, 6.2, 7-2j, 'flo', 'cro']
list_01
Out[85]: [4, 6.2, (7-2j), 'flo', 'cro']
There is one very important difference between list and array.array(). While both of these objects are ordered sequences, array.array() is an ordered homogeneous sequences whereas a list is a non-homogeneous sequence.
You don't declare anything in Python. You just use it. I recommend you start out with something like http://diveintopython.net.
I would normally just do a = [1,2,3] which is actually a list but for arrays look at this formal definition
To add to Lennart's answer, an array may be created like this:
from array import array
float_array = array("f",values)
where values can take the form of a tuple, list, or np.array, but not array:
values = [1,2,3]
values = (1,2,3)
values = np.array([1,2,3],'f')
# 'i' will work here too, but if array is 'i' then values have to be int
wrong_values = array('f',[1,2,3])
# TypeError: 'array.array' object is not callable
and the output will still be the same:
print(float_array)
print(float_array[1])
print(isinstance(float_array[1],float))
# array('f', [1.0, 2.0, 3.0])
# 2.0
# True
Most methods for list work with array as well, common
ones being pop(), extend(), and append().
Judging from the answers and comments, it appears that the array
data structure isn't that popular. I like it though, the same
way as one might prefer a tuple over a list.
The array structure has stricter rules than a list or np.array, and this can
reduce errors and make debugging easier, especially when working with numerical
data.
Attempts to insert/append a float to an int array will throw a TypeError:
values = [1,2,3]
int_array = array("i",values)
int_array.append(float(1))
# or int_array.extend([float(1)])
# TypeError: integer argument expected, got float
Keeping values which are meant to be integers (e.g. list of indices) in the array
form may therefore prevent a "TypeError: list indices must be integers, not float", since arrays can be iterated over, similar to np.array and lists:
int_array = array('i',[1,2,3])
data = [11,22,33,44,55]
sample = []
for i in int_array:
sample.append(data[i])
Annoyingly, appending an int to a float array will cause the int to become a float, without throwing an exception.
np.array retain the same data type for its entries too, but instead of giving an error it will change its data type to fit new entries (usually to double or str):
import numpy as np
numpy_int_array = np.array([1,2,3],'i')
for i in numpy_int_array:
print(type(i))
# <class 'numpy.int32'>
numpy_int_array_2 = np.append(numpy_int_array,int(1))
# still <class 'numpy.int32'>
numpy_float_array = np.append(numpy_int_array,float(1))
# <class 'numpy.float64'> for all values
numpy_str_array = np.append(numpy_int_array,"1")
# <class 'numpy.str_'> for all values
data = [11,22,33,44,55]
sample = []
for i in numpy_int_array_2:
sample.append(data[i])
# no problem here, but TypeError for the other two
This is true during assignment as well. If the data type is specified, np.array will, wherever possible, transform the entries to that data type:
int_numpy_array = np.array([1,2,float(3)],'i')
# 3 becomes an int
int_numpy_array_2 = np.array([1,2,3.9],'i')
# 3.9 gets truncated to 3 (same as int(3.9))
invalid_array = np.array([1,2,"string"],'i')
# ValueError: invalid literal for int() with base 10: 'string'
# Same error as int('string')
str_numpy_array = np.array([1,2,3],'str')
print(str_numpy_array)
print([type(i) for i in str_numpy_array])
# ['1' '2' '3']
# <class 'numpy.str_'>
or, in essence:
data = [1.2,3.4,5.6]
list_1 = np.array(data,'i').tolist()
list_2 = [int(i) for i in data]
print(list_1 == list_2)
# True
while array will simply give:
invalid_array = array([1,2,3.9],'i')
# TypeError: integer argument expected, got float
Because of this, it is not a good idea to use np.array for type-specific commands. The array structure is useful here. list preserves the data type of the values.
And for something I find rather pesky: the data type is specified as the first argument in array(), but (usually) the second in np.array(). :|
The relation to C is referred to here:
Python List vs. Array - when to use?
Have fun exploring!
Note: The typed and rather strict nature of array leans more towards C rather than Python, and by design Python does not have many type-specific constraints in its functions. Its unpopularity also creates a positive feedback in collaborative work, and replacing it mostly involves an additional [int(x) for x in file]. It is therefore entirely viable and reasonable to ignore the existence of array. It shouldn't hinder most of us in any way. :D
How about this...
>>> a = range(12)
>>> a
[0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11]
>>> a[7]
6
Following on from Lennart, there's also numpy which implements homogeneous multi-dimensional arrays.
Python calls them lists. You can write a list literal with square brackets and commas:
>>> [6,28,496,8128]
[6, 28, 496, 8128]
I had an array of strings and needed an array of the same length of booleans initiated to True. This is what I did
strs = ["Hi","Bye"]
bools = [ True for s in strs ]
You can create lists and convert them into arrays or you can create array using numpy module. Below are few examples to illustrate the same. Numpy also makes it easier to work with multi-dimensional arrays.
import numpy as np
a = np.array([1, 2, 3, 4])
#For custom inputs
a = np.array([int(x) for x in input().split()])
You can also reshape this array into a 2X2 matrix using reshape function which takes in input as the dimensions of the matrix.
mat = a.reshape(2, 2)
# This creates a list of 5000 zeros
a = [0] * 5000
You can read and write to any element in this list with a[n] notation in the same as you would with an array.
It does seem to have the same random access performance as an array. I cannot say how it allocates memory because it also supports a mix of different types including strings and objects if you need it to.
Related
I was reading the official NumPy Documentation for the array creation function np.empty(). The page states that empty() takes a shape parameter, allowing the user to specify the shape of the array to be created. The description of the parameter is:
shape: int or tuple of int.
Shape of the empty array, e.g., (2, 3) or 2.
shape is explicitly stated to be an int or a tuple of int(s). Yet, at the bottom of the page is this example, where shape seems to be a list of ints:
>>> np.empty([2, 2]) # [2, 2] uses square brackets, so this is a list!
array([[ -9.74499359e+001, 6.69583040e-309], # array shape matches the list
[ 2.13182611e-314, 3.06959433e-309]]) # values are uninitialized
Running the example on my machine gave the same results; NumPy seems to allow using a list to specify the shape of an array. So, my questions are
Is this intended behavior (allowing a list to be used as the shape of a NumPy array)?
Is something else going on? For instance, is the list just being converted to a tuple?
AFAIK, tuples was the only type supported initially for Numpy shapes, but lists was more recently supported due to this related bug. Thus, Numpy developers are aware of this and explicitly choose to support any type of integer-like sequence. In fact, comments in the Numpy code explicitly states:
it can be an arbitrary sequence of integer like objects, neither of which is safe
Thus, lists are supported in the code but it is undocumented yet (the documentation is not up to date). Fun fact: range(2, 6) is a completely valid shape regarding the Numpy code.
Internally, all shapes descriptors are tuples (see the code). Thus, yes, lists and more generally integer-like sequences (including the special case of a scalar integer) are converted to a tuple.
You can use tuples and list interchangeably in NumPy in most cases, as such that:
a = np.array([1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9])
print(a) # [1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9]
b = np.array((1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9))
print(b) # [1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9]
print(np.array_equal(a, b)) # True
I have list of arrays similar to lstB and want to pick random collection of 2D arrays. The problem is that numpy somehow does not treat objects in lists equally:
lstA = [numpy.array(0), numpy.array(1)]
lstB = [numpy.array([0,1]), numpy.array([1,0])]
print(numpy.random.choice(lstA)) # returns 0 or 1
print(numpy.random.choice(lstB)) # returns ValueError: must be 1-dimensional
Is there an ellegant fix to this?
Let's call it semi-elegant...
# force 1d object array
swap = lstB[0]
lstB[0] = None
arrB = np.array(lstB)
# reinsert value
arrB[0] = swap
# and clean up
lstB[0] = swap
# draw
numpy.random.choice(arrB)
# array([1, 0])
Explanation: The problem you encountered appears to be that numpy when converting the input list to an array will make as deep an array as it can. Since all your list elements are sequences of the same length this will be 2d. The hack shown here forces it to make a 1d array of object dtype instead by temporarily inserting an incompatible element.
However, I personally would not use this. Because if you draw multiple subarrays with this method you'll get a 1d array of arrays which is probably not what you want and tedious to convert.
So I'd actually second what one of the comments recommends, i.e. draw ints and then use advanced indexing into np.array(lstB).
I have a list of lists in Python that holds a mix of values, some are strings and some are tuples.
data = [[0,1,2],["a", "b", "c"]]
I am wondering if there is a way to easily convert any length list like that to a 2D Array without using Numpy. I am working with System.Array because that's the format required.
I understand that I can create a new instance of an Array and then use for loops to write all data from list to it. I was just curious if there is a nice Pythonic way of doing that.
x = len(data)
y = len(data[0])
arr = Array.CreateInstance(object, x, y)
Then I can loop through my data and set the arr values right?
arr = Array.CreateInstance(object, x, y)
for i in range(0, len(data),1):
for j in range(0,len(data[0]), 1):
arr.SetValue(data[i][j], i,j)
I want to avoid looping like that if possible. Thank you,
Ps. This is for Excel Interop where I can set a whole Range in Excel by setting it to be equal to an Array. That's why I want to convert a list to an Array. Thank you,
Thing that I am wondering about is that Array is a typed object, is it possible to set its constituents to either string or integer? I think i might be constrained to only one. Right? If so, is there any other type of data that I can use?
Is setting it to Arrayobject ensures that I can combine str/int inside of it?
Also I though I could use this:
arr= Array[Array[object]](map(object, data))
but it throws an error. Any ideas?
You can use Array.CreateInstance to create a single, or multidimensional, array. Since the Array.CreateInstance method takes in a "Type" you specify any type you want. For example:
// gives you an array of string
myArrayOfString = Array.CreateInstance(String, 3)
// gives you an array of integer
myArrayOfInteger = Array.CreateInstance(Int32, 3)
// gives you a multidimensional array of strings and integer
myArrayOfStringAndInteger = [myArrayOfString, myArrayOfInteger]
Hope this helps. Also see the msdn website for examples of how to use Array.CreateInstance.
I am having some seemingly trivial trouble with numpy when the array contains string data. I have the following code:
my_array = numpy.empty([1, 2], dtype = str)
my_array[0, 0] = "Cat"
my_array[0, 1] = "Apple"
Now, when I print it with print my_array[0, :], the response I get is ['C', 'A'], which is clearly not the expected output of Cat and Apple. Why is that, and how can I get the right output?
Thanks!
Numpy requires string arrays to have a fixed maximum length. When you create an empty array with dtype=str, it sets this maximum length to 1 by default. You can see if you do my_array.dtype; it will show "|S1", meaning "one-character string". Subsequent assignments into the array are truncated to fit this structure.
You can pass an explicit datatype with your maximum length by doing, e.g.:
my_array = numpy.empty([1, 2], dtype="S10")
The "S10" will create an array of length-10 strings. You have to decide how big will be big enough to hold all the data you want to hold.
I got a "codec error" when I tried to use a non-ascii character with dtype="S10"
You also get an array with binary strings, which confused me.
I think it is better to use:
my_array = numpy.empty([1, 2], dtype="<U10")
Here 'U10' translates to "Unicode string of length 10; little endian format"
The numpy string array is limited by its fixed length (length 1 by default). If you're unsure what length you'll need for your strings in advance, you can use dtype=object and get arbitrary length strings for your data elements:
my_array = numpy.empty([1, 2], dtype=object)
I understand there may be efficiency drawbacks to this approach, but I don't have a good reference to support that.
in case of anyone who's new here, I guess there's another way to do this job for now, just need a little work:
my_array = np.full([1, 2], "", dtype=np.object)
Use np.full instead of np.empty, and create the array with a empty string (type is object).
Another alternative is to initialize as follows:
my_array = np.array([["CAT","APPLE"],['','']], dtype=str)
In other words, first you write a regular array with what you want, then you turn it into a numpy array. However, this will fix your max string length to the length of the longest string at initialization. So if you were to add
my_array[1,0] = 'PINEAPPLE'
then the string stored would be 'PINEA'.
What works best if you are doing a for loop is to start a list comprehension, which will allow you to allocate the right memory.
data = ['CAT', 'APPLE', 'CARROT']
my_array = [name for name in data]
What's the best way to create 2D arrays in Python?
What I want is want is to store values like this:
X , Y , Z
so that I access data like X[2],Y[2],Z[2] or X[n],Y[n],Z[n] where n is variable.
I don't know in the beginning how big n would be so I would like to append values at the end.
>>> a = []
>>> for i in xrange(3):
... a.append([])
... for j in xrange(3):
... a[i].append(i+j)
...
>>> a
[[0, 1, 2], [1, 2, 3], [2, 3, 4]]
>>>
Depending what you're doing, you may not really have a 2-D array.
80% of the time you have simple list of "row-like objects", which might be proper sequences.
myArray = [ ('pi',3.14159,'r',2), ('e',2.71828,'theta',.5) ]
myArray[0][1] == 3.14159
myArray[1][1] == 2.71828
More often, they're instances of a class or a dictionary or a set or something more interesting that you didn't have in your previous languages.
myArray = [ {'pi':3.1415925,'r':2}, {'e':2.71828,'theta':.5} ]
20% of the time you have a dictionary, keyed by a pair
myArray = { (2009,'aug'):(some,tuple,of,values), (2009,'sep'):(some,other,tuple) }
Rarely, will you actually need a matrix.
You have a large, large number of collection classes in Python. Odds are good that you have something more interesting than a matrix.
In Python one would usually use lists for this purpose. Lists can be nested arbitrarily, thus allowing the creation of a 2D array. Not every sublist needs to be the same size, so that solves your other problem. Have a look at the examples I linked to.
If you want to do some serious work with arrays then you should use the numpy library. This will allow you for example to do vector addition and matrix multiplication, and for large arrays it is much faster than Python lists.
However, numpy requires that the size is predefined. Of course you can also store numpy arrays in a list, like:
import numpy as np
vec_list = [np.zeros((3,)) for _ in range(10)]
vec_list.append(np.array([1,2,3]))
vec_sum = vec_list[0] + vec_list[1] # possible because we use numpy
print vec_list[10][2] # prints 3
But since your numpy arrays are pretty small I guess there is some overhead compared to using a tuple. It all depends on your priorities.
See also this other question, which is pretty similar (apart from the variable size).
I would suggest that you use a dictionary like so:
arr = {}
arr[1] = (1, 2, 4)
arr[18] = (3, 4, 5)
print(arr[1])
>>> (1, 2, 4)
If you're not sure an entry is defined in the dictionary, you'll need a validation mechanism when calling "arr[x]", e.g. try-except.
If you are concerned about memory footprint, the Python standard library contains the array module; these arrays contain elements of the same type.
Please consider the follwing codes:
from numpy import zeros
scores = zeros((len(chain1),len(chain2)), float)
x=list()
def enter(n):
y=list()
for i in range(0,n):
y.append(int(input("Enter ")))
return y
for i in range(0,2):
x.insert(i,enter(2))
print (x)
here i made function to create 1-D array and inserted into another array as a array member. multiple 1-d array inside a an array, as the value of n and i changes u create multi dimensional arrays