Array in Python

This guide covers array in python with practical context and easy-to-follow details. Use it to understand the subject and apply the information confidently.

An array of numeric values is supported in Python by the array module.

Note: If you want to create an array really in Python, you need to use the array data structure of NumPy. To solve math problems, the NumPy array will be more efficient.

List and Array Modules in Python

You can manipulate the list as an array but cannot cast the element stored in the list. For example:

 a = [1, 3.5, "Hello"] 

If you create an array using an array module, all array elements must have the same number type.

 import array as arr 
 a = arr.array ('d', [1, 3.5, "Hello"]) // Run this code to report an error 

How to Create Array in Python?

From the above examples you can guess, we need to enter the array module to create arrays. For example:

 import array as arr 
 a = arr.array ('d', [ 1.1 , 3.5 , 4.5 ]) print ( a )

The code on creating the array has type float. The Word 'd' is type code, which determines the type of array in the creation process. Here are the common style codes:

TypeCython Type Type Minimum size in bytes'b'Signed char int 1'B'Unsigned char int 1'u'Py_UNICODE 2 Unicode character'h'Signed short int 2'H'Unsigned short int 2'i'Signed int int 2'I'Unsigned int int 2'l'Signed long int 4'L'Unsigned long int 4'f'Float float 4'd'Double float 8

We will not discuss the different C data types in this article. We will use the code 'i' for integers and 'd' for decimals in the whole lesson.

Note: The code 'u' for Unicode characters is no longer accepted from Python version 3. 3. Avoid using it when possible.

How to Access Array Elements?

We use index to access array elements. Index also starts at 0, similar to the Python list.

import array as arr a = arr . array ( 'i' , [ 2 , 4 , 6 , 8 ]) print ( "Ph?n t? ??u tiên:" , a [ 0 ]) print ( "Ph?n t? th? 2:" , a [ 1 ]) print ( "Ph?n t? cu?i cùng:" , a [- 1 ])

Run the program above:

 First element: 2 
 Element 2: 4 
 Last element: 8 

You can access a range of elements in the array, using the slice operator: .

import array as arr numbers_list = [ 5 , 85 , 65 , 1 5 , 95 , 52 , 36 , 2 5 ] numbers_array = arr . array ( 'i' , numbers_list ) print ( numbers_array [ 2 : 5 ]) # Ph?n t? th? 3 ??n 5 print ( numbers_array [:- 5 ]) # Ph?n t? ??u tiên ??n 4 print ( numbers_array [ 5 :]) # Ph?n t? th? 6 ??n h?t print ( numbers_array [:]) # Ph?n t? ??u tiên ??n cu?i cùng

When you run the above code, you will get the output:

 array ('i', [65, 15, 95]) 
 array ('i', [5, 85, 65]) 
 array ('i', [52, 36, 25]) 
 array ('i', [5, 85, 65, 15, 95, 52, 36, 25]) 

How to Change, Add Element in Python Array

Arrays can be changed, its elements can be changed in the same way as lists.

import array as arr numbers = arr . array ( 'i' , [ 1 , 1, 2 , 5 , 7 , 9 ]) # thay ??i ph?n t? ??u tiên numbers [ 0 ] = 0 print ( numbers ) # Output: array('i', [0, 1, 2, 5, 7, 9]) # thay ph?n t? th? 3 ??n th? 5 numbers [ 2 : 5 ] = arr . array ( 'i' , [ 4 , 6 , 8 ]) print ( numbers ) # Output: array('i', [0, 1, 4, 6, 8, 9])

Do you add an item to the list using append () or add some items using extend ():

import array as arr numbers = arr . array ( 'i' , [3, 5, 7 ]) numbers . append ( 4 ) print ( numbers ) # Output: array('i', [3, 5, 7, 4]) # extend() n?i vào cu?i m?ng numbers . extend ([ 5 , 6 , 7 ]) print ( numbers ) # Output: array('i', [3, 5, 7, 4, 5, 6, 7])

Two arrays can also be recombined into one by the + operator:

import array as arr mang_le = arr . array ( 'i' , [ 3 , 5 , 7 ]) mang_chan = arr . array ( 'i' , [ 2 , 6 , 8 ]) numbers = arr . array ( 'i' ) # t?o m?ng tr?ng numbers = mang_le + mang_chan # Code by TipsMake.com print ( numbers ) # Output: array('i', [3, 5, 7, 2, 6, 8])

How to Delete Element of Array in Python

To delete one or more elements of the array we use the del command.

import array as arr number = arr . array ( 'i' , [ 1 , 3 , 3 , 5 , 7 ]) del number [ 2 ] # xóa ph?n t? th? 3 print ( number ) # Output: array('i', [1, 3, 5, 7]) del number # xóa toàn b? m?ng print ( number ) # Error: array 'number' is not defined

You can use remove () to delete the given item or pop () to delete the item with the given index:

import array as arr numbers = arr . array ( 'i' , [ 1 , 1 , 3 , 5 , 9 ]) numbers . remove ( 1 ) print ( numbers ) # Output: array('i', [1, 3, 5, 9]) print ( numbers . pop ( 2 )) # Output: 12 print ( numbers ) # Output: array('i', [1, 3, 9])

You can learn more about the Python array methods here.

When to Use Array?

List is more flexible than array, they can store elements with many different data types, including strings. List is also faster than array, so why use an array? If you have to perform array and matrix calculations, you should use the NumPy library. Unless you really need arrays (array modules may need to communicate with the C code), don't use them.

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