Python Tutorial

There are instances when we need to convert the data elements gathered from one Python data type to another. By Using available methods in Python, we can convert a list to a string in Python. Before we perform conversion of Python list to string, lets brief about list and string.

What is a List?

The list is one of the most significant data types in the Python programming language. Python lists are collections of data elements that are ordered and mutable. The list is iterable objects expressed in Python as values separated by a comma and enclosed in square brackets []. Python lists support negative indexing and can contain duplicate elements, unlike sets that do not. The fact that the elements of the list do not have to be of just one data type in a list is a key benefit of the list. Like string operations, list operations include cutting, concatenating, and other operations. We may also make nested lists, which are lists within lists.

Ex:

What is a String?

A string is described as a group of characters, each of which is a basic symbol. For instance, there are 26 characters in the English language. The computer system only works with binary numbers because it cannot read letters. Although we may see characters we typed on our monitor screens, they are a collection of 0s and 1s that are saved and processed within. An assortment of Unicode characters is a string in the Python programming language. It is a single- or double-quoted immutable iterable data type. This implies that when a string has been defined, we cannot change it.

Ex:

Methods to Convert List to String in Python

There are different ways we can perform conversion of Python List to String. They are:

join() method
join() and map() method
List comprehension
Iteration

Let's examine each one carefully, supported by an example program and its output.

1. Using join() Method

In join() method, It accepts an input parameter. This parameter must be iterable. This method then joins the elements of that iterable and returns the result as a string. The iterable's values should be of the string data type. join() method removes the elements separator of the iterable and combines them as a single string.

Syntax:

Code

# Python program to convert a list to a string by using the join() method

# Creating a list with elements of string data type
a_list = ["Python", "Convert", "List", "String", "Method"]

# Converting to string
string = " ".join( a_list ) # this is read as join elements of a_list with a separator (" ")

# Printing the string
print (string)
print (type(string))

Output:

Python Convert List String Method
<class 'str'>

Explanation: We specified (" ") to be the separator for the elements of the list by placing it before the join() method. Therefore, a string containing the list's elements separated by a space is produced.

2. Using join() Method and map() Method

Using the combination of the map() and join() methods in Python gives a method for converting lists into strings. Unlike the join() method, we can use this method if the list has elements of int data type. See the example below.

Syntax:

Code

# Python program to convert a list to a string by using the join() method and map method

# Creating a list with some elements of int data type
iterable = ["Python", "Convert", 11, "List", 12, "String", "Method"]

# Converting to string
string = " ".join (map (str, iterable))


# Printing the string
print (string)
print (type(string))

Output:

Python Convert 11 List 12 String Method
<class 'str'>

Explanation: We did use the map() method to convert the integer elements into a string before converting the whole list to a string because the join() method can only accept string elements. For each value in the iterable, a given function is executed via the map() method. And in this instance, we have used it to convert every int element in the list to a string.

3. Using List Comprehension

Using list comprehension, we can use the join() method to concatenate the list's elements to a blank string after the elements have been visited.

Code

# Python program to convert a list to string using the list comprehension and the join() method
   
# Creating a list with some elements of int data type
iterable = ["Python", "Convert", 11, "List", 12, "String", "Method"]
  
# Converting to string using list comprehension
string = " ".join ([str( elements ) for elements in iterable])

# Printing the string
print (string) 
print (type(string))

Output:

Python Convert 11 List 12 String Method
<class 'str'>

Explanation: In the above code, we constructed an iterable list of elements using the example list that is already present with the help of list comprehension. Then, a for loop is used to iterate through the elements using the rules accordingly.

4. Iteration

The final method is to convert a given list of elements into a string in Python by using the looping through each element and concatenate it to the end of the string.

Code

# Python program to convert a list to string using the iteration method
   
# Creating a list with all elements of string data type
iterable = ["Python", "Convert", "List", "String", "Method"]

# Creating a blank string
string = "" 

# Starting a for loop to traverse through the list elements
for element in iterable : 
    string = string + " " + element # Using " " as a separator for the elements of the string. However, it will add an extra space at the beginning of the string

# printing the string
print ( string )

Output:

Python Convert List String Method

Conclusion:

All in all, there are a few strategies for converting a Python rlist to a string. Any method you pick relies upon your particular necessities and the design of your code. By practising these strategies, you can without much of a stretch, convert Python lists to strings and further develop your Python programming abilities.

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