Python Arrays

Note : The Python support for Arrays is not built-in, but alternatively Python lists can be utilised.

A array is a particular variable, which has several values at a time.

If you have a list of items (for example a list of car names), it may look like that to store names in one variables :

car1 = "Ford"
car2 = "Volvo"
car3 = "BMW"

But what if you want to loop around the names and find a particular car? What if you didn't have 3 names, but 300 ?

An array can have several values under one name, with a number of indexes. You can access these values.

Example :- Create an array containing car names :

cars = ["Ford", "BMW", "Toyoto"]
print(names)

Output :-

Note: You can utilise LISTS as ARRAYS but you will have to include a library, such as the NumPy library, for dealing with arrays in Python.

In the index number, you refer to an array element.

Example 1 :- Get the value of the first array item :

names = ["Microsoft", "Apple", "Yahoo", "Wikipedia"]
x = names[0]
print(x)

Output :-

Example 2 :- Modify the value of the second array item :

names = ["Microsoft", "Apple", "Yahoo", "Wikipedia"]
names[1] = "Google"
print(names)

Output :-

Use len() function is used to return the array size (the number of elements in an array).

Example :- Return the number of items in the array of names :

names = ["Microsoft", "Apple", "Yahoo", "Wikipedia"]
x = len(names)
print(x)

Output :-

Note : The array length is always the highest array index.

You can use the for in loop statement to loop all array elements.

Example :- Print each item in the names array :

names = ["Microsoft", "Apple", "Yahoo", "Wikipedia"]
for x in names:
  print(x)

Output :-

To add an element to the array you can use the append() method.

Example :- Add one more element to the names array :

names = ["Microsoft", "Apple", "Yahoo", "Wikipedia"]
names.append("Google")
print(names)

Output :-

To delete an item from the array, use the pop() method.

Example 1 :- Delete the second element of the names array :

names = ["Microsoft", "Apple", "Yahoo", "Wikipedia"]
names.pop(1)
print(names)

Output :-

You may also remove an item in the array by using the remove() method.

Example 2 :- Remove the value "Yahoo" element :

names = ["Microsoft", "Apple", "Yahoo", "Wikipedia"]
names.remove("Yahoo")
print(names)

Output :-

Note : Only the first occurrence of that value can be removed by the list remove() method.

Python includes a collection of integrated methods that can be used on lists/arrays.

Note : The Arrays are not supported by Python but alternatively Python Lists can be utilised.