Python len function on list with embedded sublists and strings

Question

I have a list called movies with two sublists embedded it. Do the sublists have names too? I want to use len() BIF to measure all items in the list and sublists, how do I do that?

is there any chance that you can add some sample inputs and outputs that you're expecting for them? — Ashish Ranjan
– Ashish Ranjan, Commented Oct 21, 2017 at 19:39
Here my list: movies = ['Lord of the Rings', 'Star Trek', ['Captain Kirk', 'Spok', ['Big Bang', 'Other Movie' ]] ] — Christopher Leone
– Christopher Leone, Commented Oct 21, 2017 at 19:55
@ChristopherLeone , put the edits in your Question, not just commenting here. — Kaushik NP
– Kaushik NP, Commented Oct 21, 2017 at 19:56

Natesh bhat · Accepted Answer · 2017-10-21 19:47:57Z

1

U can use the len() function by specifying the inner sublists

movies = [ [list1] , [list2] ] ; print(len(movies[0])); # prints length of 1st sublist print(len(movies[1])); #prints length of second sublist

answered Oct 21, 2017 at 19:47

Natesh bhat

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Ashish Ranjan · Accepted Answer · 2017-10-21 20:10:12Z

1

For the input you've provided, you can recursively find it's length like this :

def getLen(l):
    c = 0
    for e in l:
        if isinstance(e, list):
            c += getLen(e) # if the element is a list then recursively find it's length
        else:
            c += 1 # if not simply increase the count
    return c

OUTPUT :

>>> l = ['Lord of the Rings', 'Star Trek', ['Captain Kirk', 'Spok', ['Big Bang', 'Other Movie']]]
>>> getLen(l)
6

edited Oct 21, 2017 at 20:10

answered Oct 21, 2017 at 20:04

Ashish Ranjan

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Ajax1234 · Accepted Answer · 2017-10-21 20:31:38Z

0

You can use map:

final_length = sum(map(len, data))

edited Oct 21, 2017 at 20:31

answered Oct 21, 2017 at 19:50

Ajax1234

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1 Comment

TemporalWolf Over a year ago

wouldn't this be sum(map(len, data))?

Ashish Ranjan · Accepted Answer · 2017-10-21 20:49:35Z

0

If you want the total length of all the sublists, you can try:

sum([len(sub) for sub in container_list])

edited Oct 21, 2017 at 20:49

Ashish Ranjan

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answered Oct 21, 2017 at 19:42

maor10

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