Python CSV reader makes lists inside a list

Question

I have a list of urls in a csv file and I need to run them in for eachUrl in final_url: but I keep getting a traceback error because I find out that when I print the urls from the below code, it is also printing out ['https://www.anyurl.com'] and not just the url. I have tried to run a loop to replace the [' '] but I get the traceback error AttributeError: 'list' object has no attribute 'replace'. How do I open the csv and just pull out the URL's and put them into a list without putting them into a list inside another list?

import csv
with open('urls_for_BrightScope_Form5500s.csv', 'r') as r:
    reader = csv.reader(r)
    for row in reader:
        final_urls.append(row)
        print(len(final_urls))

Output from final_url list: ['https://www.brightscope.com/401k-rating/372254/Merritt-Brothers-Lumber-Company/377291/Merritt-Brothers-Lumber-Co-401K-Profit-Sharing-Plan/'], ['https://www.brightscope.com/401k-rating/255132/Merritt-Club-Management-Inc/259235/Merritt-Club-Management-Inc-401K-Profit-Sharing-Plan-And-Trust/'], ['https://www.brightscope.com/401k-rating/404751/Merritt-Equipment-Co/410055/Merritt-Equipment-Co-401K-Profit-Sharing-Plan/'], ['https://www.brightscope.com/401k-rating/256405/Merritt-Hospitality-Llc/260527/Merritt-Hospitality-401K-Plan/']

A CSV file contains rows and each row contains cells. So yes, each row is a list of cells. Now, since your row is just ['https://www.anyurl.com'], i.e. it has only one cell, I would say that this is not really a CSV file at all. Why are you reading it as if it was CSV? — zvone
– zvone, Commented Aug 30, 2018 at 19:23
This is not a MCVE. Where is your final_urls? And it would be also good if you can provide us an excerpt from your csv file. — colidyre
– colidyre, Commented Aug 30, 2018 at 19:26
@kamikaze can u post contents of urls_for_BrightScope_Form5500s or some sample data. — Tanmay jain
– Tanmay jain, Commented Aug 30, 2018 at 19:27

zvone · Accepted Answer · 2018-08-30 19:32:52Z

2

Assuming that the input file (urls_for_BrightScope_Form5500s.csv) is just a plain text file with one URL in each line, I'd say you should just read the lines, without any csv library:

with open('urls_for_BrightScope_Form5500s.csv', 'rt') as f:
    final_urls = [line.strip() for line in f]

answered Aug 30, 2018 at 19:32

zvone

19.5k5 gold badges53 silver badges85 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

Comments

colidyre · Accepted Answer · 2018-08-30 19:36:38Z

1

Assuming that you have only one url in a line, you can also just use line reading, e.g.:

with open('urls_for_BrightScope_Form5500s.csv', 'r') as fr:
    final_urls = [url.strip() for url in fr]

edited Aug 30, 2018 at 19:36

answered Aug 30, 2018 at 19:33

colidyre

4,87512 gold badges46 silver badges65 bronze badges

1 Comment

zvone Over a year ago

lol almost word for word exactly the same answer as mine :D great minds think alike ;)

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

Python CSV reader makes lists inside a list

2 Answers 2

Comments

1 Comment

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

2 Answers 2

Comments

1 Comment

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related