Python Arrays

Creating an Array in Python

An array is created by using the array module as an array(data_type,value_list) in python. Here, the value list is specified in the arguments. The index of an array always starts with 0 and every element is accessed in an array using the index only. Only the length of an array can define the capacity to store the elements. 

Below is a basic syntax to define arrays containing fruit names in python:

Fruits = ["Apple", "Banana", "Mango"]


The python program for the same will be written as:


Fruits = ["Apple", "Banana", "Mango"]

Print (Fruits);

Output:


['Apple', 'Banana', 'Mango']


An array is able to hold more than one value at a time. If a user has to store a list, say for example fruits, it can be written as:

Fruit1 = “Apple”

Fruit2 = “Banana”

Fruit3 = “Mango”

Below is a program to understand how a user can fetch an item to the index number:

Fruits = ["Apple", "Banana", "Mango"]

x = Fruits[0]

print (x);

Apple

Array Functions in Python

1. Length of an array: This method returns the number of elements present in the array. The user can use len() to calculate the length of an array

Below is a python code to calculate the length of the array:

Fruits = ["Apple", "Banana", "Mango"]

x = len(Fruits)

print (x);

Output:

3

In the python code above, len() function is calculating the length of the array. Hence it returns the length of the list as 3.

Become a Python Certified professional by learning this HKR Python Training!

2. Inserting an array element: This method adds an element to the array list. The user can use append() to perform insertion in an array. 

Below is a python code to insert an element in the array:

 

Fruits = ["Apple", "Banana", "Mango"]

Fruits.append("Cherry")

print (Fruits);


Output:

['Apple', 'Banana', 'Mango', 'Cherry']

In the python code above, ‘cherry’ is being added in the fruits list. Hence the array is returned as an updated list which will include cherry in the previous list.

3. Deleting an array element: This method removes an element from the array list. The user can use remove() to perform single item deletion in an array. In-case the user wants to remove a range of elements, pop() method is used instead of remove(). 
 

Below is a python code to remove the second element from the array:

 

Fruits = ["Apple", "Banana", "Mango"]

Fruits.pop(1)

print (Fruits);


Output:

['Apple', 'Mango']

In the python code above, the element at index 1 is being removed from the list. Hence the array will be returned without that specified removed element. 

NOTE: Here we use pop(1) and not pop(2) for the second element as the array index always starts from 0. 

4. Looping array elements: This can be performed using for-in loop to loop all the elements of the array.
 

Below is a python code to add a loop in the array:

Fruits = ["Apple", "Banana", "Mango"]

for x in Fruits:

  print(x)




Output:

Apple

Banana

Mango

5. Slicing an array: This method is used to print to the whole array except a range of array elements that the user does not want in the output. The sliced array is passed like this: [start:end]
 

Below is a python code to understand slicing in the array:

import numpy as np

array = np.array([1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7])


print(array[1:5])





Output:

[2 3 4 5]

As in the python code above, the user has mentioned that he only wants elements in the range of 1:5 as an output. Hence elements 6,7 are sliced out.

Top 30 frequently asked Python Interview Questions!

6. Searching an element in array: We use this method to search an element from the list of array. It is done by index() method. The method will return the index of the first presence of the element value in the argument. 

Below is a python code to perform searching of elements in the array:

from array import *

arr = array('i', [1,2,3,4,5])

print (arr.index(4))




Output:

3

If the given input value is absent in the array list, then the program will return output as an error.

7. Updating an array: This operation is used to update an existing array list at a specified index by the user.

Below is a python code to update operation amongst elements in the array:

from array import *

arr = array('i', [1,2,3,4,5])

arr[2] = 8

for a in arr:

 print(a)




Output:

1

2

8

4

5

As the user will compile and execute the above program, it will producesthe result which depicts  the new value at the index position 2 as mentioned. 

More Methods in Python

1.clear(): Removes all the elements from the array list
2.count(): Counts and returns the number of elements
3.copy(): Returns a copy of the array list 
4.extend(): Add the element of second list to the end of current list
5.insert(): Adds an element to the specified position of array list
6.index(): Returns the index of the fist element
7.pop(): Removes an element from the array list at a specific position
8.sort(): Performs sorting and then returns the list
9.traverse(): Prints all the elements of the array one by one

Typecodes in Arrays

Typecode                                                    Value

  B                                        unsigned integer of size 1 byte

  b                                         signed integer of size 1 byte

  c                                          character of size 1 byte

  i                                            signed integer of size 2 byte

  l                                            unsigned integer of size 2 byte

  f                                             floating point of size 4 byte

  d                                             floating point of size 8 byte

Python Lists v/s Arrays

This is a very interesting concept in python. The user is able to use python lists as arrays also. However, a user cannot fix the type of elements stored in a list. The array.array type is just a cover-like structure that provides space-efficient storage of basic data types. If the user feels that he should allocate the array he knows won't change, then arrays will be much faster as compared to lists and hence will utilize less memory than them. 

Conclusion:

• Arrays are the collection of similar data types at adjoining memory locations
• An array is created by using the array module as an array(data_type,value_list)
• The index of an array always starts with 0.
• If the array length is 8, it means it can store a total of 8 elements.
• An array can only be created in python by importing the array module in the python code
• Array in Python has a number of important operations such as insertion, deletion, updating, searching, slicing, etc
• The use of arrays in python is very easy and efficient

Related Articles

1. Python Generators

2. Python Ogre

3. Python IDEs

4. Python Training in Delhi