Python makes it easy to find the first element of a list. In this blog post, we will show you how to get this. Let’s get started!
Table of Contents
what is a list in Python?
A list is a data type that stores a sequence of values. It is similar to an array in other languages, but Python’s lists are more flexible than arrays. You can store any type of value in a list, and the values do not have to be the same data type.
Because a list usually contains more than one element, it’s a good idea to make the name of your list plural, such as letters, digits, or names.In Python, square brackets ([]) indicate a list, and individual elements in the list are separated by commas.
Example: a list of numbers called nums: nums = [0, -12, 17, 99]
Get the first element of list using list[0] in Python
The best way to get the first element of a list in Python is using the list[0]. Python lists are zero-indexed. The first element has an index of 0, the second element has an index of 1. The list[0] is the most preferable, shortest, and Pythonic way to get the first element.
Lists are ordered collections, so you can access any element in a list by telling Python the position, or index, of the item desired. To access an element in a list, write the name of the list followed by the index of the item enclosed in square brackets.
The second item in a list has an index of 1. Using this counting system, you can get any element you want from a list by subtracting one from its position in the list. For instance, to access the fourth item in a list, you request the item at index 3.
Tips about list index in Python
Python lists are zero-indexed, which means that the first item in a list has an index of 0. If you want to get the second item in a list, you would use the index 1. The third item in a list has an index of 2, and so on.
One thing to keep in mind is that the index of the last item in a list is one less than the total number of items in the list. For instance, if we have a list with 5 items, the last index would be 4.
Another thing to note is that adding or removing items from a list can change the indices of all subsequent items in the list. So, if you are referencing an item in a list and the index changes, the item you are referencing may no longer be the one you want.
How to get the index of one element in Python?
The index method is used to find the position of a particular value in a list. The index of the first element in a list is 0, the index of the second element is 1, and so on. Suppose we want to find the position of the number 17 in the list nums:
index = nums.index(17)
print(“Index of 17 is: ” + str(index))
The output would be: Index of 17 is: 2