Python Accept list as an input from a user

As you already know using Python input() function, we can accept a string, integer and character input from a user. Now, let see how to accept the list as an input in Python.

This article mainly focuses on solving the following questions:

• Python Accept list as an input from a user
• Get a list of numbers as input from the user
• Accept a list of strings as input from a user

Note: This article is applicable for both Python 2 and 3.

Get a list of numbers as input from the user

I have created an example in python to accept a list of numbers from the user and calculate the sum of the list of numbers. Let’s see the example.

Python Program to get a list of numbers as input from a user and calculate the sum of it

input_string = input("Enter a list element separated by space ")
list  = input_string.split()
print("Calculating sum of element of input list")
sum = 0
for num in list:
    sum += int (num)
print("Sum = ",sum)

Output: Run Online

Enter a list element separated by space 2 4 6 8
Calculating sum of element of input list
Sum =  20

Let’s Understand the above program.

1. As you know Python input() function always converts user input to string. We accepted the list element from a user in the format of a string separated by space.
2. Note you can also accept list element input separated by comma or another separator you need to pass the separator as argument in split() function.
3. We are using input_string.split() to split a string by spaces and added those elements to the list.
4. We iterated a list using for Loop and converted each element to an integer and calculated sum.

What about getting a list of string as an input?

Python input list of strings

We can also accept a list of string as an input from user using the same way as we did for a list of integers. Let’s see the demo.

Python Program to get a list of string as input from a user. In this demo, we are accepting all family member names from a user.

input_string = input("Enter family members separated by comma ")
family_list  = input_string.split(",")
print("Printing all family member names")
for name in family_list:
    print(name)

Output: Run Online

Enter family members separated by comma Jhon, Kelly, Scott, Jessa
Printing all family member names
Jhon
 Kelly
 Scott
 Jessa

Let’s Understand the above program.

1. we accepted the input list element from a user in the format of a string separated by a comma.
2. Using input_string.split(",") we split a string by a comma and created a list of string
3. We iterated a list using for loop and printed all f.amily member names from a list of string

Next Steps

To practice what you learned in this article, I have created a Python Basic Quiz and Exercise.

Let me know your comments and feedback in the section below.

References:

• Python input() function – Official Python doc
• What is Input in the Programming world