Python slice() Function with Examples

How to Use the Python slice() Function

In this tutorial, you'll learn how to use the Python slice() function. The slice function returns a slice object representing the set of indices specified by the startstop, and step arguments.

You can use the Python slice() function to slice lists and tuples.

Python slice() Syntax

The syntax of the slice() function is as follows:

slice(stop)

or:

slice(start, stop[, step])

Python slice() Parameters

  • start: The index of the element used as the start of the slice
  • stop: The index of the element that should stop just before to finish the slice
  • step: The step is a difference between each number in the sequence, and defaults to 1 if not specified.

Note that you can return a sub-list or sub-tuple of a list or tuple using notation, [] with colons between numbers. For example, list[1:4:1].

Examples

Example 1: Slice a List of Strings (1)

The following example illustrates a sample program that slices a list of strings and returns a list of the first three items:

#slice a list of strings. Slice and return the first three fruits
fruits = ["Apple""Kiwi""Orange""Melon""Watermelon""Cabbage""Lettuce"]
slice_object = slice(3)
slice_fruits = fruits[slice_object]
print(slice_fruits)

Result:

['Apple', 'Kiwi', 'Orange']

Here, as you can see, the stop argument set to 3. Since it is a positive value, the program returns a new slice object from the beginning of the list.

Example 2: Slice a List of Strings (2)

The following example illustrates a sample code that slices a list of strings, removes the last two item, and then returns a list of remaining items:

#slice a list of strings
fruits = ["Apple""Kiwi""Orange""Melon""Watermelon""Cabbage""Lettuce"]
slice_object = slice(-2)
slice_fruits = fruits[slice_object]
print(slice_fruits)

Result:

['Apple', 'Kiwi', 'Orange', 'Melon', 'Watermelon']

Here, the stop argument set to -2. Since it is a negative value, the program removes the last two string from the end of the list and returns a new slice object.

Example 3: Slice a List of Strings (3)

The following example illustrates a sample code that slices a list of strings with both the start and stop arguments specified:

#slice a list of strings
fruits = ["Apple""Kiwi""Orange""Melon""Watermelon""Cabbage""Lettuce"]
slice_object = slice(45)
slice_fruits = fruits[slice_object]
print(slice_fruits)

Result:

['Watermelon']

Example 4: Slice a List of Strings (4)

The following example illustrates a sample code that slices a list of strings with three arguments (startstop, and step) specified.

#slice a list of strings
fruits = ["Apple""Kiwi""Orange""Melon""Watermelon""Cabbage""Lettuce"]
slice_object = slice(162)
slice_fruits = fruits[slice_object]
print(slice_fruits)

Result:

['Kiwi', 'Melon', 'Cabbage']

Example 5: Slice a Tuple of Numbers

The following example illustrates a sample code that slices a tuple of numbers:

numbers = (100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1000)
slice_object = slice(3, 6)
slice_numbers = numbers[slice_object]
print (slice_numbers)

Result:

(400, 500, 600)

Example 6: Slice a String (1)

The following example illustrates a program that slices a string and returns a substring:

#slice a string
str = "Python Java C++ C# Ruby C PHP JavaScript ASP.NET Django Flask WordPress Laravel"
slice_object = slice(10)
slice_string= str[slice_object]
print(slice_string)

Result:

Python Jav

Example 6: Slice a String (2)

The following example illustrates a program that slices a string and returns a substring:

#slice a string
str = "Python Java C++ C# Ruby C PHP JavaScript ASP.NET Django Flask WordPress Laravel"
slice_object = slice(-10)
slice_string= str[slice_object]
print(slice_string)

Result:

Python Java C++ C# Ruby C PHP JavaScript ASP.NET Django Flask WordPre

In this tutorial, you've learned how to use the Python slice() function. The slice function returns a slice object representing the set of indices specified by the startstop, and step arguments.


See also:
Python return Statement with Examples
Python List Methods and Functions with Examples
Python abs() – Absolute Value in Python
Python Factorial – Find the Factorial of a Number
Python min() – Find the Smallest Value in Python

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