Differences Between List, Sequence, and Slice Data Types in Python

We will learn about the differences between list, sequence, and slice data types in Python in this article.

Lists ? In Python, a list is a type of data that can hold multiple values in a single variable. You can think of it like a shopping list that contains multiple items. For example, you could have a list of numbers like [1, 2, 3, 4, 5] or a list of names like ["John", "Jane", "Bob", "Sue"].

Number_List = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

Name_List = ["John", "Jane", "Bob", "Sue"]

Sequences ? In Python, a sequence is a type of data that represents a sequence of values. This could be a string of characters, like "hello" or a range of numbers, like 1 to 10. You can think of a sequence like a line of people waiting to get into a concert. Each person has a specific place in the line, just like each value in a sequence has a specific position.

Slices ? A slice is a way to extract a part of a list or sequence. You can think of it like cutting a slice of cake out of a larger cake. For example, if you have a list of numbers [1, 2, 3, 4, 5], you could use a slice to extract only the first three values [1, 2, 3] or the last two values [4, 5]. Slices can also be used on sequences like strings to extract specific parts of the string.

Examples that demonstrate the differences between list, sequence, and slice data types in Python ?

Lists

Example

In this example, the code creates a list called my_list that contains three string values: "apple", "banana", and "cherry".

my_list = ["apple", "banana", "cherry"]

Sequences

Example

In this example, the code creates a sequence called my_sequence that represents the range of numbers from 1 to 5.

my_sequence = range(1, 6)
for i in range(1,6):
   print(i)

Output

1
2
3
4
5

Slices

Example

This code creates a list called my_list that contains five string values. It then creates a slice of my_list called sliced_list that contains only the values at positions 1, 2, and 3 (i.e., "banana", "cherry", and "date").

my_list = ["apple", "banana", "cherry", "date", "elderberry"]
sliced_list = my_list[1:4]
print(sliced_list)

Output

['banana', 'cherry', 'date']

Example

This code creates a string called my_string that contains the text "hello world". It then creates a slice of my_string called sliced_string that contains only the first five characters (i.e., "hello").

my_string = "hello world"
sliced_string = my_string[0:5]
print(sliced_string)

Output

hello

The following examples highlight the differences between list, sequence, and slice data types in Python ?

Example of modifying a list

This code creates a list called my_list that contains three integer values. It then modifies the value at position 1 (i.e., the second value in the list) to be 5. This illustrates that lists are mutable, meaning their values can be changed after they are created.

my_list = [1, 2, 3]
my_list[1] = 5

Example of iterating over a sequence

This code creates a sequence called my_sequence that represents the range of numbers from 1 to 5. It then iterates over each value in the sequence using a for loop and prints it to the console. This illustrates that sequences are iterable, meaning their values can be accessed one at a time.

my_sequence = range(1, 6)
for value in my_sequence:
   print(value)

Output

1
2
3
4
5

Example of concatenating lists

This code creates two lists called list1 and list2 that contain three integer values each. It then concatenates the two lists using the + operator and stores the result in a new list called concatenated_list. This illustrates that lists can be combined using the + operator.

list1 = [1, 2, 3]
list2 = [4, 5, 6]
concatenated_list = list1 + list2
print(concatenated_list)

Output

[1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]

Example of slicing a string

This code creates a string called my_string that contains the text "hello world". It then creates a slice of my_string called sliced_string that contains only the characters starting from position 6 (i.e., "world"). This illustrates that slices can be used on strings as well as lists and sequences.

my_string = "hello world"
sliced_string = my_string[6:]
print(sliced_string)

Output

world

In summary, these code examples demonstrate that lists are a data type that can hold multiple values, sequences are another data type that represent a sequence of values, and slices are yet another data type which allow us to extract a part of a list or sequence.