Python - Group Consecutive elements by Sign

Python – Group Consecutive elements by Sign

Last Updated : 01 Nov, 2020

Given a list group of consecutive elements on basis of signs.

Input : test_list = [5, -3, 2, 4, 6, -2, -1, -7, -9, 2, 3]
Output : [[5], [-3], [2, 4, 6], [-2, -1, -7, -9], [2, 3]]
Explanation : Elements inserted into new list on sign change.
Input : test_list = [-2,3,4,5,6,-3]
Output : [[-2], [3, 4, 5, 6], [-3]]
Explanation : Elements inserted into new list on sign change.

Method #1: Using the loop

In this, whenever a sign(positive or negative) change occurs, a new list is initiated otherwise the elements are appended to a similar list as initialized.

Python3

# Python3 code to demonstrate working of 
# Group Consecutive elements by Sign
# Using loop
  
# initializing list
test_list = [5, -3, 2, 4, 6, -2, -1, -7, 
             -9, 2, 3, 10, -3, -5, 3]
  
# printing original list
print("The original list is : " + str(test_list))
  
res = [[]]
for (idx, ele) in enumerate(test_list):
      
    # checking for similar signs by XOR
    if ele ^ test_list[idx - 1] < 0:
        res.append([ele])
    else:
        res[-1].append(ele)
  
# printing result 
print("Elements after sign grouping : " + str(res))

Output:

The original list is : [5, -3, 2, 4, 6, -2, -1, -7, -9, 2, 3, 10, -3, -5, 3]
Elements after sign grouping : [[5], [-3], [2, 4, 6], [-2, -1, -7, -9], [2, 3, 10], [-3, -5], [3]]

Method #2: Using groupby() + list comprehension

In this, we perform the task of grouping using groupby(), and list comprehension is used to perform the task of iterating through the list. The condition for the sign is injected using the lambda function.

Python3

# Python3 code to demonstrate working of
# Group Consecutive elements by Sign
# Using groupby() + list comprehension
import itertools
  
# initializing list
test_list = [-2, 3, 4, 5, 6, -3]
  
# printing original list
print("The original list is : " + str(test_list))
  
# grouped using groupby()
res = [list(ele) for idx, ele in itertools.groupby(test_list, lambda a: a > 0)]
  
# printing result
print("Elements after sign grouping : " + str(res))