Python List index()
index() is an inbuilt function in Python, which searches for a given element from the start of the list and returns the lowest index where the element appears.
Syntax:
list_name.index(element, start, end)
Parameters:
- element – The element whose lowest index will be returned.
- start (Optional) – The position from where the search begins.
- end (Optional) – The position from where the search ends.
Returns:
Returns the lowest index where the element appears.
Error:
If any element which is not present is searched, it returns a ValueError
Example 1: Find the index of the element
Python3
# Python3 program for demonstration # of list index() method list1 = [1, 2, 3, 4, 1, 1, 1, 4, 5] # Will print the index of '4' in list1print(list1.index(4)) list2 = ['cat', 'bat', 'mat', 'cat', 'pet'] # Will print the index of 'cat' in list2 print(list2.index('cat')) |
Output:
3 0
Example 1.1
Python3
# Python3 program for demonstration # of index() method list1 = [1, 2, 3, 4, 1, 1, 1, 4, 5] # Will print index of '4' in sublist# having index from 4 to 8.print(list1.index(4, 4, 8)) # Will print index of '1' in sublist# having index from 1 to 7.print(list1.index(1, 1, 7)) list2 = ['cat', 'bat', 'mat', 'cat', 'get', 'cat', 'sat', 'pet'] # Will print index of 'cat' in sublist# having index from 2 to 6print(list2.index('cat', 2, 6 )) |
Output:
7 4 3
Example 1.2
Python3
# Python3 program for demonstration # of list index() method # Random list having sublist and tuple alsolist1 = [1, 2, 3, [9, 8, 7], ('cat', 'bat')] # Will print the index of sublist [9, 8, 7]print(list1.index([9, 8, 7])) # Will print the index of tuple # ('cat', 'bat') inside list print(list1.index(('cat', 'bat'))) |
Output :
3 4
Example 2: Index of the Element not Present in the List (ValueError)
Python3
# Python3 program for demonstration# of index() method error list1 = [1, 2, 3, 4, 1, 1, 1, 4, 5] # Return ValueErrorprint(list1.index(10)) |
Output:
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "/home/b910d8dcbc0f4f4b61499668654450d2.py", line 8, in
print(list1.index(10))
ValueError: 10 is not in listExample 3: When 2 arguments are Passed
When two arguments are passed in the index function, the first argument is treated as the element to be searched and the second argument is the index from where the searching begins.
list_name.index(element, start)
Python3
# Python3 program for demonstration # of index() method list1 = [6 , 8 , 5 , 6 , 1 , 2] # Will print index of '3' in sublist# having index from 1 to end of the list.print(list1.index(6 , 1)) |
Output:
3
Example 4: The end index passed as argument is not included
The third argument which is the end, itself is not included in the range from start to end, i.e the searching takes place from start to end-1 index.
Python3
# Python3 program for demonstration # of index() method list1 = [6 , 2 , 14 , 8 , 9 , 10] # return error as index '4' is not included in the range # having index from 1 to 4.print(list1.index(9, 1, 4)) |
Output:
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "/home/3cbe5b7d0595ab3f8564f16af7a15172.py", line 9, in <module>
print(list1.index(9 , 1 , 4))
ValueError: 9 is not in listExample 4.1
Python3
# Python3 program for demonstration # of index() method list1 = [6 , 2 , 14 , 8 , 9 , 10] # Will print index of '4' in sublist as now index '4' is included # having index from 1 to 5.print(list1.index(9, 1, 5)) |
Output:
4
