Unpack a list in Python?

python list argument-passing
AP257 picture AP257 · Aug 13, 2010 · Viewed 215.3k times · Source

I think 'unpack' might be the wrong vocabulary here - apologies because I'm sure this is a duplicate question.

My question is pretty simple: in a function that expects a list of items, how can I pass a Python list item without getting an error?

my_list = ['red', 'blue', 'orange']
function_that_needs_strings('red', 'blue', 'orange') # works!
function_that_needs_strings(my_list) # breaks!

Surely there must be a way to expand the list, and pass the function 'red','blue','orange' on the hoof?

Answer

Jochen Ritzel picture Jochen Ritzel · Aug 13, 2010 
function_that_needs_strings(*my_list) # works!

You can read all about it here.

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