Using List Comprehensions Effectively

This short course breaks down Python list comprehensions for you step by step. See how Python’s comprehensions can be transformed from and to equivalent “for”-loops so you’ll know exactly what’s going on behind the scenes.

One of my favorite features in Python are list comprehensions. They can seem a bit arcane at first but when you break them down they are actually a very simple construct.

The key to understanding Python’s list comprehensions is that they’re just for-loops over a collection expressed in a more terse and compact syntax.

In the course you’ll also learn when to use list comprehensions in your own Python programs and when not to. Basically, the caveat to Python’s comprehensions is this—as you get more proficient at using them it becomes easier and easier to write code that’s difficult to read.

If you’re not careful you might have to deal with monstrous list, set, dict comprehensions soon. Too much of a good thing is usually a bad thing.

Resources

• Comprehending Python’s Comprehensions

What’s Included:

• 8 Lessons
• Video Subtitles and Full Transcripts
• Q&A With Python Experts: Ask a Question
• Certificate of Completion

Related Learning Paths:

• Write More Pythonic Code