Python list inside string to list

Question

I have a string: '[1, 2, 3]'
I want to convert it to: [1, 2, 3]

I know there was a single bif that I could use, but I couldn't find it or for the life of me recall what it was.

I know someone out there remembers, any help would be greatly appreciated.

score 17 · Accepted Answer · edited Jul 22 '14 at 15:04

17

To process a string as if were code:

>>> eval('[1, 2, 3]')
[1, 2, 3]

edited Jul 22 '14 at 15:04

Tim

answered Jul 22 '14 at 15:02

mdurant

1

`eval` might be a big security hole in your application. At least use `ast.literal_eval`. – Matthias Jul 22 '14 at 15:07
Agreed, but it is the simplest, if you assume trusted input. – mdurant Jul 22 '14 at 15:14
Sorry about that, I just couldn't remember the exact keyword. – npengra317 Jul 22 '14 at 15:35

1 Answers1