How to split a string input and append to a list? Python

Question

I want to ask the user what foods they have ate, then split that input up into a list. Right now, the code is spitting out just empty brackets.

Also, this is my first post on here, so I apologize in advance for any formating errors.

list_of_food = []


def split_food(input):

    #split the input
    words = input.split()

    for i in words:
        list_of_food = list_of_food.append(i)

print list_of_food

Does this answer your question? [How to split a string into a list?](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/743806/how-to-split-a-string-into-a-list) — bad_coder, Oct 30 '21 at 08:13

score 3 · Answer 1 · answered Aug 12 '14 at 15:30

for i in words:
    list_of_food = list_of_food.append(i)

You should change this just to

for i in words:
    list_of_food.append(i)

For two different reasons. First, list.append() is an in-place operator, so you don't need to worry about reassigning your list when you use it. Second, when you're trying to use a global variable inside a function, you either need to declare it as global or never assign to it. Otherwise, the only thing you'll be doing is modifying a local. This is what you're probably trying to do with your function.

def split_food(input):

    global list_of_food

    #split the input
    words = input.split()

    for i in words:
        list_of_food.append(i)

However, because you shouldn't use globals unless absolutely necessary (it's not a great practice), this is the best method:

def split_food(input, food_list):

    #split the input
    words = input.split()

    for i in words:
        food_list.append(i)

    return food_list

Or better, skip the for loop and use `list_of_food.extend(words)`. — chepner, Aug 12 '14 at 15:32
There's no need for the list_of_food at all is there? words will be a list as soon as you do the split. — Robert Moskal, Aug 12 '14 at 15:33
@Robert Moskal if you want to return at all that is, append will modify your list anyway — user3012759, Aug 12 '14 at 15:40

Ashok Kumar Jayaraman · Answer 2 · 2017-10-11T13:08:32.440

1

>>> text = "What can I say about this place. The staff of these restaurants is nice and the eggplant is not bad.'
>>> txt1 = text.split('.')
>>> txt2 = [line.split() for line in txt1]
>>> new_list = []
>>> for i in range(0, len(txt2)):
        l1 = txt2[i]
        for w in l1:
          new_list.append(w)
print(new_list)

edited Oct 11 '17 at 13:08

answered Oct 11 '17 at 11:25

Ashok Kumar Jayaraman

2,887
2
32
40

`split()`already returns a list, so you iterate over one list to copy element by element to another list – jps Oct 11 '17 at 11:53

score 1 · Answer 3 · answered Jun 04 '19 at 10:37

1

Use the "extend" keyword. This aggregates two lists together.

list_of_food = []


def split_food(input):

    #split the input
    words = input.split()
    list_of_food.extend(words)

print list_of_food

answered Jun 04 '19 at 10:37

Partiban Ramasamy

11
1

How to split a string input and append to a list? Python

3 Answers3