How do I convert a string to an array?

Question

Not a duplicate of Python - convert string to an array since answers there are relevant only for Python 2

How do I convert a string to a Python 3 array?

I know how to convert a string into a list:

>>> string = 'abcd'
>>> string
'abcd'

>>> list(string)
['a', 'b', 'c', 'd']

However, I need a Python array.

I need an answer specific for Python 3

what do you mean by *array*? Python does not have a built-in type of array. in most cases, *list* type is a perfect substitute for an array — kyriakosSt, Feb 27 '20 at 20:17
`split()` will split like this: ```python string = ["abcd"] ``` I need ```python string = ["a", "b", "c", "d"] ``` — Aryan Beezadhur, Feb 27 '20 at 20:20
It split like that because you don't know how to use its API — Trash Can, Feb 27 '20 at 20:22
@kyriakosSt That [isn't true](https://docs.python.org/3/library/array.html) — roganjosh, Feb 27 '20 at 20:23
@AnuragReddy lists don't iterate in the same way as arrays, I need an array — Aryan Beezadhur, Feb 27 '20 at 20:28
@AryanBeezadhur What does an *array* mean to you? And what differentiates the type *list*? — eyllanesc, Feb 27 '20 at 20:34
@AryanBeezadhur *I need this `string = ["a", "b", "c", "d"]`*. Here `string` is a list. — Ch3steR, Feb 27 '20 at 20:35
@ChatterOne _Just use `split('')` instead of `split()`_ That's wrong, though, why would you suggest that? — AMC, Feb 27 '20 at 20:49
[Python 3 arrays](https://docs.python.org/3/library/array.html#module-array) are "efficient arrays of numeric values". You can't have something that looks like `['a', 'b', 'c', 'd']` but you can have something like `array('b', [97, 98, 99, 100])` which represents exactly what you desire. Look at this answer: https://stackoverflow.com/a/37142449/6119908 — Rahul, Feb 27 '20 at 20:49
What is your expected output? What do you expect `"abcd"` to look and behave when it becomes an [array](https://docs.python.org/3.8/library/array.html#module-array) instance. And the `array` module [isn't Python3 specific](https://docs.python.org/2.7/library/array.html#module-array). — Gino Mempin, Feb 28 '20 at 04:18

WGriffing · Accepted Answer · 2020-02-27T20:54:22.110

2

import array as arr
output = arr.array('b', [ord(c) for c in 'abcdef'])

will output

array('b', [97, 98, 100, 101, 102])

Of course, you have to remember to convert back to characters with chr(), whenever you need to use them as letters/strings.

edited Feb 27 '20 at 20:54

answered Feb 27 '20 at 20:34

WGriffing

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ipj · Answer 2 · 2020-02-29T09:22:12.330

1

My answer is limited to NumPy array. Try just this:

import numpy as np
array = np.array(list("acb"))

Note: Python does not have built-in support for Arrays, but Python Lists can be used instead.

edited Feb 29 '20 at 09:22

answered Feb 27 '20 at 20:24

ipj

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Unless they want a [python array](https://docs.python.org/3/library/array.html) – roganjosh Feb 27 '20 at 20:24
1

Why link to that w3schools page, of all things? They refer to a plain Python list as an array, and your answer is using NumPy ndarrays anyway. – AMC Feb 27 '20 at 20:46

score -1 · Answer 3 · edited Dec 13 '20 at 14:48

-1

Given the following string

string = 'abcd'

There are two methods to convert it into an array.

Method 1:

Manually add to a list using a for loop:

array = []

for i in string:
    array.append(i)

Solution 2:

We can use list comprehension:

array = [i for i in string]

edited Dec 13 '20 at 14:48

Aryan Beezadhur

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answered Aug 31 '20 at 00:06

imcupcakegamer

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This is for converting a string to a *list*, not an *array*. – Aryan Beezadhur Dec 13 '20 at 14:11

How do I convert a string to an array?

3 Answers3

Method 1:

Solution 2: