random.shuffle returns None

Question

random.shuffle() returns None, can i get a shuffled value instead?

import random

testlist1 = ["1", "2"]
testlist2 = ["1a", "1b"]
testlist3 = ["2a", "2b"]

def generator(testlist1, testlist2, testlist3):
    genwords = ([random.choice(testlist1), random.choice(testlist2), random.choice(testlist3)])
    shufflegen = random.shuffle(genwords)
    print(shufflegen)

generator(testlist1, testlist2, testlist3)

Debug:

None

Maybe you want [`random.choice()`](https://docs.python.org/3/library/random.html#random.choice) — 001, Sep 23 '22 at 18:06
I'd avoid naming your function simply `generator` as that word has a special meaning in Python https://docs.python.org/3/glossary.html#term-generator — ti7, Sep 23 '22 at 18:10

chrslg · Answer 1 · 2022-09-23T18:17:30.957

2

random.shuffle doesn't return a new list. It shuffle the list you passed in place.

genwords is shuffled in your case. Print genwords. (And you may want to copy it before shuffling, if you needed it unshuffled)

import random

testlist1 = ["1", "2"]
testlist2 = ["1a", "1b"]
testlist3 = ["2a", "2b"]

def generator(testlist1, testlist2, testlist3):
    genwords = ([random.choice(testlist1), random.choice(testlist2), random.choice(testlist3)])
    random.shuffle(genwords)
    print(genwords)

generator(testlist1, testlist2, testlist3)

edited Sep 23 '22 at 18:17

answered Sep 23 '22 at 18:05

chrslg

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Why did you leave `shufflegen =` in the code? It's not just useless, it's distracting. – Mark Ransom Sep 23 '22 at 18:11
Indeed. I just copied the original code, and replace the print argument. But ideed. So edited. – chrslg Sep 23 '22 at 18:17

sarashs · Answer 2 · 2022-09-23T18:09:23.223

0

random.shuffle performs inplace shuffling. Your code becomes:

import random

testlist1 = ["1", "2"]
testlist2 = ["1a", "1b"]
testlist3 = ["2a", "2b"]

def generator(testlist1, testlist2, testlist3):
    genwords = ([random.choice(testlist1), random.choice(testlist2), random.choice(testlist3)])
    random.shuffle(genwords)
    print(genwords)

generator(testlist1, testlist2, testlist3)

edited Sep 23 '22 at 18:09

answered Sep 23 '22 at 18:08

sarashs

1
1

random.shuffle returns None

2 Answers2