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Python Python Lists python method type error 

TypeError: ‘list’ object is not an iterator

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We have covered off many TypeErrors on this website, here we will go through which using a list with and it is not an iterator gives you errors.

In order to understand this error better, we need to first understand what is an iterator in Python?

An iterator is a Python object that has the following characteristics:

  • You can count the no of values that are contained within it.
  • It also can be iterated through, so you need to apply an iteration method to it.

How does this error occur?

Normally this error occurs when you try to iterate over a list, but you have not made the list iterable.

There are two things required to make this happen:

(A) The iter() returns an iterator object

(B) The next() method moves to the next value.

Without both the code will fail and the error you are about will occur!

In the below code we have a list:

a = ['q', 'w', 'e', 'r', 't', 'y']

with the following:

b = next(a)
b = next(a)
b = next(a)
b = next(a)
b = next(a)
b = next(a)

As can be seen in the above code we have one component for the iteration , we expect two as per the above.

As a result we get the error:

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "list_object_is_not_an_iterator.py", line 13, in <module>
    b = next(a)
TypeError: 'list' object is not an iterator

In order to fix this ,all we need to do is apply the iterator to the list as follows:

a = iter(['q', 'w', 'e', 'r', 't', 'y']) ====> We added in the iter() here, enclosing the list within it

b = next(a)
b = next(a)
b = next(a)
b = next(a)
b = next(a)
b = next(a)
#b = next(a)


print(b)

Giving output:
y

As a result of this, we now have the two required methods that will not give this error.

What is going on within the iterator?

In the above code we have asked to print b. What the iterator is doing is going to the first value of b, in this case q and print.

But because we have a variable b on multiple lines, with the method “next()” in it, the logic is moving through each value of the list till it gets to the end.

What can be done though is , reduce the length of the returned b variables to print as follows:

a = iter(['q', 'w', 'e', 'r', 't', 'y'])
b = next(a)
print(b)
returns:
q

BUT
a = iter(['q', 'w', 'e', 'r', 't', 'y'])
b = next(a)
b = next(a)
print(b)
returns:
w

As can be seen it returns the next value in the list. You can keep adding the b variables.

What happens when you get to the end of the list?

So now we have the below, and we are returning the last value:

a = iter(['q', 'w', 'e', 'r', 't', 'y'])
b = next(a)
b = next(a)
b = next(a)
b = next(a)
b = next(a)
b = next(a)

Returns:
y

The reason for this is that we have the required no of variables with the next method, which equals the length of the list.

If we add in one more b variable:

a = iter(['q', 'w', 'e', 'r', 't', 'y'])
b = next(a)
b = next(a)
b = next(a)
b = next(a)
b = next(a)
b = next(a)
b = next(a) ===> Additional b variable

Returns: 
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "list_object_is_not_an_iterator.py", line 19, in <module>
    b = next(a)
StopIteration

The purpose of StopIteration is to not allow a continuous loop and recognise that the end of the list has been reached.

Implementing Iterators

Iterators could be used in the following circumstances:

(A) You have a defined list of object values to work with.

(B) If sequence is important an iterator will help to process values in the order they appear in a list.

Python type error 

TypeError object of type ‘int’ has no len()

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I have seen this data type error come up numerous times while working on my data analytics projects, and recently decided to investigate further. On initial inspection, it can seem a bit of a funny one, but in actual fact, it is quite straight forward.

Lets break it down and see what is going on

So in the below code, there are a number of things:

On line 1 we have a variable that is an integer. If we think about this logically, something that is a single numeric number cannot have a length.

An integer by design is purely to count up a number of apples or no of people, it cannot be viewed as having a length as it is descriptive of the number of occurrences of an object.

data = 100
print(type(data))
print(len(data))

Output Error:
<class 'int'>
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "object of type int.py", line 3, in <module>
    print(len(data))
TypeError: object of type 'int' has no len()

So for it to in anyway allow a length to be calculated, the object needs to be one of the following data types:

  • List
  • String
  • Tuple
  • Dictionary

Opposite to an integer, these are datatypes that have values that would be more appropriate to having values that a length can be calculated on.

data = "100"
print(type(data))
print("Length of string is: ", len(data))

data = [100,200,300]
print(type(data))
print("Length of list is: ", len(data))

data = (100,200,300)
print(type(data))
print("Length of tuple is: ", len(data))

data = {"Age": 1, "Name": 2}
print(type(data))
print("Length of dictionary is: ", len(data))

And the output is:
<class 'str'>
Length of string is:  3
<class 'list'>
Length of list is:  3
<class 'tuple'>
Length of tuple is:  3
<class 'dict'>
Length of dictionary is:  2

In summary, to understand this error and fix it:

An integer describes the number of things that exist for an object, they are actually not the actual object in existence.

Anything that can have a length method applied to it actually exists and can be counted. In the above four examples, they are actually values that you could describe as existing as you can count each one of them.

The explanation here hopefully clears up the matter, if you have any questions leave a comment and I will answer for you!

Python Lists Python Tutorial 

Python Tutorial: How to sort lists

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Estimated reading time: 2 minutes

Following on from our post on how to use Python lists have you ever wondered how to sort lists for your Python project?

Our latest video on lists will go through some of the techniques available so that you can get an idea of how to structure your data and sort.

Getting to understand how to implement

In this latest video we will look at:

  • sort() method
  • sorted() function
  • sorting a list through a function

 

Adding in those extra bits to help make the process smoother

Have you thought about sorting ascending/descending?

  • There is also a discussion on this topic as well, and while an index is available for the list, which you may feel does not merit sorting, there could be other logical reasons to implement sorting.
  • Leaving out the reverse = True/False in the sorted method can have an impact, though if you require it left out of the list you have created, automatic ascending will be the default.

On this channel, we have discussed a number of different ways to manage your data. In thinking about sorting a list, why would you want to do this?

Some common reasons are:

  • To visually see if there are duplicates, either on the screen or printed out.
  • If other objects are dependant on the list, say a combo box, then having duplicates visible can help to reduce the size of their contents.
  • Iteration – If you are looking to iterate over a list, it will be quicker if it is sorted.

If you want to learn about lists, using them, and how how they can be iterated over, why not visit Data Analytics Ireland YouTube channel, there are lots of videos there that will help explain the concepts discussed here further.

To get some more links on this topic click here python sort method, it is a blog posting from our website that has some useful links and explanations for you.