Get value at list/array index or "None" if out of range in Python

Question

Is there clean way to get the value at a list index or None if the index is out or range in Python?

The obvious way to do it would be this:

if len(the_list) > i:     return the_list[i] else:     return None 

However, the verbosity reduces code readability. Is there a clean, simple, one-liner that can be used instead?

Answer 1

Try:

try:     return the_list[i] except IndexError:     return None 

Or, one liner:

l[i] if i < len(l) else None 

Example:

>>> l=list(range(5)) >>> i=6 >>> print(l[i] if i < len(l) else None) None >>> i=2 >>> print(l[i] if i < len(l) else None) 2 

Answer 2

I find list slices good for this:

>>> x = [1, 2, 3] >>> a = x [1:2] >>> a [2] >>> b = x [4:5] >>> b [] 

So, always access x[i:i+1], if you want x[i]. You'll get a list with the required element if it exists. Otherwise, you get an empty list.