"".join(list) if list contains a nested list in python?

Question

I know that "".join(list) converts the list to a string, but what if that list contains a nested list? When I try it returns a TypeError due to unexpected list type. I'm guessing it's possible with error handling, but so far my attempts have been fruitless.

Answer 1

You could try something like this:

''.join(''.join(inner) for inner in outer)

That should work, and won't have too much trouble if the outer list contains both Strings and Lists inside of it, ''.join(myString) -> myString.

Answer 2

Well, if the list is nested, simply flatten it beforehand:

>>> import itertools
>>> lst = [['a', 'b'], ['c', 'd']]
>>> ''.join(itertools.chain(*lst))
'abcd'