How to randomly choose an item from a list?

General Discussions
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#1

How can I python random select from list to retrieve a random item?

How do I randomly select (choose) an item from the following list?

foo = [‘a’, ‘b’, ‘c’, ‘d’, ‘e’]

#2

Hello @Shielagaa

Using random.choice() "The most straightforward and Pythonic way to select a random item is by using the random.choice() function from the random module. This directly picks a random element from the list, making it concise and efficient.

import random

foo = ['a', 'b', 'c', 'd', 'e']
random_item = random.choice(foo)
print(random_item)

This method requires no extra steps, keeping your code clean and readable.

#3

Hey All!

Using random.randint() for Index Selection "Building on Tom’s point, another approach is to use random.randint() to generate a random index, allowing you to access an element by its position. While slightly less concise than random.choice(), it can be helpful if you want more control over the index.

import random

foo = ['a', 'b', 'c', 'd', 'e']
index = random.randint(0, len(foo) - 1)
random_item = foo[index]
print(random_item)

Here, random.randint(0, len(foo) - 1) ensures the index is within bounds, and the corresponding item is retrieved. This method also lets you easily manipulate or use the index further if needed."

#4

Using random.sample() "Adding to Toby’s approach, if you’re working with scenarios where you’d like flexibility for future expansion (like sampling multiple items), random.sample() is a fantastic option. It provides a single random item when paired with a sample size of 1:

import random

foo = ['a', 'b', 'c', 'd', 'e']
random_item = random.sample(foo, 1)[0]
print(random_item)

random.sample() returns a list, even for a single sample, so [0] extracts the element. This is particularly useful if you later decide to retrieve multiple random elements without duplicating code.