Converting data types is a common task in programming, and Python provides several built-in functions to facilitate this process. In this tutorial, we will explore how to convert one data type to another in Python.
Changing Data Types
Oftentimes, we encounter situations where we need to change the data type of a variable. This can be necessary for various reasons, such as performing mathematical operations or manipulating data in a specific format. Python offers several functions that allow us to convert between different data types effortlessly.
1. Convert to Integer
To convert a value to an integer, we can use the int() function. This function takes a parameter and returns its integer equivalent.
Example:
x = "10"
y = int(x)
print(type(y), y)
The output of this code snippet will be:
<class 'int'> 10
2. Convert to Float
If you need to convert a value to a floating-point number, you can use the float() function. It takes an argument and returns its float representation.
Example:
x = "3.14"
y = float(x)
print(type(y), y)
This code will output:
<class 'float'> 3.14
3. Convert to String
To convert any value into a string, you can use the str() function. It accepts an input and returns its string representation.
Example:
x = 42
y = str(x)
print(type(y), y)
The output of this code snippet will be:
<class 'str'> 42
4. Convert to List
If you have a sequence of values and want to convert it into a list, you can use the list() function. The function takes an iterable as an argument and returns a new list containing all the elements from the iterable.
Example:
The output will be:
<class 'list'> [1, 2, 3]
5. Convert to Tuple
To convert a collection of values into a tuple, you can use the tuple() function. It accepts an iterable as input and returns a new tuple containing all the elements from the iterable.
Example:
x = [1, 2, 3]
y = tuple(x)
print(type(y), y)
This code will output:
<class 'tuple'> (1, 2, 3)
Casting Complex Data Types
In addition to simple data types like integers and strings, Python also allows us to convert complex data types such as dictionaries and sets. Convert to Dictionary
If you have a sequence of key-value pairs and want to convert it into a dictionary, you can use the dict() function. This function takes an iterable of tuples or other mappings as input and returns a new dictionary.
Example:
x = [("name", "John"), ("age", 25)]
y = dict(x)
print(type(y), y)
The output will be:
<class 'dict'> {'name': 'John', 'age': 25}
2. Convert to Set
If you have a sequence of values and want to convert it into a set, you can use the set() function. This function accepts an iterable as input and returns a new set containing all the unique elements from the iterable.
Example:
x = [1, 2, 3, 2, 1]
y = set(x)
print(type(y), y)
This code will output:
<class 'set'> {1, 2, 3}
Conclusion
In this tutorial, we learned how to convert one data type to another in Python using various built-in functions. We explored conversions for simple data types like integers and strings, as well as complex data types like dictionaries and sets. Understanding how to convert between different data types is essential for manipulating data effectively in Python.
Now that you are familiar with these conversion techniques, you can confidently handle different data types in your Python programs.