Python Program to Convert a Set to a List

Introduction

In Python, sets are unordered collections of unique elements, while lists are ordered and can contain duplicate elements. There are situations where you may want to convert a set into a list, for example, when you need to maintain order or work with list-specific methods. This tutorial will guide you through creating a Python program that converts a set into a list.

Example:

• Input Set: {'apple', 'banana', 'cherry'}
• Output List: ['apple', 'banana', 'cherry']

Problem Statement

Create a Python program that:

• Takes a set as input.
• Converts the set into a list.
• Displays the resulting list.

Solution Steps

1. Create a Set: Initialize a set with some elements.
2. Convert the Set to a List: Use the list() function to convert the set into a list.
3. Display the List: Use the print() function to display the resulting list.

Python Program

# Python Program to Convert a Set to a List
# Author: https://www.rameshfadatare.com/

# Step 1: Create a set with elements
my_set = {'apple', 'banana', 'cherry'}

# Step 2: Convert the set to a list using the list() function
my_list = list(my_set)

# Step 3: Display the resulting list
print("The converted list is:", my_list)

Explanation

Step 1: Create a Set with Elements

• A set my_set is created with elements: 'apple', 'banana', and 'cherry'. Sets are defined using curly braces {}.

Step 2: Convert the Set to a List Using the list() Function

• The list() function is used to convert the set my_set into a list. The resulting list is stored in the variable my_list.

Step 3: Display the Resulting List

• The print() function is used to display the list my_list.

Output Example

Example Output:

The converted list is: ['apple', 'banana', 'cherry']

(Note: The order of elements in the list may vary because sets are unordered collections, but lists maintain the order of elements they are initialized with.)

Additional Examples

Example 1: Converting a Numeric Set to a List

# Numeric set
numeric_set = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5}

# Convert to list
numeric_list = list(numeric_set)

print("The converted numeric list is:", numeric_list)

Output:

The converted numeric list is: [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

Example 2: Converting a Mixed-Type Set to a List

# Mixed-type set
mixed_set = {'apple', 42, 3.14, True}

# Convert to list
mixed_list = list(mixed_set)

print("The converted mixed-type list is:", mixed_list)

Output:

The converted mixed-type list is: [True, 42, 3.14, 'apple']

Example 3: Converting an Empty Set to a List

# Empty set
empty_set = set()

# Convert to list
empty_list = list(empty_set)

print("The converted list from an empty set is:", empty_list)

Output:

The converted list from an empty set is: []

Example 4: Converting a Set with Duplicate Values to a List

# Set with duplicate values (set automatically removes duplicates)
dup_set = {'apple', 'banana', 'apple', 'cherry', 'banana'}

# Convert to list
dup_list = list(dup_set)

print("The converted list from a set with duplicates is:", dup_list)

Output:

The converted list from a set with duplicates is: ['apple', 'banana', 'cherry']

Conclusion

This Python program demonstrates how to convert a set into a list using the list() function. Converting a set to a list is useful when you need to maintain order, work with list-specific methods, or want to have a sequence that allows duplicates. Understanding how to perform this conversion is essential for effectively managing and manipulating collections in Python.