This Tutorial Explores the Basics of a Useful Programming Function

If you’re dealing with lists in Python, it’s pretty likely that you will want to pick a random item. Whether for creating unique experiences, or for creating fun and engaging content, having a way to …

Updated November 12, 2023

In Python, there are several ways to pick a random element from a list. Here’s one of the simplest ways, by using the random module:

import random
list = ["apple", "banana", "cherry"]
item = random.choice(list)
print(item)

The random.choice() function takes a list as an argument and returns a randomly chosen element from it. In this example, the print statement will output either “apple”, “banana” or “cherry”.

Another way to pick a random item is by directly accessing the list at a random index:

list = ["apple", "banana", "cherry"]
index = random.randint(0, len(list)-1)
item = list[index]
print(item)

This will give you the same result as the previous example because Python’s lists are zero-indexed and randint function generates an integer within a specified range (inclusive).

Random selection from a list is a great way to create unique experiences, make content more engaging and entertaining for your users. The choice of randomness can often be influenced by the context, such as creating games where specific items are chosen with some frequency based on their rarity or having a certain item chosen more frequently than others.