Shuffle a list within a specific range python

Question

I'm very new to Python, so bear with me. I would like to run a program that will shuffle a string of integers in a specific range, but without having to input each integer within that range. I.e., I want to randomize the list of integers from 1 to 100 without typing out (1, 2, 3...100).

Yes, I've looked at other answers to similar questions, but all are asking for one integer within a specific range, or are not answered for Python, or are asking for something way more complex. Thanks

Ashwini Chaudhary · Answer 1 · 2022-01-04T19:10:05.070

17

You can use range() along with list() to generate a list of integers, and then apply random.shuffle() on that list.

>>> lst = list(range(1,11))
>>> lst
[1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10]
>>> random.shuffle(lst)
>>> lst
[4, 5, 3, 9, 2, 10, 7, 1, 6, 8]

Help on class range in module builtins:

class range(object)
 |  range(stop) -> range object
 |  range(start, stop[, step]) -> range object
 |
 |  Return an object that produces a sequence of integers from start (inclusive)
 |  to stop (exclusive) by step.  range(i, j) produces i, i+1, i+2, ..., j-1.
 |  start defaults to 0, and stop is omitted!  range(4) produces 0, 1, 2, 3.
 |  These are exactly the valid indices for a list of 4 elements.
 |  When step is given, it specifies the increment (or decrement).

edited Jan 04 '22 at 19:10

answered Jan 20 '13 at 19:47

Ashwini Chaudhary

244,495
58
464
504

And what if I already have a list, but just want to shuffle a sub-list? I think that was the original question. – user2061057 Dec 30 '16 at 12:23
1

@user2061057 Something like: `sublist = lis[5:10]; random.shuffle(sublist); lis[5:10] = sublist`. – Ashwini Chaudhary Dec 30 '16 at 12:32
With Python 3.9, this answer generates a TypeError when calling random.shuffle(lis). Instead of lis = range(1,11), use lis = list(range(1,11)). – Spirit of the Void Jan 04 '22 at 18:01

Abhijit · Answer 2 · 2013-01-20T20:11:29.483

In case you want the entire population within a given range, As @Ashwini proposed you can use random.shuffle

In Case you are interested in a subset of the population, you can look forward to use random.sample

>>> random.sample(range(1,10),5)
[3, 5, 2, 6, 7]

You may also use this to simulate random.shuffle

>>> random.sample(range(1,10),(10 - 1))
[4, 5, 9, 3, 2, 8, 6, 1, 7]

Note, The advantage of using random.sample over random.shuffle, is , it can work on iterators, so in

Python 3.X you don;t need to convert range() to list
In Python 2,X, you can use xrange
Same Code can work in Python 2.X and 3.X

Shuffle a list within a specific range python

2 Answers2