List of empty string returns non-zero length in python

Question

I have a list of strings returned after command execution, split on '\n'.

listname = output.decode('utf8').rstrip().split('\n')

When I print using print(listname), I get

['']

Clearly It's a list containing empty string

Because of this I am getting len(listname) as 1.

How to remove this empty string

You're looking for [`splitlines`](http://docs.python.org/2/library/stdtypes.html#str.splitlines). — georg, May 14 '13 at 15:29

Alexey Kachayev · Accepted Answer · 2013-05-14T14:22:00.033

5

I think this is what you are looking for:

filter(None,output.decode('utf8').rstrip().split('\n'))

In details:

>>> filter(None, ["Ford", "Nissan", ""])
['Ford', 'Nissan']

P.S. In python 3+ filter returns iterator, so use list(filter(..)).

edited May 14 '13 at 14:22

answered May 14 '13 at 14:13

Alexey Kachayev

Tim · Answer 2 · 2013-05-14T19:20:47.103

3

listname = [item for item in output.decode('utf8').rstrip().split('\n') if item]

edited May 14 '13 at 19:20

answered May 14 '13 at 14:14

Tim

score 1 · Answer 3 · answered May 14 '13 at 14:14

1

output = output.decode('utf8').rstrip()
if output:
    listname = []
else:
    listname = output.split('\n')

answered May 14 '13 at 14:14

Remco Haszing

+1, although I'd use a conditional: `lst = out.split('\n') if out else []` – georg May 14 '13 at 15:26

3 Answers3