Convert unicode list into python list

Question

s = u"['1', '2', '2', '1', '2']"
print type(s) # <type 'unicode'>

How can I convert this into list like here:

s = [1,2,2,1,2]

And how did you end up with such a string in the first place? Perhaps we can suggest better ways to communicate or store a list? — Martijn Pieters, Apr 01 '15 at 15:18

score 5 · Answer 1 · answered Apr 01 '15 at 15:16

5

You could use ast.literal_eval function.

>>> import ast
>>> s = u"['1', '2', '2', '1', '2']"
>>> list(map(int, ast.literal_eval(s)))
[1, 2, 2, 1, 2]

OR

>>> [int(i) for i in ast.literal_eval(s)]
[1, 2, 2, 1, 2]

answered Apr 01 '15 at 15:16

Avinash Raj

Is this a valid way to? [int(item) for item in s] – Angie Alejo Jun 05 '17 at 05:59

1 Answers1