# Python enumerate() Function With Example - Beginner's Guide ## Introduction First of all What is the meaning of **enumerating**? The meaning of enumerating is **to number or name a list of things separately**. Python `enumerate()` function does the same thing as its name depicts itself. ## Python enumerate() Python `enumerate()` function takes a collection(for e.g. a **list** or a **tuple**) and returns them as an enumerated object. `enumerate()` function adds a number/count to each item of the iterable object and returns an enumerate object. **Here's a simple example of** `enumerate()` **function usage:** ```plaintext greet = ('Welcome', 'to', 'GeekPython') output = (enumerate(greet, start=0)) # Converted enumerated object to list print(list(output)) ``` **Output** ```plaintext [(0, 'Welcome'), (1, 'to'), (2, 'GeekPython')] ``` ## Syntax > **The syntax of** `enumerate()` **function is:** > `enumerate(iterable, start=0)` ### Parameters `iterable` - must be a sequence, an iterator or objects that supports iteration. `start` - It is optional. If the `start` is not specified then the count will start from **0(default)** else the count will start from a specified number and increment until the loop ends. ```plaintext greet = ('Welcome', 'to', 'GeekPython') output = (enumerate(greet, start=10)) # Converted enumerated object to list print(list(output)) ``` **Output** ```plaintext [(10, 'Welcome'), (11, 'to'), (12, 'GeekPython')] ``` We specified the `start` parameter which is equal to 10 and hence the enumerated output starts from the specified number. ### Fact If we see the above example, we converted our enumerate object into the list type and then print it. What if we don't convert our enumerated object into a list type then what will happen? Well, the answer is pretty simple **we don't get any enumerated object** instead, **we'll get a location of enumerating object in the memory/CPU**. **Example** ```plaintext greet = ('Welcome', 'to', 'GeekPython') output = (enumerate(greet)) print(output) ``` **Output** ```plaintext ``` ## Looping over enumerate() object We can perform `for` loop to iterate over enumerate object. ```plaintext my_obj = ["Python", "Ruby", "JavaScript", "Java"] print("Looping over enumerate object:") for item in enumerate(my_obj): print(item) print("\nLooping over enumerate object using start value:") for item in enumerate(my_obj, start=5): print(item) ``` **Output** ```plaintext Looping over enumerate object: (0, 'Python') (1, 'Ruby') (2, 'JavaScript') (3, 'Java') Looping over enumerate object using start value: (5, 'Python') (6, 'Ruby') (7, 'JavaScript') (8, 'Java') ``` ## Performing enumerate() on We are going to see the examples where we use the `enumerate()` function on different data types in Python. ### String - Python `str` type can be iterated so we can perform `enumerate()` function on it. **Example: Performing enumerate() on string** ```plaintext text = "GeekPython" # Using loop to iterate and enumerating print("Using loop to iterate and enumerating") for word in enumerate(text): print(word) print("----------------xxx--------------------") # Using simple approach print("Using simple approach") output = enumerate(text) print(list(output)) ``` **Output** ```plaintext Using loop to iterate and enumerating (0, 'G') (1, 'e') (2, 'e') (3, 'k') (4, 'P') (5, 'y') (6, 't') (7, 'h') (8, 'o') (9, 'n') ----------------xxx-------------------- Using simple approach [(0, 'G'), (1, 'e'), (2, 'e'), (3, 'k'), (4, 'P'), (5, 'y'), (6, 't'), (7, 'h'), (8, 'o'), (9, 'n')] ``` We can use `start` parameter also - ```plaintext text = "GeekPython" print("Using loop to iterate and enumerating using specified number:") for word in enumerate(text, start=10): print(word) ``` **Output** ```plaintext Using loop to iterate and enumerating using specified number: (10, 'G') (11, 'e') (12, 'e') (13, 'k') (14, 'P') (15, 'y') (16, 't') (17, 'h') (18, 'o') (19, 'n') ``` ### List - We performed `enumerate()` function on `list` type in example below where **first block of code given start value as 2** and we used **simple approach in the second block of code**. **Example: Performing enumerate() on list** ```plaintext greet = ['Welcome', 'to', 'GeekPython'] print("Using enumerate on list using start:") for iterables in enumerate(greet, start=2): print(iterables) print("\nUsing enumerate on list:") output = enumerate(greet) print(list(output)) ``` **Output** ```plaintext Using enumerate on list using start: (2, 'Welcome') (3, 'to') (4, 'GeekPython') Using enumerate on list: [(0, 'Welcome'), (1, 'to'), (2, 'GeekPython')] ``` ### Tuple - **Example: Performing enumerate() on tuple** ```plaintext greet = ('Welcome', 'to', 'GeekPython') print("Using enumerate on tuple:") for item in enumerate(greet): print(item) ``` **Output** ```plaintext Using enumerate on tuple: (0, 'Welcome') (1, 'to') (2, 'GeekPython') ``` ### Dictionary - `dict()` type contains **key-value** pairs, so we can `enumerate()` dictionary items (keys and values) separately. **Example: Performing enumerate() on dictionary** ```plaintext values = {"a" : "Geek", "b" : "Python"} print("Accessing values from dict and enumerating:") for value in enumerate(values.values()): print(value) print("\nAccessing keys from dict and enumerating:") for key in enumerate(values.keys()): print(key) ``` **Output** ```plaintext Accessing values from dict and enumerating: (0, 'Geek') (1, 'Python') Accessing keys from dict and enumerating: (0, 'a') (1, 'b') ``` **Example: Performing enumerate() on dictionary using start** ```plaintext values = {"a" : "Geek", "b" : "Python"} print("Accessing values from dict and enumerating using start:") for value in enumerate(values.values(), start=5): print(value) print("\nAccessing keys from dict and enumerating using start:") for key in enumerate(values.keys(), start=7): print(key) ``` **Output** ```plaintext Accessing values from dict and enumerating using start: (5, 'Geek') (6, 'Python') Accessing keys from dict and enumerating using start: (7, 'a') (8, 'b') ``` ### Set - `set()` type in Python is **unordered, unchangeable, and unindexed**, so **when we enumerate them, the "set" item appears in random order**. **Example: Performing enumerate() on set** ```plaintext greet = {'Welcome', 'to', 'GeekPython'} print("Using enumerate on set:") for item in enumerate(greet): print(item) ``` **Output** ```plaintext Using enumerate on set: (0, 'GeekPython') (1, 'to') (2, 'Welcome') ``` ## Conclusion As we discussed above, Python `enumerate()` function helps us to add counter to our iterable objects. You have seen the implementation of `enumerate()` function on the built-in data types in Python as well as you've seen how you can loop over iterable objects and enumerate them. You can use this function in many ways like **enumerating the files in the particular directory to make the folder structure pretty** or you can **make a tool where a user can automatically number their files and folders easily** or maybe something else. --- **That's all for now.** **Keep Coding✌✌**