Random List choices in python

Question

Is there a way to pass a variable to the choice() function for a list. I have a bunch of lists and I want to randomly select from one list and then use the string that is returned to select from a list that has that string name.

A = ['1','2','3'] print choice (A) - this gets me a random choice from the list

but I want to to store the choice as a variable and use it to call another list

A = ['1','2','3'] 1 = ['A','B','C'] Var1 = choice (A) print choice (Var1) *** this is my problem, how do I pass a variable to the choice function

Thanks for the help!

...It starts with a 'd'... and ends with a 't'. It's four letters long. Use a dict. — Joel Cornett
– Joel Cornett, Commented Jan 29, 2012 at 23:41

Greg Hewgill · Accepted Answer · 2012-01-29 19:22:47Z

In Python, you can do this using references.

A = [1, 2, 3] B = [4, 5, 6] C = [7, 8, 9] MasterList = [A, B, C] whichList = choice(MasterList) print choice(whichList)

Note that A, B, C are names of previously assigned variables, instead of quoted strings. If you ever find yourself using quoted names to refer to variables, there's usually a better way to do whatever you're trying to do.

"If you ever find yourself using quoted names to refer to variables, there's usually a better way to do whatever you're trying to do." +10

S.Lott · Accepted Answer · 2012-01-29 19:53:02Z

some_list = { 'A': ['1','2','3'], 'B': [some_other_list], 'C': [the_third_list] } var1= choice( ['A', 'B', 'C'] ) # better: some_list.keys() print( choice (some_list[var1])

"If you ever find yourself using quoted names to refer to variables, there's usually a better way to do whatever you're trying to do."

90% of the time, you should be using a dictionary. The other 10% of the time, you need to stop what you're doing entirely.

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