CurriculumPython Lists, Indexing and Slicing for KidsLists and indexing
Python Lists and Indexing from Zero, Explained
A row of things, and how to pick out one item at a time.
Lists and indexing
A list holds several things in ONE box, in order. Square brackets, commas between items.
hoard = ["gold", "gems", "a sword"] makes a list of three things. To get ONE item back, use its INDEX.
hoard = ["gold", "gems", "a sword"]
print(hoard[0])Output
goldSame rule as range(): the FIRST item is index 0, not 1. hoard[1] is the SECOND item.
hoard = ["gold", "gems", "a sword"]
print(hoard[1])Output
gemsNegative indexes count from the END. hoard[-1] is always the LAST item, whatever the list's length.
hoard = ["gold", "gems", "a sword"]
print(hoard[-1])Output
a swordWatch the boundary: a 3-item list has valid indexes 0, 1, 2 — never 3. Asking for hoard[3] is one too far.
Check your understanding
party = ["Ember", "Blaze", "Frost"]. What does party[1] give you?
party = ["Ember", "Blaze", "Frost"]
print(party[1])Why: Indexing starts at 0: party[0] is Ember, party[1] is Blaze, party[2] is Frost. The index is always one less than the item's position when you count normally.
party has 5 names. Which index ALWAYS gets the last one, no matter how many names are in the list?
Why: party[-1] always means the last item, regardless of length — that's the whole point of negative indexing. party[4] happens to also work for a 5-item list specifically, but breaks the moment the list's length changes.
What you'll practice
The dragon's hoard is a list: ["gold", "gems", "a sword"]. Print the FIRST item — remember, the first item is index 0, not 1.
More from this topic
Lists and indexing is one lesson inside Python Lists, Indexing and Slicing for Kids — see the full lesson order and what the whole topic covers.
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