TypeError: 'list' object is not callable in python

Question

I am novice to Python and following a tutorial. There is an example of list in the tutorial :

example = list(\'easyhoss\')

Now

Answer 1

Why does TypeError: 'list' object is not callable appear?

Explanation:

It is because you defined list as a variable before (i am pretty sure), so it would be a list, not the function anymore, that's why everyone shouldn't name variables functions, the below is the same as what you're doing now:

>>> [1,2,3]()
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "", line 1, in 
    [1,2,3]()
TypeError: 'list' object is not callable
>>>  

So you need it to be the default function of list, how to detect if it is? just use:

>>> list

>>> list = [1,2,3]
>>> list
[1, 2, 3]
>>> list()
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "", line 1, in 
    list()
TypeError: 'list' object is not callable
>>> 

How do i detect whether a variable name is a function? well, just simple see if it has a different color, or use a code like:

>>> 'list' in dir(__builtins__)
True
>>> 'blah' in dir(__builtins__)
False
>>> 

After this, you should know why does TypeError: 'list' object is not callable appear.

Okay, so now...

How to fix this TypeError: 'list' object is not callable error?

Code:

You have to either do __builtins__.list():

>>> list = [1,2,3]
>>> __builtins__.list()
[]
>>> 

Or use []:

>>> list = [1,2,3]
>>> []
[]
>>> 

Or remove list variable from memory:

>>> list = [1,2,3]
>>> del list
>>> list()
[]
>>> 

Or just rename the variable:

>>> lst = [1,2,3]
>>> list()
[]
>>> 

P.S. Last one is the most preferable i guess :-)

There are a whole bunch of solutions that work.

References:

'id' is a bad variable name in Python

How do I use a keyword as a variable name?

How to use reserved keyword as the name of variable in python?