Python - Use a variable as a list name

Question

I have this code in python.

import sys
list1 = [\"A\", \"B\", \"C\"]
list2 = [1, 2, 3]

myarg = sys.argv[1]
print len(myarg)

I will run thi

Answer 1

While this is entirely possible in Python, it's not needed. The best solution here is to not do this, have a dictionary instead.

import sys

lists = {
    "list1": ["A", "B", "C"],
    "list2": [1, 2, 3],
}

myarg = sys.argv[1]
print len(lists[myarg])

You note you have 13 lists in your script - where you have lots of similar data (or data that needs to be handled in a similar way), it's a sign you want a data structure, rather than flat variables. It will make your life a lot easier.