Passing Python slice syntax around to functions

Question

In Python, is it possible to encapsulate exactly the common slice syntax and pass it around? I know that I can use slice or __slice__ to emulate sl

Answer 1

Perhaps something along the following lines would work for you:

class SliceMaker(object):
  def __getitem__(self, item):
    return item

make_slice = SliceMaker()

print make_slice[3]
print make_slice[0:]
print make_slice[:-1]
print make_slice[1:10:2,...]

The idea is that you use make_slice[] instead of manually creating instances of slice. By doing this you'll be able to use the familiar square brackets syntax in all its glory.