Python range()

The range() function returns a sequence of numbers based on the given range. This function is commonly used for looping a specific number of times in for loops. It doesn’t generate all the numbers at once. Instead, it returns a range object that yields numbers individually, making it memory-efficient.

Syntax

range(stop)
range(start = 0, stop)
range(start = 0, stop, step = 1)

Parameters:

• stop (Required): Specifies where the range will stop, ending at stop - 1 due to zero-based indexing.
• start (Optional): Specifies where the range will start, defaulting to 0.
• step (Optional): Specifies how many steps are taken between indices, defaulting to 1.

Return value:

The range() function returns a range object, yielding numbers one by one.

Example 1: Using range() with stop

This example uses the range() function with stop set to 5:

nums = range(5)

print(list(nums))

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In the example, list(num) converts the returned range object into a list.

The output for the example will be:

[0, 1, 2, 3, 4]

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Example 2: Using range() with start and stop

This example uses the range() function with start set to 6 and stop set to 11:

nums = range(6, 11)

print(list(nums))

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The output for the example will be:

[6, 7, 8, 9, 10]

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Codebyte Example: Using range() with start, stop, and step

This codebyte example uses the range() function with start set to 10, stop set to 60, and step set to 10:

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Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the difference between range() and list(range())?

The range() function returns a range object, yielding numbers one by one. When you wrap it with list(), it creates a list containing all the numbers from the range.

2. Can range() be used with negative numbers?

Yes, you can use range() with negative values for start, stop, or step. This is commonly used for counting backwards.

3. What happens if the step parameter is 0?

If you set step = 0, Python will raise a ValueError because the step must not be zero - this would create an infinite loop.