Trying to make a list that is ['_', '_', '_'] with the length dependin-CodePudding

I'm trying to make a list of 'blanks' that can be filled in individually later. The length of the list is dependent on a value (currentWord) which is why I can't hard-code it.

iter8 = len(currentWord)
for i in currentWord:
    answerListNEW.append(' ')
    #
for i in currentWord:
    answerListNEW[i] = '_'

I get errors that the index must be integer, not str. Is there a way for the program to accept the 'blank space' ? For simplicity, lets say currentWord = 'alpha' so that it's simple and there's just 5 iterations.

SECONDLY, I would also like to print that list as a concatenated string so it's just '_____'. (That way when values are added it becomes 'v' and such.

Thanks in advance!!

CodePudding user response：

i in currentWord will iterate over letters of that string (assuming it is a string). As the error says, lists cannot be indexed by letters.

You can use range()

answerListNEW = ['_' for _ in range(len(currentWord))]

Or list multiplication

answerListNEW = ['_'] * len(currentWord)

Or "listing" a string of all underscores

answerListNEW = list('_' * len(currentWord))

also like to print that list as a concatenated string

print(''.join(answerListNEW))

CodePudding user response：

I would also like to print that list as a concatenated string so it's just '_____'

A string has most of the same properties as a list already, so why bother making the list, only to convert it to a string.

You can just do something like

answerListNew = '_' * len(currentWord)

if you want a string the same length as currentWord containing all '_' characters.

For an actual list of letters (allowing you to modify the letters one by one), you can do

answerListNew = ['_'] * len(currentWord)

and convert it to string form with

answerStrNew = ''.join(answerListNew)