Nuffing.com

Key Takeaways

• The len() function is useful for determining the number of items in a list, saving time and code compared to manual calculation.
• The append() function adds a new item to the end of a list, allowing for easy modification based on conditions or user input.
• The extend() function adds multiple items to an existing list at once, simplifying the process of modifying a list with new elements.

Lists form an essential part of data structures and algorithms in Python. They play an important role, and ignoring them in your projects is almost impossible.

Due to the large importance of lists, Python provides some built-in functions to perform common list operations. These functions aim to help developers work faster and easier.

1. The len() Function

Use the len() function to get the number of items inside a list. Here’s an example:

 my_list = [1, 2, 3, "hello", "rice", "code", 1.2]
list_length = len(my_list)
print(list_length)  

Without the len() function, you would have to manually calculate length, like in this example which uses a Python for loop:

 my_list = [1, 2, 3, "hello", "rice", "code", 1.2]
count = 0

for i in my_list:
    count += 1

print(count) 
 

From this example, it is obvious that the len() function saves some code. Ensure you use it whenever the need arises.

2. The append() Function

The append() function adds a new item to the end of your list. A good use of this is to add an item to your list after your code fulfills a certain condition. Here’s a simple example:

 my_list = [1, 2, 3, "hello", "rice", "code", 1.2]
question = input("Do you love Python?: ").lower()

if question == "yes":
    my_list.append("Python is the best!!") 
else:
    my_list.append("You should try Python") 

print(my_list)
 

This example uses an if statement to add a certain sentence to the initial list based on the user’s input.

The append() function can add only one item at a time to your list. Instead of the append function, you can use an operator instead:

 my_list = [1, 2, 3, "hello", "rice", "code", 1.2]
my_list += ["Python is the best!!"]
 

Using the addition operator will ultimately be less efficient because it doesn’t modify your initial list. Instead, it creates a new list in memory and adds a new item to it. The append() function modifies your initial list directly.

3. The extend() Function

The extend() function is a built-in function that adds several items to an existing list at once. It takes in the new items as an argument and modifies your existing list with the argument. Here’s how to use the extend() function:

 my_list = [1, 2, 3, "hello", "rice", "code", 1.2]

my_list.extend(["item", "muo", 350])

print(my_list)
 

The extend() function can only take one argument, so you should add all your items to a list like the code above.

4. The reverse() Function

The reverse function simply rewrites your list in the reverse order. Here’s an example of the reverse function in use:

 my_list = [1, 2, 3, "hello", "rice", "code"]

my_list.reverse()
print(my_list) 
 

To reverse a list without using the reverse() function, you would need to slice your list. Here’s an example:

 my_list = [1, 2, 3, "hello", "rice", "code"]

reversed_list = my_list[::-1]
print(reversed_list) 
 

In the above example, my_list[::-1] creates a reversed copy of the original list. This means you’ll have two lists in memory, which is not the best approach if you simply want to reverse the original list.

5. The insert() Function

The insert() function modifies a list and adds an item to it like the append() function. However, the insert() function allows you to specify the index (position) of your new item in the list. Here’s an example:

 my_list = [1, 2, 3, "hello", "rice", "code"]

my_list.insert(0, "first") 
print(my_list) 
 

From the above code, this is the correct syntax to use the insert() function:

 your_list.insert(index, new_list_item)
 

6. The sort() Function

The sort() function takes a list of a particular data type and rearranges the elements in ascending order. Here’s an example:

 my_list = [1, 2, 10, 30, 3, 2.4]
my_list2 = ['code', 'rice', 'zion', 'hello']

my_list.sort()
my_list2.sort()

print(my_list) 
print(my_list2) 
 

If you use the sort() function on a list with different data types, such as strings and numbers, you will get a TypeError.

7. The count() Function

The count() function counts the number of times a specific element occurs in a list and returns the value to you. Here’s how to use it:

 my_list = ['code', 10, 30, 'code', 3, 'code', 'rice', 5]
print(my_list.count('code')) 
 

Performing such an operation without the count() function would require you to write more code. Here’s an example:

 my_list = ['code', 10, 30, 'code', 3, 'code', 'rice', 5]
count_code = 0

for item in my_list:
    if item == 'code':
        count_code += 1

print(count_code) 
 

The len() function will return the total number of elements in a list, while the count() function will return the number of times a specific element occurs in a list.

Using List Functions to Write Better Code

When working with lists in Python, it is important to use the available list functions to write efficient and clean code. They generally save you from writing complex and time-consuming code.

List functions enable you to easily perform common list operations, giving you more time to focus on other parts of your code.

Many people use Adobe Bridge with Photoshop, Camera Raw, and Lightroom. But what happens when you don’t have access to any of those apps, and you still want to perform basic actions?

Although Adobe Bridge’s uses are limited without the major Adobe photo-editing apps, it is possible to still get a lot out of the service. Today, you’ll learn how to use Adobe Bridge without Photoshop or Lightroom.

What Is Adobe Bridge?

Whereas Lightroom and Photoshop are primarily for photo editing (you can even use Photoshop and Lightroom together), Adobe Bridge is mainly used for managing your files and folders.

With Adobe Bridge, you can edit data for your images and preview content that you may later want to edit. On top of that, you also have the option to export your photos to a new file or folder—plus more.

Although Adobe Bridge is part of the Creative Cloud ecosystem, you don’t need a paid subscription to use the app. All you need is to sign up for an Adobe account. We’ve got more of an in-depth guide to what Adobe Bridge is if you’re interested in learning more.

How Can You Use Adobe Bridge Without Photoshop or Lightroom?

Using Adobe Bridge with a photo-editing app will let you get the most out of the tool. But in some limited cases, you can use Bridge without needing Photoshop or Lightroom. In the subsections below, you’ll discover some of the best ways to do that.

1. Access Photos From Your Computer and External Hard Drives

One of the best ways to use Adobe Bridge without Photoshop or Lightroom is to access photos from your computer or other files. You can do this even if you haven’t already uploaded those photos to either photo editor.

Here’s how to view images with Adobe Bridge:

1. Go to the Folders tab on the left-hand side of your screen.
2. Navigate to the folders that you want to access. You can pick from either your computer or a connected external hard drive.
3. Click the left or right arrow keys to look through each of the images within that folder.

If you double-click on a photo, it will open the Photoshop app, so you can only view small previews in Adobe Bridge. If you go to the bottom, you can choose whether you want to see Grid View, List View, or Thumbnail View.

2. View Different File Types

Tying in with the above, you can also view what’s in your files and folders—based on different file types. In the example we’re about to show you, we can choose from each of the following:

• Camera Raw images
• DNG files
• Folders
• JPEGs

To choose a selection of these, go to the Collections tab and select Filter > File Type.

3. Rate Images

It’s likely that you’ll capture hundreds of shots in one photoshoot outing. And if you’re traveling, you may come back home with thousands of photos to sift through. If you aren’t careful with how you organize your files, you could waste a lot of time editing pictures that you don’t want to.

Knowing how to implement a speedy photo editing workflow will make it much easier to complete projects more effectively. Thankfully, Adobe Bridge has a rating system that will allow you to pick the pictures or designs you want to edit with more simplicity.

The star rating system goes from 1-5. To use it, simply click on the number of stars for which you want to rate your selected image. You can always change this later if you want to, so don’t worry too much about it.

After rating your photos, you can easily sort your folders based on ratings:

1. Click on the filter with a star icon.
2. Select how you want to sort your photos.

In addition to viewing which pictures you’ve starred, you can also opt to view rejected content.

Editing photo metadata can save a lot of hassle in some situations. For example, if you take photos for a blog, you may notice that the description shows up as an unwanted caption. If you do happen to own a blog website, you should also ensure you aren’t making these mistakes when taking pictures for your blog.

In addition to descriptions, you can adjust where your picture was taken using the latitude, altitude, and longitude. Moreover, you have the option to alter the date you captured the image.

To edit a photo’s metadata:

1. Select the image you want to adjust.
2. Go to Metadata, which you should see in the bottom left-hand corner.
3. Edit the boxes you can change.

5. Search Adobe Stock

Adobe Stock is a helpful site for royalty-free content, including photos and videos. You can access Stock directly from Adobe Bridge without needing to use Photoshop or Lightroom.

To visit Adobe Stock, navigate to Libraries and select Go to Stock & Marketplace; it’s on the right-hand side. The Creative Cloud app will then open. Here, you can use various free libraries and designs in your projects.

If you need more in-depth content for your video projects, consider checking out this comparison between Adobe Stock and Storyblocks.

6. Export Photos

Even if you use Adobe Bridge without Photoshop or Lightroom, you can export pictures to different locations. To do that:

1. Right-click on the picture you want to export. If you have a Mac, use control + trackpad instead.
2. Select Export to > Custom Export.
3. Expand Save To and select Specific Folder, before selecting Browse.
4. Choose your new file and click on Start Export.
5. Hit Close once the file has been exported.

7. Delete Photos

It’s also possible to delete photos in Adobe Bridge:

1. Select the image(s) you want to remove and hit the backspace key on your computer.
2. A pop-up window titled Reject or Delete? will appear. Select Delete.

Organize Your Photos in Adobe Bridge Without Photoshop or Lightroom

Adobe Bridge is best used with Photoshop or Lightroom, but you don’t necessarily need to use either of those apps. You can still use Bridge to organize your files and get stricter on which ones you’ll import and edit. Doing so will ensure that you don’t need to repeat the same steps later.