Slicing a list (array) in python is very handy way to get a sub list of an array. Its syntax is
## slice from start till end-1 (in using step) newlist = a[start:end:step]
Here are some use cases.
create new list taking first 2 items
a = ["v1", "v2", "v3", "v4", "v5"] new = a[0:2] print new
['v1', 'v2']
Env: Python 2.7.18
create new list taking 3rd and 4th items
a = ["v1", "v2", "v3", "v4", "v5"] new = a[2:4] print new
['v3', 'v4']
Env: Python 2.7.18
create new list taking last 2 items
a = ["v1", "v2", "v3", "v4", "v5"] new = a[-2:] print new
['v4', 'v5']
Env: Python 2.7.18
create new list taking everything except last 2 items
a = ["v1", "v2", "v3", "v4", "v5"] ## can also use a[0:-2] new = a[:-2] print new
['v1', 'v2', 'v3']
Env: Python 2.7.18
create new list taking all even items
a = ["v1", "v2", "v3", "v4", "v5"] new = a[1::2] print new
['v2', 'v4']
Env: Python 2.7.18
create new list taking all items
This will copy list to a new list.
a = ["v1", "v2", "v3", "v4", "v5"] new = a[:] print new
['v1', 'v2', 'v3', 'v4', 'v5']
Env: Python 2.7.18