Select Random Element from Set in Python
By Prakhar GuptaIn this article, we will see how to select a random element from a set in Python.
We have the random module in Python which implements pseudo-random number generators for various distributions including integer, float.
Also, we will see to randomly select multiple choices from a set.
Random number operations in set in Python
random.choice()
This function retrieves a single element from the set.
# program using choice() function
import random
set = (11, 22, 33, 44, 55, 66, 77, 88)
print("A random number from the set is: " , random.choice(set))Output:
A random number from the set is: 77
random.choices()
As we know random.choice() is used for selecting single element whereas random.choices() is used to select multiple elements specified in its argument. This function takes 2 arguments, set_name and k(number of random items)
import random
movie_list = ('Godfather', 'Modern Times', 'Casablanca', 'Metropolis', 'Mary Poppins', 'Spartacus')
item = random.choices(movie_list, k=2)
print("Randomly selected items from movie_list are: ", item)Output:
Randomly selected items from movie_list are: ['Spartacus', 'Godfather']
random.sample()
Likewise, random.sample() can be used instead random.choices(). Both arguments and output for random.sample() are similar to random.chocies().
import random
movie_list = ('Godfather', 'Modern Times', 'Casablanca', 'Metropolis', 'Mary Poppins', 'Spartacus')
item = random.sample(movie_list, k=2)
print("Randomly selected items from movie_list are: ", item)Output:
Randomly selected items from movie_list are: ['Metropolis', 'Casablanca']
randrange()
Furthermore, many times we need an item from a set along with its index position. We can accomplish it by making use of randrange() function. So let us now see how randomly chose an item along with its index number.
from random import randrange
movie_list = ('Godfather', 'Modern Times', 'Casablanca', 'Metropolis', 'Mary Poppins', 'Spartacus')
random_index = randrange(len(movie_list))
movie_item = movie_list[random_index]
print ("Randomly selected item and its index is - ", movie_item, "\nIndex - ", random_index)Output:
Randomly selected item and its index is - Casablanca Index - 2
Also read,
Hi Prakhar,
I think there is an important matter i your code.
You shouldn’t ever use the Python built-in classname ‘set’ as a variable name.
The variable which is defined here as
set = (11, 22, 33, 44, 55, 66, 77, 88)
is actually a tuple.
Perhaps use
number_options = (11, 22, 33, 44, 55, 66, 77, 88)
or
number_set = set((11, 22, 33, 44, 55, 66, 77, 88))
instead.
Additionally, it is confusing to call a variable movie_list, when it is a tuple, not a Python list.
Either use
movie_list = [‘Godfather’, ‘Modern Times’, ‘Casablanca’, ‘Metropolis’, ‘Mary Poppins’, ‘Spartacus’]
or just
movies = (‘Godfather’, ‘Modern Times’, ‘Casablanca’, ‘Metropolis’, ‘Mary Poppins’, ‘Spartacus’)
thanks for the article.
however, random.choice() works on lists, not sets. your ‘set’ is actually a list! to make a set you would need to use curly braces ie
set = {11, 22, 33, 44, 55, 66, 77, 88}
if you change this in your code you will see an error “‘set’ object is not subscriptable”
In addition to the comments from Tom and Dan, you would need to use random.sample() in order to retrieve a random element from a set:
set_example = set(11, 22, 33, 44, 55, 66, 77, 88)
random.sample(set_example, 1) # For 1 element of the set
L= [{1,2,3,4},{2,3,5}]
Now how to count number 3 in this list of sets
There’s a subtle but important difference between `random.choices()` and `random.sample()`: `choices` may return the same element many times (chooses _with_ replacement) whereas `sample` returns each element at most once (chooses _without_ replacement).