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Convert a string into individual elements
In Python, the usual sequence type meant by “array” in this task is a list. Pass the string to list():
text = "hello"
letters = list(text)
print(letters) # ['h', 'e', 'l', 'l', 'o']Python defines strings as immutable sequences of Unicode code points; indexing a string produces a string of length one. Accordingly, list(text) returns a list of one-code-point strings, not necessarily one item per user-perceived character. For example, a base letter followed by a combining accent can comprise more than one code point. See the Python 3.14.8 built-in types documentation for string semantics.
Choose the operation for the boundary you want
Split into whitespace-separated words
Call split() without an argument:
text = " red green blue "
words = text.split()
# ['red', 'green', 'blue']Whitespace runs act as a single separator, and leading or trailing whitespace is omitted.
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Split on a fixed delimiter
Pass the delimiter to split() when the string uses a known separator, such as a comma:
text = "red,green,blue"
fields = text.split(",")
# ['red', 'green', 'blue']Unlike whitespace mode, explicit-separator splitting preserves empty fields between adjacent separators. An empty string also produces an empty field when split on an explicit separator:
"1,,2".split(",") # ['1', '', '2']
"".split(",") # ['']This distinction matters when empty values carry meaning in the data you are parsing.
Split into lines
Use splitlines() to turn line-separated text into a list:
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lines = text.splitlines()
# ['first', 'second']Line boundaries are omitted by default. An empty string produces [], and a final line break does not add an extra empty item.
Split using a pattern
For multiple or pattern-based separators, use re.split() from the standard-library re module:
import re
text = "red, green; blue"
parts = re.split(r"[,;]s*", text)
# ['red', 'green', 'blue']For one fixed delimiter, str.split() is simpler. The Python documentation covers the built-in string splitting methods at docs.python.org.
Quick Recap
Quick choice guide
| What each list item should represent | Use | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Individual Python string elements | list(text) |
One string per Unicode code point |
| Whitespace-separated words | text.split() |
Whitespace runs collapse; surrounding whitespace is omitted |
| Fields separated by one known delimiter | text.split(",") |
Adjacent separators preserve empty fields |
| Lines | text.splitlines() |
Line boundaries are omitted by default |
| Segments separated by a pattern | re.split(pattern, text) |
Use a regular expression for multiple or pattern-based separators |
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