Python range() Cheat Sheet
Basic Syntax
range(stop)
range(start, stop)
range(start, stop, step)
How It Works
- start: starting number (default = 0)
- stop: stopping number (exclusive)
- step: increment (default = 1)
Examples
range(5) -> 0, 1, 2, 3, 4
range(2, 6) -> 2, 3, 4, 5
range(1, 10, 2) -> 1, 3, 5, 7, 9
range(10, 0, -2) -> 10, 8, 6, 4, 2
Common Use Cases
Looping:
for i in range(5): print(i)
Index Looping:
for i in range(len(items)): print(i, items[i])
Better:
for i, item in enumerate(items): print(i, item)
Caveats & Gotchas
- stop is exclusive: range(5) gives 0 to 4, not 5
- step cannot be zero: raises ValueError
- range() returns a lazy object (not a list)
Python range() Cheat Sheet
Pros
- Memory-efficient (no list stored in memory)
- Fast iteration
- Flexible (negative steps, large ranges)
- Supports slicing like lists
Cons
- Not a list (can't use .append())
- Needs list() to view/modify
- Immutable
Best Practices
- Use range() over while when counting
- Avoid range(len(...)) when possible
- Use enumerate for index loops
- Use range(..., -1, -1) for reverse loops
Advanced Features
- Slicing: list(range(10)[2:7]) -> [2, 3, 4, 5, 6]
- Convert: list(range(3)), tuple(range(3))
Summary Table
range(5) -> 0 to 4
range(2, 6) -> 2 to 5
range(1, 10, 2) -> 1, 3, 5, 7, 9
range(10, 0, -2) -> 10, 8, 6, 4, 2
list(range(3)) -> [0, 1, 2]
enumerate(mylist) -> Use instead of range(len(...))
