When processing data in Python, we often want to maintain a subset of the most recent elements from a collection. Whether it’s a list, NumPy array, or a string, there are various ways to achieve this efficiently.
This tutorial will explore different methods to keep the last N items using the deque from the collections module, standard Python lists, NumPy arrays, and strings.
| Approach/DataType | When to Use? | Example |
|---|---|---|
| deque | Elements are added one added time (in loop) | q = deque(maxlen=3) |
| list | When the number of items to retain is relatively small | last_n_items_list = my_list[-3:] |
| Numpy Array | For mathematical operations and large datasets | last_n_items_array = my_array[-3:] |
| string | When working with textual data or log files | last_n_chars = my_string[-3:] |
1. Keeping Last N Items using deque
The deque (double-ended queue) is a versatile data structure that allows efficient appending and popping from both ends. This can be used for keeping track of the last N items added to it.
In this example, we create a deque q with a maximum length of 3. As elements are appended, the deque automatically removes the oldest elements when the maximum length is reached.
from collections import deque
q = deque(maxlen=3)
q.append(1)
q.append(2)
q.append(3)
print(q) # deque([1, 2, 3], maxlen=3)
q.append(4)
print(q) # deque([2, 3, 4], maxlen=3)
q.append(5)
print(q) # deque([3, 4, 5], maxlen=3)2. Finding Last N Items from a List
While Python lists don’t have a built-in mechanism for maintaining a maximum length, we can achieve the same result using list slicing. Use this approach when the number of items to retain is relatively small.
In this example, we use list slicing to obtain the last three items from the list.
my_list = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9]
last_n_items_list = my_list[-3:]
print(last_n_items_list) # [7, 8, 9]3. Finding Last N Items from NumPy Arrays
For numerical data and more advanced operations, NumPy arrays provide an efficient solution. We can use array slicing to obtain the last N elements.
Use this approach for mathematical operations and large datasets.
import numpy as np
my_array = np.array([1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9])
last_n_items_array = my_array[-3:]
print(last_n_items_array) # [7, 8, 9]4. Keeping the Last N Characters of a String
When we need to retain the last N characters from a string, the string slicing is handy for this task. We can use this approach when working with textual data or log files, where the recent information is crucial.
In this example, we use string slicing to keep the last six characters of the string my_string.
my_string = "Hello, World!"
last_n_chars = my_string[-6:]
print(last_n_chars) # World!5. Conclusion
This tutorial discussed different approaches to keep track of the last N items. Depending on the specific requirements and the type of data you’re working with, you can choose the most suitable approach.
Happy Learning !!
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