Get Random Element from List in Python

Introduction

In Python, you can easily get a random element from a list using the random module. This module provides a function called choice() which returns a random element from a given list. In this challenge, you will be asked to write a function that takes a list as an argument and returns a random element from that list.

Skills Graph

%%%%{init: {'theme':'neutral'}}%%%% flowchart RL python(("Python")) -.-> python/BasicConceptsGroup(["Basic Concepts"]) python(("Python")) -.-> python/DataStructuresGroup(["Data Structures"]) python(("Python")) -.-> python/FunctionsGroup(["Functions"]) python(("Python")) -.-> python/ModulesandPackagesGroup(["Modules and Packages"]) python(("Python")) -.-> python/PythonStandardLibraryGroup(["Python Standard Library"]) python/BasicConceptsGroup -.-> python/comments("Comments") python/DataStructuresGroup -.-> python/lists("Lists") python/DataStructuresGroup -.-> python/tuples("Tuples") python/FunctionsGroup -.-> python/function_definition("Function Definition") python/ModulesandPackagesGroup -.-> python/importing_modules("Importing Modules") python/ModulesandPackagesGroup -.-> python/using_packages("Using Packages") python/ModulesandPackagesGroup -.-> python/standard_libraries("Common Standard Libraries") python/PythonStandardLibraryGroup -.-> python/math_random("Math and Random") subgraph Lab Skills python/comments -.-> lab-13712{{"Random Element in List"}} python/lists -.-> lab-13712{{"Random Element in List"}} python/tuples -.-> lab-13712{{"Random Element in List"}} python/function_definition -.-> lab-13712{{"Random Element in List"}} python/importing_modules -.-> lab-13712{{"Random Element in List"}} python/using_packages -.-> lab-13712{{"Random Element in List"}} python/standard_libraries -.-> lab-13712{{"Random Element in List"}} python/math_random -.-> lab-13712{{"Random Element in List"}} end

Random Element in List

Write a function random_element(lst) that takes a list as an argument and returns a random element from that list.

Use random.choice() to get a random element from lst.

from random import choice

def sample(lst):
  return choice(lst)

sample([3, 7, 9, 11]) ## 9

Summary

In this challenge, you learned how to get a random element from a list in Python using the random module. You also wrote a function that takes a list as an argument and returns a random element from that list. This is a useful skill to have when working with lists in Python.