aL = [7, 8.25, 9, 10, "hello", "goodbye"]	# a list is like an array
				#   but it is an object with its own methods
				# can contain multiple data types

print "list length = " + str(len(aL))  # len returns an int, so cast to string
nItems = len(aL)

print range(0,nItems)		# range returns a list from start to end-1

print '\n------------------get each element by index number--------------------'
for j in range(0,nItems):
	print aL[j]
	print "   " + str(type(aL[j]))   # type returns a type object, cast to string


print '\n------------------get each element by magic iterator--------------------'
for j in aL:			# magic list iterator
	print j


print '\n------------------slice a list--------------------'
b = aL[0:2]			# includes elements index 0 and 1 but not [2]
print b


# in interpreter, get help on a list object
#   help( [] )

#       see __getslice__   how it overloads the colon operator

# same for help(str)

# avoid cookbook approach because if you can't find the right recipe you could end up with a foul tasting soup.
# better to learn the elements of the language, establish some tools, build on tools
# keywords

"""
built-in functions
	dir()
	dir(__builtins__)

	type()

interpreter
	help(str)
	dir(str)
"""


print '\n------------------create a list, reverse, and sort--------------------'
a = range(5)		# the range function generates a list [0, 1, 2, 3, 4]
print a

a.reverse()		# list is an object, has methods that you can call
			# list.reverse() works in place, does not return a new list
print a

a.sort()
print a

# think of list as a row with 5 columns.  a[2] refers to the third column