Python any

Summary: in this tutorial, you will learn how to use the Python any() function to check if any element of an iterable is true.

Introduction to the Python any() function

The any() function accepts an iterable and returns true if any element of the iterable is true:

any(iterable)Code language: Python (python)

If the iterable is empty, the any() function returns false.

Technically, the any() function is equivalent to the following:

def any(iterable):
    for elem in iterable:
        if elem:
            return True
    return FalseCode language: Python (python)

By using the any() function, you can avoid for loops and make your code more concise.

Note that if you want to check if all elements of an iterable are true, you can use the all() function.

Python any() function examples

Let’s take some examples of using the any() function.

1) Simple any() function examples

The following example uses the any() function the checks if a list has any number that is not zero:

scores = [0, 4, 1, 2]

print(any(scores))  # TrueCode language: Python (python)

Since all non-zero numbers evaluate to true and the scores contain the none zero numbers, the result is true.

The following example uses the any() function to check if a list contains at least one non-empty string:

names = ['','','Jane']
print(any(names))  # TrueCode language: Python (python)

Because the list contains a non-empty string, the any() function returns true.

The following example uses the any() function to check if the list contains any truthy value:

items = ['', False, 0, ()]
print(any(items))  # FalseCode language: Python (python)

Because all the elements of the items are falsy, the any() function returns false.

2) Using Python any() function to check if a string contains digits

The following example checks if a string contains any digit:

message = 'Python 101'

has_digit = False
for c in message:
    if c.isdigit():
        has_digit = True
        break

print(has_digit)  # TrueCode language: Python (python)

In this example, we iterate over characters of a string and check if each character is a digit. If so, set the has_digit flag to false and exit the loop.

To make it shorter, you can use the any() method with a list comprehension.

First, use a list comprehension to check if each character of a string is a digit and store the result in a list:

message = 'Python 101'

digits = [c.isdigit() for c in message]
print(digits)Code language: Python (python)

Output:

[False, False, False, False, False, False, False, True, True, True]Code language: Python (python)

Second, pass the result list (digits) to the any() function:

message = 'Python 101'

digits = [c.isdigit() for c in message]
has_digit = any(digits)

print(has_digit) # FalseCode language: Python (python)

3) Using Python any() function to combine multiple conditions with logical OR

Suppose you have many conditions c1, c2, .. cn and you need to check if one of these conditions is true like this:

if c1 or c2 or ... cn:
   passCode language: Python (python)

To make the code cleaner, you can combine these conditions in an iterable and use the any() function like this:

conditions = (c1, c2, ...cn)
if any(conditions):
   passCode language: Python (python)

For example, instead of having this:

x = 200

if x > 10 or x < 100 or x%2 == 0:
    print(x)Code language: Python (python)

Output:

200Code language: Python (python)

you can use the any() as follows:

x = 200

conditions = (x < 10, x < 100, x % 2 == 0)

if any(conditions):
    print(x)Code language: Python (python)

It returns the same result.

Summary

• Use Python any() function to check if any element of an iterable is true.