Python Program to Convert a List to a String

Beginner · Lists

This program turns a list into a single string with the join() method, which puts a separator of your choice between the items. It also shows why str() is usually not what you want, and how to join a list of numbers.

Program

list_to_string.py

words = ["Python", "is", "fun"] # or: words = input("Enter some words: ").split()

print("List:", words)

print("Joined with spaces:", " ".join(words))

print("Joined with commas:", ", ".join(words))

print("Joined with nothing:", "".join(words))

print("str() keeps the brackets:", str(words))

# join() only accepts strings, so turn the numbers into strings first

numbers = [10, 20, 30]

number_strings = []

for n in numbers:

number_strings.append(str(n))

print("Numbers joined with dashes:", "-".join(number_strings))

Output

List: ['Python', 'is', 'fun']
Joined with spaces: Python is fun
Joined with commas: Python, is, fun
Joined with nothing: Pythonisfun
str() keeps the brackets: ['Python', 'is', 'fun']
Numbers joined with dashes: 10-20-30

How it works

" ".join(words) reads as "join the words with a space between them". The separator is the string before the dot.
Any string can be the separator, including ", " or the empty string "".
str(words) gives the list exactly as Python prints it, with brackets and quotes, which is rarely what you want.
join() raises a TypeError if any item is not a string, so the numbers are converted with str() first.

Other ways to write it

Using a loop instead of join()

words = ["Python", "is", "fun"]

sentence = ""

for i in range(len(words)):

sentence += words[i]

if i < len(words) - 1: # no space after the last word

sentence += " "

print("Sentence:", sentence)

Output

Sentence: Python is fun

Building the string by hand shows what join() does for you, including leaving out the separator after the last item.

Using map() for numbers

numbers = [10, 20, 30]

print("With map():", ", ".join(map(str, numbers)))

letters = ["P", "y", "t", "h", "o", "n"]

print("Letters to a word:", "".join(letters))

Output

With map(): 10, 20, 30
Letters to a word: Python

map(str, numbers) turns every number into a string in one step, which is the shortest way to join numbers.

Try it yourself

Join the list ["2026", "01", "15"] with "/" to print a date.

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All Python programs · CBSE class 12 practical file · Python exercises

Program

How it works

Other ways to write it

Using a loop instead of join()

Using map() for numbers

Try it yourself

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