Python enumerate(): Get Index and Value Together

The enumerate() function adds an index to an iterable, making it easy to loop through items while keeping track of their positions. It’s great for loops, tracking positions, and working with lists efficiently.

Example

fruits = ["apple", "banana", "cherry"]

for index, fruit in enumerate(fruits):
    print(index, fruit)

Output:

0 apple  
1 banana  
2 cherry

This helps avoid manually managing an index variable in loops.

Syntax

enumerate(iterable, start=0)

• iterable → The list, tuple, or string to loop through.
• start (optional) → The starting index (default is 0).

1. Custom Starting Index

Change the index to start from a different number.

names = ["Alice", "Bob", "Charlie"]

for i, name in enumerate(names, start=1):
    print(i, name)

Output:

1 Alice  
2 Bob  
3 Charlie

Useful when working with 1-based numbering (like in tables or rankings).

2. Using enumerate() with a List of Tuples

Works great when looping through paired data.

students = [("Alice", 85), ("Bob", 90), ("Charlie", 78)]

for i, (name, score) in enumerate(students, start=1):
    print(f"{i}. {name} - {score}")

Output:

1. Alice - 85  
2. Bob - 90  
3. Charlie - 78

Perfect for structured data like test scores or rankings.

3. Creating a Dictionary from enumerate()

Quickly convert a list into a dictionary with indexes as keys.

items = ["pen", "notebook", "eraser"]
indexed_items = dict(enumerate(items, start=1))

print(indexed_items)

Output:

{1: 'pen', 2: 'notebook', 3: 'eraser'}

Useful for mapping items with unique IDs.

4. Using enumerate() to Modify Lists

Easily update a list while looping.

prices = [100, 200, 300]

for i, price in enum