What is count in python list?

The count() is a built-in function in Python. It will return the total count of a given element in a list. The count() function is used to count elements on a list as well as a string.

In this Python tutorial, you will learn:

• Python count
• Python List count()
• Example 1: List Count
• Example 2: Find the count of elements (Duplicates) in a givenlist

Python List count()

The count() is a built-in function in Python. It will return you the count of a given element in the list.

Syntax:

list.count(element)

Parameters:

element: The element you want to find the count.

ReturnValue:

The count() method will return an integer value, i.e., the count of the given element from the given list. It returns a 0 if the value is not found in the given list.

Example 1: List Count

Following example shows the working of count() function on a list:

list1 = ['red', 'green', 'blue', 'orange', 'green', 'gray', 'green']
color_count = list1.count('green')
print('The count of color: green is ', color_count)

Output:

The count of color: green is  3

Example 2: Find the count of elements (Duplicates) in a givenlist

list1 = [2,3,4,3,10,3,5,6,3]
elm_count = list1.count(3)
print('The count of element: 3 is ', elm_count)

Output:

The count of element: 3 is  4

Summary:

• The count() is a built-in function in Python. It will return you the count of a given element in a list or a string.
• In the case of a list, the element to be counted needs to be given to the count() function, and it will return the count of the element.
• The count() method returns an integer value.

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Python List count() method returns the count of how many times a given object occurs in a List.

Python List count() method Syntax

Syntax:  list_name.count(object) 

Parameters: 

• object: is the item whose count is to be returned.

Returns:  Returns the count of how many times object occurs in the list.

Exception: 

• TypeError: Raises TypeError If more than 1 parameter is passed in count() method.

Python List count() method Example

Python3

list2 = ['a', 'a', 'a', 'b', 'b', 'a', 'c', 'b']

print(list2.count('b'))

Output:

3

Example 1: Count Tuple and List Elements Inside List

Count occurrences of List and Tuples inside a list using count() method.

Python3

list1 = [ ('Cat', 'Bat'), ('Sat', 'Cat'), ('Cat', 'Bat'),

          ('Cat', 'Bat', 'Sat'), [1, 2], [1, 2, 3], [1, 2] ]

print(list1.count(('Cat', 'Bat')))

print(list1.count([1, 2]))

Output: 

2
2

Exceptions while using Python list count() method

TypeError

Python list count() method raises TypeError when more than 1 parameter is passed.

Python3

list1 = [1, 1, 1, 2, 3, 2, 1]

print(list1.count(1, 2))

Output:

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/home/41d2d7646b4b549b399b0dfe29e38c53.py", line 7, in 
    print(list1.count(1, 2))  
TypeError: count() takes exactly one argument (2 given)

Practical Application

 Let’s say we want to count each element in a list and store it in another list or say dictionary.

Python3

lst = ['Cat', 'Bat', 'Sat', 'Cat', 'Mat', 'Cat', 'Sat']

print ([ [l, lst.count(l)] for l in set(lst)])

print (dict( (l, lst.count(l) ) for l in set(lst)))

Output:

[['Mat', 1], ['Cat', 3], ['Sat', 2], ['Bat', 1]]
{'Bat': 1, 'Cat': 3, 'Sat': 2, 'Mat': 1}