Making a list value become the variable for a list

Question

I am having some problems. I have lists within lists that looks something like this:

list = [['bread', 0, 5, 2], ['pasta', 2, 8, 9], ['onion', 3, 6, 12]]

So if:

list[0] = ['bread', 0, 5, 2] 

Is there away I can use the first value in each list (i.e 'bread') to become the variable for that list.

What I want in the end is:

bread = ['bread', 0, 5, 2]

I am new to python so please explain things carefully or I won't understand what you are saying. Also, the list structure is the way it is set up so I can't change it, or at least, hoping not to.

• tckmn: umm... bread = list[0]?
• squiguy: Broken record I know, but don't use list as a variable name in Python.
• Marcin: possible duplicate of Python - Use a variable as a list name

Answer 1

You don't want to do this. Use a dictionary:

>>> lst = [['bread', 0, 5, 2], ['pasta', 2, 8, 9], ['onion', 3, 6, 12]]
>>> d = {lst[0][0] : lst[0]}
{'bread': ['bread', 0, 5, 2]}

But if you insist...

>>> locals()[lst[0][0]] = lst[0]
>>> bread
['bread', 0, 5, 2]

From the docs:

Note The contents of this dictionary should not be modified; changes may not affect the values of local and free variables used by the interpreter.

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Also, list is a built-in type. Please don't name lists that.

• Danrex: I havn't I was just using it as an example
• dawg: @Danrex: Don't do that either!