How to print a list in Python "nicely"

Question

In PHP, I can do this:

echo '<pre>'
print_r($array);
echo '</pre>'

In Python, I currently just do this:

print the_list

However, this will cause a big jumbo of data. Is there any way to print it nicely into a readable tree? (with indents)?

Answer 1

from pprint import pprint
pprint(the_list)

Answer 2

You mean something like...:

>>> print L
['this', 'is', 'a', ['and', 'a', 'sublist', 'too'], 'list', 'including', 'many', 'words', 'in', 'it']
>>> import pprint
>>> pprint.pprint(L)
['this',
 'is',
 'a',
 ['and', 'a', 'sublist', 'too'],
 'list',
 'including',
 'many',
 'words',
 'in',
 'it']
>>>

...? From your cursory description, standard library module pprint is the first thing that comes to mind; however, if you can describe example inputs and outputs (so that one doesn't have to learn PHP in order to help you;-), it may be possible for us to offer more specific help!