Python any() function

The Python interpreter has a number of utility functions and types built into it that are always available and help in performing various operations easily. One such utility function is the Python any() function that returns a boolean value.

The any() function accepts an iterable such as a list, tuple, dictionary etc. as an argument and then returns True if any of the element in iterable is true, otherwise it returns False. If iterable passed is empty, then any() method returns False.

Python any() Syntax:

The following is the syntax of the any() function:

Parameters:​

The any() function takes python iterables as its arguments such as:

*Note that the values in the iterables might not necessarily be all boolean values. 

Working and Return value:

The any() function is an equivalent to a series of successive logical or operations on the provided iterable. So just like the or operation if any value in the iterable is true it returns True else it returns False.

Actually, the any() method is a utility method and it is a compact version of the following code:

def any(iterable):
    for element in iterable:
        if element:
            return True
    return False

Examples:

any() function with Lists:

# all true values
ls = [1,5,6,7]
print(any(ls))

# all false values
ls = [0, False]
print(any(ls))

# one true value
ls = [0, False, 8]
print(any(ls))

# one false value
ls = [1, False, 9]
print(any(ls))

# empty list
ls = []
print(any(ls))

Output:

any() function with Tuples:

# all true values
tup1 = (1,'Codesdope',6)
print(any(tup1))

# all false values
tup2 = (False, 0, False)
print(any(tup2))

# one true value
tup3 = (0, False, 3)
print(any(tup3))

# one false value
tup4 = [1, False, 4]
print(any(tup4))

# empty tuple
tup5 = ()
print(any(tup5))

Output:

any() function with Dictionaries:

# all true values
D = {1:"Cat",2:'Dog'}
print(any(D))

# all false values
# 0 denotes false
D = {False: 0, 0:"False"}
print(any(D))

# one true value
# 1 denotes true
D = {1:"True", False:"Fish", 0:"Frog"}
print(any(D))

# one false value
D = {1:"One", 0:"Zero", 4:"Four"}
print(any(D))

# empty list
D = {}
print(any(D))

Output:

any() function with Strings:

# all true values
st = "Python is Great"
print(any(st))

# False is boolean value
# 'False' is string so method return true
st = 'False'
print(any(st))

# 0 is numeric value hence it gives false
# '0' is a string character so method return true
st = '00000'
print(any(st))


# empty string
st = ''
print(any(st))

Output:

When to use any() function?

That's all for the Python any() function.