Python: .split vs. .join

[filifunk]

I don't understand why .split() and .join() can't be used in the same way. For instance, this works:




grocery_list: "Milk 2\nEggs 12"

grocery_list.split()



but this doesn't




grocery_list.join()



in fact I have to do this:




"".join(grocery_list)



why do most functions work like split() but join() works differently?

Just curious, maybe they're different types of functions?

[ghostdog74]

grocery_list.join()




if you do that , the interpreter will give you errors. join() needs an argument.

[slavik]

because in python, object.join(args) will join args together with object between them.

[tjwilli]

I don't understand why .split() and .join() can't be used in the same way. For instance, this works:




grocery_list: "Milk 2\nEggs 12"

grocery_list.split()



but this doesn't




grocery_list.join()



in fact I have to do this:




"".join(grocery_list)



why do most functions work like split() but join() works differently?

Just curious, maybe they're different types of functions?

Maybe because they are basically opposites? split() breaks up a string into a sequence, join() concatenates a sequence into a string.



>>> grocery_list="Milk 2\nEggs 12"
>>> grocery_list.split()
['Milk', '2', 'Eggs', '12']
>>> ' '.join(grocery_list.split())
'Milk 2 Eggs 12'