Python __iter__() and __next__() | Converting an object into an iterator
Last Updated :
28 Nov, 2023
In many instances, we get a need to access an object like an iterator. One way is to form a generator loop but that extends the task and time taken by the programmer. Python eases this task by providing a built-in method __iter__() for this task. In this article, we will see about Python __iter__() and __next__().
Python __iter__()
The __iter__() function in Python returns an iterator for the given object (array, set, tuple, etc., or custom objects). It creates an object that can be accessed one element at a time using __next__() in Python, which generally comes in handy when dealing with loops.
Syntax
iter(object)
iter(callable, sentinel)
- Object: The object whose iterator has to be created. It can be a collection object like a list or tuple or a user-defined object (using OOPS).
- Callable, Sentinel: Callable represents a callable object, and sentinel is the value at which the iteration is needed to be terminated, sentinel value represents the end of the sequence being iterated.
Exception
If we call the iterator after all the elements have
been iterated, then StopIterationError is raised.
The __iter__() in Python returns an iterator object that goes through each element of the given object. The next element can be accessed through __next__() in Python. In the case of the callable object and sentinel value, the iteration is done until the value is found or the end of elements is reached. In any case, the original object is not modified.
In this example, we are using the iter and next function to iterate through the list and print the next element in the next line.
Python3
listA = ['a','e','i','o','u']
iter_listA = iter(listA)
try:
print( next(iter_listA))
print( next(iter_listA))
print( next(iter_listA))
print( next(iter_listA))
print( next(iter_listA))
print( next(iter_listA))
except:
pass
|
Python __next__()
Python __next__() is responsible for returning the next element of the iteration. If there are no more elements then it raises the StopIteration exception. It is part of the iterable and iterator interface, which allows us to create custom iterable objects, such as generators, and control how elements are retrieved one at a time from those iterables.
In this example, we are using __next__() function in Python to iterate and print next element inside the list.
Python3
lst = [11, 22, 33, 44, 55]
iter_lst = iter(lst)
while True:
try:
print(iter_lst.__next__())
except:
break
|
In this example, we are using __next__() in Python to show the exception that is thrown if next element is not present.
Python3
listB = ['Cat', 'Bat', 'Sat', 'Mat']
iter_listB = listB.__iter__()
try:
print(iter_listB.__next__())
print(iter_listB.__next__())
print(iter_listB.__next__())
print(iter_listB.__next__())
print(iter_listB.__next__())
except:
print(" \nThrowing 'StopIterationError'",
"I cannot count more.")
|
Output
Cat
Bat
Sat
Mat
Throwing 'StopIterationError' I cannot count more.
User-defined objects (using OOPS)
In this example, we are using user defined objects along with defining __iter__() and __next__() functions to show the use of iter() using OOPS in Python.
Python3
class Counter:
def __init__(self, start, end):
self.num = start
self.end = end
def __iter__(self):
return self
def __next__(self):
if self.num > self.end:
raise StopIteration
else:
self.num += 1
return self.num - 1
if __name__ == '__main__' :
a, b = 2, 5
c1 = Counter(a, b)
c2 = Counter(a, b)
print ("Print the range without iter()")
for i in c1:
print ("Eating more Pizzas, counting ", i, end ="\n")
print ("\nPrint the range using iter()\n")
obj = iter(c2)
try:
while True:
print ("Eating more Pizzas, counting ", next(obj))
except:
print ("\nDead on overfood, GAME OVER")
|
Output
Print the range without iter()
Eating more Pizzas, counting 2
Eating more Pizzas, counting 3
Eating more Pizzas, counting 4
Eating more Pizzas, counting 5
Print the range using iter()
Eating mor...
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