How Do You Efficiently Clamp a Number to a Range in Python?

How to Clamp a Number to a Range in Python

Programmers often need to restrict values within a specified range. While manual checks and if-else statements are common methods, they can be verbose and challenging to maintain. Python offers more elegant solutions for this task.

For example, consider the code below:

<code class="python">new_index = index + offset
if new_index < 0:
    new_index = 0
if new_index >= len(mylist):
    new_index = len(mylist) - 1
return mylist[new_index]</code>

This code calculates a new index and verifies if it is within the bounds of a list. If not, it adjusts the index accordingly before returning the list element. While this approach works, it is rather lengthy.

Python provides a more concise and Pythonic solution using a single line of code:

<code class="python">new_index = max(0, min(new_index, len(mylist)-1))</code>

This expression calculates the new index by taking the maximum of 0 and the minimum of the calculated new index and the last valid index of the list. This ensures that the returned index is never less than 0 or greater than the list length.

Understanding the Code

• max(0, ...): This ensures that the result is at least 0.
• min(new_index, ...): This ensures that the result is at most one less than the list length.

By leveraging Python's built-in functions, you can easily and effectively clamp a number to a specified range. This approach enhances code readability, reduces the probability of errors, and simplifies maintenance.

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