How Can I Randomly Select an Element from a List in Python?

Randomly Selecting an Element from a List

Retrieving an item from a list at random can be a common task when working with lists in Python. To accomplish this, various built-in functions and modules can be employed.

random.choice()

The random.choice() function provides a convenient way to select a random element from a list. It takes a sequence as an argument and returns a single item selected randomly.

import random

foo = ['a', 'b', 'c', 'd', 'e']
print(random.choice(foo))

secrets.choice()

For situations where cryptographically secure random choices are required (e.g., generating passphrases), the secrets.choice() function from the secrets module can be utilized.

import secrets

foo = ['battery', 'correct', 'horse', 'staple']
print(secrets.choice(foo))

random.SystemRandom()

On Python versions prior to 3.6, the random.SystemRandom() class can be used for cryptographically secure random choices.

import random

secure_random = random.SystemRandom()
print(secure_random.choice(foo))

By employing these techniques, developers can easily select random elements from lists, irrespective of the Python version or the level of security required.

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