Convert Array formatted as a string - Python

Question

I am receving a string through a socket like so

"['[0,0,0]','[0,0,0]']"

I would like to convert it back to a array. I have tried using

received.split(",")

however it splits up the arrays inside the array.

How would I go about converting the string to an array?

What exactly do you want as the output? You already have a string... — Tim
– Tim, Commented Aug 24, 2013 at 8:27
I recommend using JSON and then using a JSON parser. Keeps you away from eval, but gets you what you want. — xaxxon
– xaxxon, Commented Aug 24, 2013 at 10:02
@GrijeshChauhan never eval data from the network. Though the answer below seems to say there is a version of eval that is safe, as it cannot eval code. — xaxxon
– xaxxon, Commented Aug 24, 2013 at 10:03

Grijesh Chauhan · Accepted Answer · 2013-08-24 08:39:45Z

5

>>> import ast
>>> s = "['[0,0,0]','[0,0,0]']"
>>> s = ast.literal_eval(s)
>>> s
['[0,0,0]', '[0,0,0]']
>>> s = [ast.literal_eval(sub) for sub in s]
>>> s
[[0, 0, 0], [0, 0, 0]]

Using literal_eval is safer than eval. From the docs:

31.2. ast — Abstract Syntax Trees¶

ast.literal_eval(node_or_string)

Safely evaluate an expression node or a string containing a Python expression. The string or node provided may only consist of the following Python literal structures: strings, numbers, tuples, lists, dicts, booleans, and None.

This can be used for safely evaluating strings containing Python expressions from untrusted sources without the need to parse the values oneself.

edited Aug 24, 2013 at 8:39

Grijesh Chauhan

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answered Aug 24, 2013 at 8:30

Rapolas K.

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1 Comment

Grijesh Chauhan Over a year ago

Add documentation link: 31.2. ast — Abstract Syntax Trees¶ and link that suggests preference of your technique over simple eval() given by me: here is the link: stackoverflow.com/questions/15197673/….

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