Types of Lists in Python (Based on Content & Use)

There is technically only one list type in Python (list), but lists can be categorized by the types of elements they store or how they're structured. Here’s a breakdown with examples:

1. Homogeneous List

A list where all elements are of the same type.

Example: List of Integers

numbers = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
print(numbers)

Example: List of Strings

fruits = ["apple", "banana", "cherry"]
print(fruits)

2. Heterogeneous List

A list that contains elements of different data types.

Example:

mixed = [1, "hello", 3.14, True]
print(mixed)

3. Nested List (Multi-dimensional List)

A list that contains other lists as its elements — used to create matrices, tables, etc.

Example: 2D Matrix

matrix = [
    [1, 2, 3],
    [4, 5, 6],
    [7, 8, 9]
]
print(matrix[1][2])  # Output: 6

4. Empty List

A list with no elements. Useful as a placeholder or to start collecting items dynamically.

Example:

empty = []
print(len(empty))  # Output: 0

5. List of Lists

A type of nested list where each item is a list — often used for structured data like rows and columns.

Example:

class_scores = [
    ["Alice", 85],
    ["Bob", 90],
    ["Charlie", 95]
]
print(class_scores[0][1])  # Output: 85

6. List with Boolean Values

Used often in logical filtering or flags.

Example:

flags = [True, False, True, False]
print(flags.count(True))  # Output: 2

7. List of Functions or Objects

Lists can hold functions, classes, or even custom objects.

Example: List of Functions

def greet(): return "Hello"
def bye(): return "Goodbye"

funcs = [greet, bye]
print(funcs[0]())  # Output: Hello

Bonus: List with List Comprehension

Python supports list comprehensions — a concise way to create lists.

Example: Squares of numbers

squares = [x**2 for x in range(5)]
print(squares)  # [0, 1, 4, 9, 16]

Summary Table