Python: Convert List to String (join & for loop methods explained)

Hello, this is BlockDMask.

Today, we will learn how to convert a Python list into a string.

We will cover:

• Lists with only strings
• Lists containing both strings and numbers
• How to use both join() and for loop methods

Table of Contents

• 1. Convert list to string using join()
• 2. Convert list to string using for loop

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1. Convert list to string using join()

The easiest way to convert a list of strings into a single string is by using Python’s join() method.

1-1) Simple join()

fruits = ['apple', 'banana', 'cherry', 'date', 'BlockDMask']

result = ''.join(fruits)
print(result)

Output:

applebananacherrydateBlockDMask

1-2) Add separator while joining

fruits = ['apple', 'banana', 'cherry', 'date', 'BlockDMask']

result_comma = ', '.join(fruits)
print(result_comma)

result_dash = ' - '.join(fruits)
print(result_dash)

result_newline = '\n'.join(fruits)
print(result_newline)

Output:

apple, banana, cherry, date, BlockDMask
apple - banana - cherry - date - BlockDMask
apple
banana
cherry
date
BlockDMask

1-3) If list contains numbers

You need to convert non-string elements into strings before using join().

items = [100, 200, "BlockDMask", 300, 400]

result = ''.join(str(item) for item in items)
print(result)

result_comma = ', '.join(str(item) for item in items)
print(result_comma)

Output:

100200BlockDMask300400
100, 200, BlockDMask, 300, 400

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2. Convert list to string using for loop

When you need more control, you can use for loop to manually build the string.

2-1) For list of only strings

languages = ['Python', 'Java', 'C++', 'Go', 'Rust']

result = ''
for lang in languages:
    result += lang

print(result)

Output:

PythonJavaC++GoRust

2-2) For list with numbers (using function)

def list_to_string(lst):
    result = ''
    for element in lst:
        result += str(element)
    return result

data = [10, 20, "BlockDMask", 30, 40]
result = list_to_string(data)
print(result)

Output:

1020BlockDMask3040

2-3) Custom separator using for loop (skip separator for last element)

def list_to_string(lst, sep):
    result = ''
    for index, element in enumerate(lst):
        if index == len(lst) - 1:
            result += str(element)
        else:
            result += str(element) + sep
    return result

data = [10, 20, "BlockDMask", 30, 40]

print(list_to_string(data, ''))
print(list_to_string(data, ', '))
print(list_to_string(data, '/'))
print(list_to_string(data, '\n'))

Output:

1020BlockDMask3040
10, 20, BlockDMask, 30, 40
10/20/BlockDMask/30/40
10
20
BlockDMask
30
40

2-4) Add prefix/suffix for each item (more customized)

def format_list(lst, prefix='', suffix='', sep=', '):
    result = ''
    for index, element in enumerate(lst):
        formatted = f"{prefix}{element}{suffix}"
        if index == len(lst) - 1:
            result += formatted
        else:
            result += formatted + sep
    return result

data = ['apple', 'banana', 'cherry', 'date']

print(format_list(data, prefix='[', suffix=']', sep=' | '))

Output:

[apple] | [banana] | [cherry] | [date]

→ Now you can fully customize how each list item is formatted into a string.

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In this post, we have learned how to convert lists into strings in Python using both join() and for loop methods, including custom separators and formats.
Thanks for reading!