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Python gets x first words per line

I am looking for code that takes 4 (or 5) first words in a script. I tried this:

import re my_string = "the cat and this dog are in the garden" a = my_string.split(' ', 1)[0] b = my_string.split(' ', 1)[1]

But I can not take more than two lines:

 a = the b = cat and this dog are in the garden

I would like to:

 a = the b = cat c = and d = this ...
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3 answers

The second argument to the split() method is the limit. Do not use it and you will get all the words. Use it like this:

 my_string = "the cat and this dog are in the garden" splitted = my_string.split() first = splitted[0] second = splitted[1] ...

Also, don't call split() every time you need a word, it's expensive. Do it once and then just use the results later, as in my example.
As you can see, there is no need to add a separator ' ' , since the default separator for the split() ( None ) function matches all spaces. You can use it, however, if you do not want to split into Tab , for example.

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You can use fragment notation in the list created by split:

 my_string.split()[:4] # first 4 words my_string.split()[:5] # first 5 words

NB are examples of commands. You must use one or the other, not both in a row.

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You can easily break the line into spaces, but if your line does not have enough words, the assignment will fail if the list is empty.

 a, b, c, d, e = my_string.split()[:5] # May fail

You’d better keep the list, rather than give each member an individual name.

 words = my_string.split() at_most_five_words = words[:5] # terrible variable name

This is a terrible variable name, but I used it to illustrate the fact that you are not guaranteed to get five words - you are guaranteed only five words.

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