Python | random.sample() function

sample() is an inbuilt function of random module in Python that returns a particular length list of items chosen from the sequence i.e. list, tuple, string or set. Used for random sampling without replacement.

Syntax : random.sample(sequence, k)

Parameters:
sequence: Can be a list, tuple, string, or set.
k: An Integer value, it specify the length of a sample.



Returns: k length new list of elements chosen from the sequence.

Code #1: Simple implementation of sample() function.

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# Python3 program to demonstrate
# the use of sample() function .
  
# import random 
from random import sample
  
# Prints list of random items of given length
list1 = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5] 
  
print(sample(list1,3))

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Output:


[2, 3, 5]


 

Code #2: Basic use of sample() function.











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# Python3 program to demonstrate 


# the use of sample() function . 


  


# import random  


import random 


  


  


# Prints list of random items of 


# length 3 from the given list. 


list1 = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]  


print("With list:", random.sample(list1, 3)) 


  


# Prints list of random items of 


# length 4 from the given string.  


string = "GeeksforGeeks"


print("With string:", random.sample(string, 4)) 


  


# Prints list of random items of 


# length 4 from the given tuple. 


tuple1 = ("ankit", "geeks", "computer", "science", 


                   "portal", "scientist", "btech") 


print("With tuple:", random.sample(tuple1, 4)) 


  


  


# Prints list of random items of 


# length 3 from the given set. 


set1 = {"a", "b", "c", "d", "e"} 


print("With set:", random.sample(set1, 3)) 



















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Output:


With list: [3, 1, 2]
With string: ['e', 'f', 'G', 'G']
With tuple: ['ankit', 'portal', 'geeks', 'computer']
With set: ['b', 'd', 'c']


Note: Output will be different everytime as it returns a random item.

 

Code #3: Raise Exception


If the sample size i.e. k is larger than the sequence size,  ValueError is raised.











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# Python3 program to demonstrate the 


# error of sample() function. 


import random 


  


list1 = [1, 2, 3, 4]  


   


# exception raised 


print(random.sample(list1, 5))  



















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Output:


Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "C:/Users/user/AppData/Local/Programs/Python/Python36/all_prgm/geeks_article/sample_method_article.py", line 8, in 
    print(random.sample(list1, 5))
  File "C:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python36\lib\random.py", line 317, in sample
    raise ValueError("Sample larger than population or is negative")
ValueError: Sample larger than population or is negative




          
          
          
          

            

    

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