What are some examples of pattern matching in Python?

What are some examples of pattern matching in Python?

Pattern matching in Python can be done using the match statement introduced in Python 3.10. For example, you can match against different data types like lists, dictionaries, and even custom classes.

Can you show me a simple example using a list?

Sure! Here's a simple example:

value = [1, 2, 3]
match value:
    case [1, *rest]:
        print('Starts with 1 and the rest are', rest)
    case _:
        print('Does not start with 1')

What about matching dictionaries?

You can match dictionaries like this:

d = {'name': 'Alice', 'age': 30}
match d:
    case {'name': name, 'age': age}:
        print(f'Name: {name}, Age: {age}')
    case _:
        print('No match')

Are there any limitations to pattern matching?

Yes, pattern matching is limited to the types of patterns you can define. It may not work as expected with complex nested structures or when using types not supported by the match statement.