How do I use zip_longest from itertools in Python?

How do I use zip_longest from itertools in Python?

The zip_longest function from the itertools module allows you to combine two or more iterables, filling in missing values with a specified fill value.

Can you show me a code example?

Sure! Here's a simple example:

from itertools import zip_longest

list1 = [1, 2, 3]
list2 = ['a', 'b']

result = list(zip_longest(list1, list2, fillvalue='missing'))
print(result)  # Output: [(1, 'a'), (2, 'b'), (3, 'missing')]

What happens if the iterables are of different lengths?

If the iterables are of different lengths, zip_longest will continue until the longest iterable is exhausted, filling in the shorter ones with the specified fill value.

Can I use zip_longest with more than two iterables?

Yes, you can use zip_longest with any number of iterables. Just pass them as additional arguments.