The Python any() function can be used to determine if any element of an iterable is True. If any element is True it returns True, otherwise False.
any() on Python lists
Example 1:
list1 = [False, True, False]
print(any(list1))
In this example True is returned, because at least one of the booleans in the list is True.
True
Example 2:
list2 = [0, 1, 2, 3]
print(any(list2))
In this example True is returned, because 1, 2, 3 are True, while 0 is False.
True
Example 3:
list3 = []
print(any(list3))
In this example False is returned, because the list is empty.
False
Example 4:
list4 = [0, False, '']
print(any(list4))
In this example False is returned, because all items in the list are False.
any() on Python strings
Example 1:
string1 = 'example string'
print(any(string1))
In this example True is returned, because the string is True.
True
Example 2:
string2 = '0'
print(any(string2))
In this example False is returned, because the string '0' is True. The string '0' is different than the integer 0, which is False.
True
Example 3:
string3 = ''
print(any(string3))
In this example False is returned, because the empty string is False.
False
any() on Python dictionaries
If the any() function is used on a Python dictionary, it will return True if at least one key is True. If all keys are False or the dictionary is empty, False is returned. It is important to understand, that the keys matter not the values of the dictionary.
Example 1:
dictionary1 = {0: 'hello'}
print(any(dictionary1))
In this example False is returned, because the key 0 is False.
False
Example 2:
dictionary2 = {}
print(any(dictionary2))
In this example False is returned, because the dictionary is empty.
False
Example 3:
dictionary3 = {0: 'hello', False: 'world'}
print(any(dictionary3))
In this example False is returned, because both keys 0 and False are False.
False
Example 4:
dictionary4 = {'0': 'hello'}
print(any(dictionary4))
In this example True is returned, because the key '0' is a string and True.
True
any() syntax
The syntax of the any function is:
any(iterable)
any() arguments
The any() function takes exactly one iterable (list, string, dictionary) as argument.
In case more or less than one iterable are given, an TypeError occurs.
any() return value
The any() function returns a boolean value:
True, if at least one element is True
False, if all of the elements are False
False, if the iterable is empty
| condition |
return value |
| All values are True |
True |
| One value is True, others are False |
True |
| One value is False, others are True |
True |
| All values are False |
False |
| The iterable is empty |
False |
In case all values have to be True, the
all() function should be used.