For a Python list, use items.reverse() to change its order in place, items[::-1] or list(reversed(items)) to make a reversed list, and reversed(items) to iterate backward without making a list. In Python, “array” can also mean a typed array.array or a library-specific type such as NumPy’s ndarray, so check the type before choosing a method.
First, identify the kind of array
Python’s built-in list is the sequence most people mean in everyday examples. The standard-library array.array is a separate mutable sequence that stores constrained basic values. Third-party libraries define their own array types and behavior; do not assume that a method documented for lists applies to them. The Python FAQ discusses these distinctions. The examples below use a list unless noted.
Six ways to reverse a Python sequence
1. Reverse a list in place with list.reverse()
Use this when you want to change the existing list rather than create another one:
items = [1, 2, 3, 4]
items.reverse()
print(items) # [4, 3, 2, 1]The list is modified, and reverse() returns None. Call it on its own line; assigning its result would replace the list variable with None:
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items = items.reverse() # items is now NoneSee the Python list documentation for the method’s behavior.
2. Make a reversed list with a slice
A slice with a step of -1 produces a reversed list and leaves the original list unchanged:
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items = [1, 2, 3, 4]
reversed_items = items[::-1]
print(reversed_items) # [4, 3, 2, 1]
print(items) # [1, 2, 3, 4]Choose this when you want a new list and the compact slicing expression is clear to your readers.
3. Make a list from reversed()
The built-in reversed() returns an iterator, not a list. Wrap it in list() when you need a materialized list:
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items = [1, 2, 3, 4]
reversed_items = list(reversed(items))
print(reversed_items) # [4, 3, 2, 1]
print(items) # [1, 2, 3, 4]This also preserves the original list. The built-in function documentation describes reversed() as returning a reverse iterator.
4. Iterate backward without creating a list
When you only need to process elements from last to first, loop directly over the iterator:
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items = [1, 2, 3, 4]
for item in reversed(items):
print(item)This visits 4, 3, 2, then 1; it does not reorder the original list or build a reversed list. Use this for reverse-order traversal when you do not need to keep a separate reversed result. The Python FAQ recommends reversed() for this kind of iteration.
5. Reverse a standard-library array.array
If your object is an array.array, it has its own in-place reverse() method:
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from array import array
values = array("i", [1, 2, 3, 4])
values.reverse()
print(values) # array('i', [4, 3, 2, 1])The type code "i" denotes a signed integer type; the array stores values according to its type code. array.array is mutable and supports sequence operations, but its representation details can depend on machine architecture. Consult the standard-library array documentation for its types and methods.
6. Swap elements with a two-index loop
For learning how an in-place reversal works, swap the first and last elements, then move both indices toward the middle:
items = [1, 2, 3, 4]
left = 0
right = len(items) - 1
while left < right:
items[left], items[right] = items[right], items[left]
left += 1
right -= 1
print(items) # [4, 3, 2, 1]The loop stops when the indices meet or cross, so a middle element in an odd-length list stays in place. This illustrates the swapping algorithm; for ordinary production code, the built-in method is usually clearer when mutation is intended.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Which method should you choose?
| Need | Use | Original sequence | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Change a list’s order | items.reverse() |
Modified | Same list object; method returns None |
| Get a reversed list with slicing | items[::-1] |
Unchanged | New list |
| Get a reversed list from an iterator | list(reversed(items)) |
Unchanged | New list |
| Traverse backward without building a list | for item in reversed(items) |
Unchanged | Reverse iterator used in the loop |
Change an array.array object’s order |
values.reverse() |
Modified | Same array object |
| Demonstrate element swapping | Two-index loop | Modified | Same list object |
For NumPy arrays and other third-party types, use that library’s documentation: the built-in list and array.array references do not establish how those types behave.
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