How to define a two-dimensional array?

rows = int(input())
cols = int(input())

matrix = []
for i in range(rows):
  row = []
  for j in range(cols):
    row.append(0)
  matrix.append(row)

print(matrix)

Why such a long code, that too in Python you ask?

Long back when I was not comfortable with Python, I saw the single line answers for writing 2D matrix and told myself I am not going to use 2-D matrix in Python again. (Those single lines were pretty scary and It didn't give me any information on what Python was doing. Also note that I am not aware of these shorthands.)

Anyways, here's the code for a beginner whose coming from C, CPP and Java background

Note to Python Lovers and Experts: Please do not down vote just because I wrote a detailed code.

This is how I usually create 2D arrays in python.

col = 3
row = 4
array = [[0] * col for _ in range(row)]

I find this syntax easy to remember compared to using two for loops in a list comprehension.

You can create an empty two dimensional list by nesting two or more square bracing or third bracket ([], separated by comma) with a square bracing, just like below:

Matrix = [[], []]

Now suppose you want to append 1 to Matrix[0][0] then you type:

Matrix[0].append(1)

Now, type Matrix and hit Enter. The output will be:

[[1], []]

If you entered the following statement instead

Matrix[1].append(1)

then the Matrix would be

[[], [1]]

l=[[0]*(L) for _ in range(W)]

Will be faster than:

l = [[0 for x in range(L)] for y in range(W)] 

by using list :

matrix_in_python  = [['Roy',80,75,85,90,95],['John',75,80,75,85,100],['Dave',80,80,80,90,95]]

by using dict: you can also store this info in the hash table for fast searching like

matrix = { '1':[0,0] , '2':[0,1],'3':[0,2],'4' : [1,0],'5':[1,1],'6':[1,2],'7':[2,0],'8':[2,1],'9':[2,2]};

matrix['1'] will give you result in O(1) time

*nb: you need to deal with a collision in the hash table

Here is the code snippet for creating a matrix in python:

# get the input rows and cols
rows = int(input("rows : "))
cols = int(input("Cols : "))

# initialize the list
l=[[0]*cols for i in range(rows)]

# fill some random values in it
for i in range(0,rows):
    for j in range(0,cols):
        l[i][j] = i+j

# print the list
for i in range(0,rows):
    print()
    for j in range(0,cols):
        print(l[i][j],end=" ")

Please suggest if I have missed something.

Usually, the go-to module is NumPy:

import numpy as np
   
# Generate a random matrix of floats
np.random.rand(cols,rows)

# Generate a random matrix of integers
np.random.randint(1, 10, size=(cols,rows))

Try this:

rows = int(input('Enter rows\n'))
my_list = []
for i in range(rows):
    my_list.append(list(map(int, input().split())))

In case if you need a matrix with predefined numbers you can use the following code:

def matrix(rows, cols, start=0):
    return [[c + start + r * cols for c in range(cols)] for r in range(rows)]


assert matrix(2, 3, 1) == [[1, 2, 3], [4, 5, 6]]

User Define function to input Matrix and print

def inmatrix(m,n):
    #Start function and pass row and column as parameter
    a=[] #create a blank matrix
    for i in range(m): #Row input
        b=[]#blank list
        for j in range(n): # column input
            elm=int(input("Enter number in Pocket ["+str(i)+"]["+str(j)+"] ")) #Show Row And column  number 
            b.append(elm) #add value to b list
        a.append(b)# Add list to matrix
    return  a #return Matrix 

def Matrix(a): #function for print Matrix
    for i in range(len(a)): #row
        for j in range(len(a[0])): #column
            print(a[i][j],end=" ") #print value with space
        print()#print a line After a row print

m=int(input("Enter number of row")) #input row
n=int(input("Enter number of column"))
a=inmatrix(m,n) #call input matrix function 

print("Matrix is ... ")

Matrix(a) #print matrix function

If you want to create a 2d matrix which dimension is defined by two variables and initialise it with a default value for all its elements. You can use this simple syntax

n_rows=3
n_cols=4
aux_matrix= [[1]*n_cols]*n_rows