What Does enumerate() Do in Python?

Ever wondered what does enumerate do in Python? It's a simple yet powerful built-in function that allows you to loop over iterables while keeping track of the index—cleanly and efficiently.

🧠 What is enumerate()?

enumerate() adds a counter to an iterable (like a list or tuple) and returns it as an enumerate object. This allows you to access both the index and value during iteration.

🧪 Syntax

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enumerate(iterable, start=0)

• iterable: The collection you want to loop through.
• start: (Optional) The index to start counting from. Defaults to 0.

✅ Example Usage

Basic Loop

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fruits = ['apple', 'banana', 'cherry']

for i, fruit in enumerate(fruits):

    print(i, fruit)

Start Index at 1

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for i, fruit in enumerate(fruits, start=1):

    print(f"{i}. {fruit}")

List Comprehension with Enumerate

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indexed = [(i, x.upper()) for i, x in enumerate(['a', 'b', 'c'])]

🚀 Why Use enumerate()?

• Cleaner and more readable than manual counters
• Avoids common mistakes like using .index() in loops
• Considered more "Pythonic"

🔚 Conclusion

If you're looping through an iterable and need the index alongside each item, enumerate() is your go-to solution. It's fast, clean, and makes your code easier to read.

Want to learn more Python tricks? Explore our full guide on what does enumerate do in Python.