random from an array

[Peter Hansen]

Calvin79 wrote:

> I've just started to try python so forgive the ignorance!
> 
> I've been using this, or something like it;
> 
> First = random.choice ('abc')

This works not because choice() takes a string, but because
even though it takes a sequence, a string *is* a sequence
(of bytes).

> What I want to do, however, is take a random pick from something like the
> following;
> 
> First = random.??? ("rna", "rnb", "rnc") - this of course "random.choice"
> doesn't work.

Just use another sequence, either a tuple or a list:

    random.choice(("rna", "rnb", "rnc"))
or
    random.choice(["rna", "rnb", "rnc"])

The latter is preferred for various mostly stylistic reasons...

-Peter