Python any()

The syntax of any() is:

any(iterable)

Parameters for the any() function

The any() function takes an iterable (list, string, dictionary etc.) in Python.

Value Returned by the any() function

The any() function returns a boolean value:

• True if at least one element of an iterable is true
• False if all elements are false or if an iterable is empty

Example 1: Using any() on Python Lists

# True since 1,3 and 4 (at least one) is true
l = [1, 3, 4, 0]
print(any(l))

# False since both are False
l = [0, False]
print(any(l))

# True since 5 is true
l = [0, False, 5]
print(any(l))

# False since iterable is empty
l = []
print(any(l))

Output

True
False
True
False

The any() method works in a similar way for tuples and sets like lists.

Example 2: Using any() on Python Strings

# Atleast one (in fact all) elements are True
s = "This is good"
print(any(s))

# 0 is False
# '0' is True since its a string character
s = '000'
print(any(s))

# False since empty iterable
s = ''
print(any(s))

Output

True
True
False

Example 3: Using any() with Python Dictionaries

In the case of dictionaries, if all keys (not values) are false or the dictionary is empty, any() returns False. If at least one key is true, any() returns True.

# 0 is False
d = {0: 'False'}
print(any(d))

# 1 is True
d = {0: 'False', 1: 'True'}
print(any(d))

# 0 and False are false
d = {0: 'False', False: 0}
print(any(d))

# iterable is empty
d = {}
print(any(d))

# 0 is False
# '0' is True
d = {'0': 'False'}
print(any(d))

Output

False
True
False
False
True