In Clojure is there an easy way to convert between list types?
ClojureClojure Problem Overview
I am often finding myself using a lazy list when I want a vector, and vice versa. Also, sometimes I have a vector of maps, when I really wanted a set of maps. Are there any helper functions to help me to convert between these types?
Clojure Solutions
Solution 1 - Clojure
Let's not forget that trusty old into
lets you take anything seq
able (list, vector, map, set, sorted-map) and an empty container you want filled, and puts it into
it.
(into [] '(1 2 3 4)) ==> [1 2 3 4] "have a lazy list and want a vector"
(into #{} [1 2 3 4]) ==> #{1 2 3 4} "have a vector and want a set"
(into {} #{[1 2] [3 4]}) ==> {3 4, 1 2} "have a set of vectors want a map"
(into #{} [{1 2} {3 4}]) ==> #{{1 2} {3 4}} "have a vector of maps want a set of maps"
into
is a wrapper around conj
, which is the base abstraction for inserting new entries appropriately into a collection based on the type of the collection. The principle that makes this flow so nicely is that Clojure is build on composable abstractions, in this case into
on top of conj
on top of collection and seq
.
The above examples would still compose well if the recipient was being passed in at run time: because the underlying abstractions (seq
and conj
) are implemented for all the collections (and many of Java's collections also), so the higher abstractions don't need to worry about lots of special data-related corner cases.
Solution 2 - Clojure
vec
, set
and generally into
are your friends to easily "convert" to another collection type.
How do you want to transform a vector of maps into a map of maps? You need a key, can you provide use with sample input/expected output?
Solution 3 - Clojure
For vectors there is the vec
function
user=> (vec '(1 2 3))
[1 2 3]
For lazy sequences there is the lazy-seq
function
user=> (lazy-seq [1 2 3])
(1 2 3)
For converting into sets, there is the set
function
user=> (set [{:a :b, :c :d} {:a :b} {:a :b}])
#{{:a :b} {:a :b, :c :d}}
Solution 4 - Clojure
One more answer for converting from a list to a map (for the sake of completeness) - from here:
(apply hash-map '(1 2 3 4))
;=>{1 2, 3 4}
Solution 5 - Clojure
To convert a vector to a list you can also use for
, like this:
=> (for [i [1 2 3 4]] i)
(1 2 3 4)
When you don't want to manipulate the data, just use seq
on the vector:
=> (seq [1 2 3])
(1 2 3)
Solution 6 - Clojure
There is no need to convert a vector to a list. Clojure will treat a vector as it would treat a list - as a sequence - when a sequence is required. For example,
user=> (cons 0 [1 2 3])
(0 1 2 3)
If you need to make sure that the vector is being treated as a sequence, wrap it in seq
:
user=> (conj [1 2 3] 0) ; treated as a vector
[1 2 3 0]
user=> (conj (seq [1 2 3]) 0) ; treated as a sequence
(0 1 2 3)
If you have a vector of maps, and you want a set of maps, it doesn't matter that the vector holds maps. You just convert the vector to a set as usual:
user=> (set [{:a 1, :b 2} {"three" 3, "four" 4}])
#{{:a 1, :b 2} {"four" 4, "three" 3}}