Python One-Liners That Will Make You Look Like a Pro
Python is loved for its simplicity and expressiveness—and nothing shows that off better than clever one-liners. Whether you’re automating a task, analyzing data, or building scripts, these short snippets can make your code cleaner and more efficient.
In this post, you’ll learn powerful Python one-liners that not only save time but also help you think like a seasoned developer.
1. Swap Two Variables Without a Temp
python
Copy code
a, b = b, a
✅ Clean and Pythonic
❌ No need for a third variable
2. List Comprehension to Filter Even Numbers
python
Copy code
evens = [x for x in range(20) if x % 2 == 0]
✅ Combines loop and condition in one line
3. Flatten a Nested List
python
Copy code
flat = [item for sublist in nested_list for item in sublist]
Works for lists like [[1, 2], [3, 4], [5]]
4. Count Occurrences in a List
python
Copy code
from collections import Counter
counts = Counter(my_list)
Creates a dictionary-like object with element counts.
5. Read a File Line-by-Line
python
Copy code
lines = [line.strip() for line in open(“file.txt”)]
Removes whitespace while reading all lines.
6. Check if a String Is a Palindrome
python
Copy code
is_palindrome = s == s[::-1]
Simple and elegant!
7. Find the Most Frequent Element in a List
python
Copy code
most_common = max(set(data), key=data.count)
One line, no libraries needed.
8. One-Line If-Else (Ternary)
python
Copy code
status = “Pass” if score >= 50 else “Fail”
Great for assigning values based on a condition.
9. Reverse Words in a Sentence
python
Copy code
reversed_words = ” “.join(sentence.split()[::-1])
Perfect for quick text manipulation.
10. Merge Two Dictionaries
python
Copy code
merged = {**dict1, **dict2}
Combines both dictionaries into one (Python 3.5+).
Why Use Python One-Liners?
- Write less, do more
- Reduce unnecessary boilerplate
- Great for automation, scripts, and interviews
- Improves your problem-solving skills
Practice Challenge
Try writing a one-liner to remove duplicates from a list while preserving order.
Bonus: Turn that into a function you can reuse.
Learn, Practice, Impress
Mastering Python one-liners is more than just showing off—it’s about writing efficient, readable code that makes you a better developer.
💡 Want to learn advanced Python tricks with real projects and mentorship?
Check out our beginner-to-pro courses at
👉 https://www.thefullstack.co.in/courses/
You might be like this:-
What is AWS Lambda?A Beginner’s Guide to Serverless Computing in 2025
Java vs. Kotlin: Which One Should You Learn for Backend Development?
Leave a Reply