backpack 0.1

Useful utilities for Python.

Backpack
########

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:alt: Backpack Build status
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Useful utilities for Python.

Supports Python **2.7+** and **3.2+**.


Collection
==========

The ``Collection`` class provides a fluent, convenient wrapper for working with list of data.

To instantiatte a ``Collection`` you can also use the ``collection()`` helper.


Available Methods
*****************

For the remainder of this documentation, we'll discuss each method available on the ``Collection`` class.
Remember, all of these methods may be chained for fluently manipulating the underlying list or dict.
Furthermore, almost every method returns a new ``Collection`` instance,
allowing you to preserve the original copy of the collection when necessary.

You may select any method from this table to see an example of its usage:

* all_
* avg_
* chunk_
* collapse_
* contains_
* count_
* diff_
* each_
* every_
* filter_
* first_
* flatten_
* forget_
* for_page_
* get_
* implode_
* is_empty_
* last_
* map_
* merge_
* pluck_
* pop_
* prepend_
* pull_
* push_
* put_
* reduce_
* reject_
* reverse_
* serialize_
* shift_
* sort_
* sum_
* take_
* to_json_
* transform_
* unique_
* where_
* zip_


Methods Listing
***************

.. _all:

``all()``
---------

The ``all`` method simply returns the underlying list represented by the collection:

.. code-block:: python

Collection([1, 2, 3]).all()

# [1, 2, 3]


.. _avg:

``avg()``
---------

The ``avg`` method returns the average of all items in the collection:

.. code-block:: python

Collection([1, 2, 3, 4, 5]).avg()

# 3

If the collection contains nested objects or dictionaries, you must pass a key to use for determining
which values to calculate the average:

.. code-block:: python

collection = Collection([
{'name': 'JavaScript: The Good Parts', 'pages': 176},
{'name': 'JavaScript: The Defnitive Guide', 'pages': 1096}
])

collection.avg('pages')

# 636


.. _chunk:

``chunk()``
-----------

The ``chunk`` method breaks the collection into multiple, smaller collections of a given size:

.. code-block:: python

collection = Collection([1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7])

chunks = collection.chunk(4)

chunks.serialize()

# [[1, 2, 3, 4], [5, 6, 7]]


.. _collapse:

``collapse()``
--------------

The ``collapse`` method collapses a collection of lists into a flat collection:

.. code-block:: python

collection = Collection([[1, 2, 3], [4, 5, 6], [7, 8, 9]])

collapsed = collection.collapse()

collapsed.all()

# [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9]


.. _contains:

``contains()``
--------------

The ``contains`` method determines whether the collection contains a given item:

.. code-block:: python

collection = Collection(['foo', 'bar'])

collection.contains('foo')

# True

You can also use the ``in`` keyword:

.. code-block:: python

'foo' in collection

# True

You can also pass a key / value pair to the ``contains`` method,
which will determine if the given pair exists in the collection:

.. code-block:: python

collection = Collection([
{'name': 'John', 'id': 1},
{'name': 'Jane', 'id': 2}
])

collection.contains('name', 'Simon')

# False

Finally, you may also pass a callback to the ``contains`` method to perform your own truth test:


.. code-block:: python

collection = Collection([1, 2, 3, 4, 5])

collection.contains(lambda item: item > 5)

# False


.. _count:

``count()``
-----------

The ``count`` method returns the total number of items in the collection:

.. code-block:: python

collection = Collection([1, 2, 3, 4])

collection.count()

# 4

The ``len`` function can also be used:

.. code-block:: python

len(collection)

# 4


.. _diff:

``diff()``
----------

The ``diff`` method compares the collection against another collection, a ``list`` or a ``dict``:

.. code-block:: python

collection = Collection([1, 2, 3, 4, 5])

diff = collection.diff([2, 4, 6, 8])

diff.all()

# [1, 3, 5]


.. _each:

``each()``
----------

The ``each`` method iterates over the items in the collection and passes each item to a given callback:

.. code-block:: python

posts.each(lambda post: post.author().save(author))

Return ``False`` from your callback to break out of the loop:

.. code-block:: python

posts.each(lambda post: post.author().save(author) if author.name == 'John' else False)


.. _every:

``every()``
-----------

The ``every`` method creates a new collection consisting of every n-th element:

.. code-block:: python

collection = Collection(['a', 'b', 'c', 'd', 'e', 'f'])

collection.every(4).all()

# ['a', 'e']

You can optionally pass the offset as the second argument:


.. code-block:: python

collection.every(4, 1).all()

# ['b', 'f']


.. _filter:

``filter()``
------------

The ``filter`` method filters the collection by a given callback,
keeping only those items that pass a given truth test:

.. code-block:: python

collection = Collection([1, 2, 3, 4])

filtered = collection.filter(lambda item: item > 2)

filtered.all()

# [3, 4]


.. _first:

``first()``
-----------

The ``first`` method returns the first element in the collection
that passes a given truth test:

.. code-block:: python

collection = Collection([1, 2, 3, 4])

collection.first(lambda item: item > 2)

# 3

You can also call the ``first`` method with no arguments
to get the first element in the collection.
If the collection is empty, ``None`` is returned:

.. code-block:: python

collection.first()

# 1


.. _flatten:

``flatten()``
-------------

The ``flatten`` method flattens a multi-dimensional collection into a single dimension:

.. code-block:: python

collection = Collection([1, 2, [3, 4, 5, {'foo': 'bar'}]])

flattened = collection.flatten()

flattened.all()

# [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 'bar']


.. _forget:

``forget()``
------------

The ``forget`` method removes an item from the collection by its key:

.. code-block:: python

collection = Collection([1, 2, 3, 4, 5])

collection.forget(1)

collection.all()

# [1, 3, 4, 5]

.. warning::

Unlike most other collection methods, ``forget`` does not return a new modified collection;
it modifies the collection it is called on.


.. _for_page:

``for_page()``
--------------

The ``for_page`` method returns a new collection containing
the items that would be present on a given page number:

.. code-block:: python

collection = Collection([1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9])

chunk = collection.for_page(2, 3)

chunk.all()

# 4, 5, 6

The method requires the page number and the number of items to show per page, respectively.


.. _get:

``get()``
---------

The ``get`` method returns the item at a given key. If the key does not exist, ``None`` is returned:

.. code-block:: python

collection = Collection([1, 2, 3])

collection.get(3)

# None

You can optionally pass a default value as the second argument:

.. code-block:: python

collection = Collection([1, 2, 3])

collection.get(3, 'default-value')

# default-value


.. _implode:

``implode()``
-------------

The ``implode`` method joins the items in a collection.
Its arguments depend on the type of items in the collection.

If the collection contains dictionaries or objects,
you must pass the key of the attributes you wish to join,
and the "glue" string you wish to place between the values:

.. code-block:: python

collection = Collection([
{'account_id': 1, 'product': 'Desk'},
{'account_id': 2, 'product': 'Chair'}
])

collection.implode('product', ', ')

# Desk, Chair

If the collection contains simple strings,
simply pass the "glue" as the only argument to the method:

.. code-block:: python

collection = Collection(['foo', 'bar', 'baz'])

collection.implode('-')

# foo-bar-baz


.. _is_empty:

``is_empty()``
--------------

The ``is_empty`` method returns ``True`` if the collection is empty; otherwise, ``False`` is returned:

.. code-block:: python

Collection([]).is_empty()

# True


.. _last:

``last()``
----------

The ``last`` method returns the last element in the collection that passes a given truth test:

.. code-block:: python

collection = Collection([1, 2, 3, 4])

last = collection.last(lambda item: item < 3)

# 2

You can also call the ``last`` method with no arguments to get the last element in the collection.
If the collection is empty, ``None`` is returned:

.. code-block:: python

collection.last()

# 4


.. _map:

``map()``
---------

The ``map`` method iterates through the collection and passes each value to the given callback.
The callback is free to modify the item and return it, thus forming a new collection of modified items:

.. code-block:: python

collection = Collection([1, 2, 3, 4])

multiplied = collection.map(lambda item: item * 2)

multiplied.all()

# [2, 4, 6, 8]

.. warning::

Like most other collection methods, ``map`` returns a new ``Collection`` instance;
it does not modify the collection it is called on.
If you want to transform the original collection, use the transform_ method.


.. _merge:

``merge()``
-----------

The merge method merges the given list into the collection:

.. code-block:: python

collection = Collection(['Desk', 'Chair'])

collection.merge(['Bookcase', 'Door'])

collection.all()

# ['Desk', 'Chair', 'Bookcase', 'Door']

.. warning::

Unlike most other collection methods, ``merge`` does not return a new modified collection;
it modifies the collection it is called on.


.. _pluck:

``pluck()``
-----------

The ``pluck`` method retrieves all of the collection values for a given key:

.. code-block:: python

collection = Collection([
{'product_id': 1, 'product': 'Desk'},
{'product_id': 2, 'product': 'Chair'}
])

plucked = collection.pluck('product')

plucked.all()

# ['Desk', 'Chair']

You can also specify how you wish the resulting collection to be keyed:

.. code-block:: python

plucked = collection.pluck('name', 'product_id')

plucked

# {1: 'Desk', 2: 'Chair'}


.. _pop:

``pop()``
---------

The ``pop`` method removes and returns the last item from the collection:

.. code-block:: python

collection = Collection([1, 2, 3, 4, 5])

collection.pop()

# 5

collection.all()

# [1, 2, 3, 4]


.. _prepend:

``prepend()``
-------------

The ``prepend`` method adds an item to the beginning of the collection:

.. code-block:: python

collection = Collection([1, 2, 3, 4])

collection.prepend(0)

collection.all()

# [0, 1, 2, 3, 4]


.. _pull:

``pull()``
----------

The ``pull`` method removes and returns an item from the collection by its key:

.. code-block:: python

collection = Collection([1, 2, 3, 4])

collection.pull(1)

collection.all()

# [1, 3, 4]


.. _push:

``push()``/``append()``
-----------------------

The ``push`` (or ``append``) method appends an item to the end of the collection:

.. code-block:: python

collection = Collection([1, 2, 3, 4])

collection.push(5)

collection.all()

# [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]


.. _put:

``put()``
---------

The ``put`` method sets the given key and value in the collection:

.. code-block:: python

collection = Collection([1, 2, 3, 4])

collection.put(1, 5)

collection.all()

# [1, 5, 3, 4]

.. note::

It is equivalent to:

.. code-block:: python

collection[1] = 5


.. _reduce:

``reduce()``
------------

The ``reduce`` method reduces the collection to a single value,
passing the result of each iteration into the subsequent iteration:

.. code-block:: python

collection = Collection([1, 2, 3])

collection.reduce(lambda result, item: (result or 0) + item)

# 6

The value for ``result`` on the first iteration is ``None``;
however, you can specify its initial value by passing a second argument to reduce:

.. code-block:: python

collection.reduce(lambda result, item: result + item, 4)

# 10


.. _reject:

``reject()``
------------

The ``reject`` method filters the collection using the given callback.
The callback should return ``True`` for any items it wishes to remove from the resulting collection:

.. code-block:: python

collection = Collection([1, 2, 3, 4])

filtered = collection.reject(lambda item: item > 2)

filtered.all()

# [1, 2]

For the inverse of ``reject``, see the filter_ method.


.. _reverse:

``reverse()``
-------------

The ``reverse`` method reverses the order of the collection's items:

.. code-block:: python

collection = Collection([1, 2, 3, 4, 5])

reverse = collection.reverse()

reverse.all()

# [5, 4, 3, 2, 1]


.. _serialize:

``serialize()``
---------------

The ``serialize`` method converts the collection into a ``list``.
If the collection's values are :ref:`ORM` models, the models will also be converted to dictionaries:

.. code-block:: python

collection = Collection([User.find(1)])

collection.serialize()

# [{'id': 1, 'name': 'John'}]

.. warning::

``serialize`` also converts all of its nested objects.
If you want to get the underlying items as is, use the all_ method instead.


.. _shift:

``shift()``
-----------

The ``shift`` method removes and returns the first item from the collection:

.. code-block:: python

collection = Collection([1, 2, 3, 4, 5])

collection.shift()

# 1

collection.all()

# [2, 3, 4, 5]


.. _sort:

``sort()``
----------

The ``sort`` method sorts the collection:

.. code-block:: python

collection = Collection([5, 3, 1, 2, 4])

sorted = collection.sort()

sorted.all()

# [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]


.. _sum:

``sum()``
---------

The ``sum`` method returns the sum of all items in the collection:

.. code-block:: python

Collection([1, 2, 3, 4, 5]).sum()

# 15

If the collection contains dictionaries or objects, you must pass a key to use for determining which values to sum:

.. code-block:: python

collection = Collection([
{'name': 'JavaScript: The Good Parts', 'pages': 176},
{'name': 'JavaScript: The Defnitive Guide', 'pages': 1096}
])

collection.sum('pages')

# 1272

In addition, you can pass your own callback to determine which values of the collection to sum:

.. code-block:: python

collection = Collection([
{'name': 'Chair', 'colors': ['Black']},
{'name': 'Desk', 'colors': ['Black', 'Mahogany']},
{'name': 'Bookcase', 'colors': ['Red', 'Beige', 'Brown']}
])

collection.sum(lambda product: len(product['colors']))

# 6


.. _take:

``take()``
----------

The ``take`` method returns a new collection with the specified number of items:

.. code-block:: python

collection = Collection([0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5])

chunk = collection.take(3)

chunk.all()

# [0, 1, 2]

You can also pass a negative integer to take the specified amount of items from the end of the collection:

.. code-block:: python

chunk = collection.chunk(-2)

chunk.all()

# [4, 5]


.. _to_json:

``to_json()``
-------------

The ``to_json`` method converts the collection into JSON:

.. code-block:: python

collection = Collection([{'name': 'Desk', 'price': 200}])

collection.to_json()

# '[{"name": "Desk", "price": 200}]'


.. _transform:

``transform()``
---------------

The ``transform`` method iterates over the collection and calls the given callback
with each item in the collection.
The items in the collection will be replaced by the values returned by the callback:

.. code-block:: python

collection = Collection([1, 2, 3, 4, 5])

collection.transform(lambda item: item * 2)

collection.all()

# [2, 4, 6, 8, 10]

.. warning::

Unlike most other collection methods, ``transform`` modifies the collection itself.
If you wish to create a new collection instead, use the map_ method.


.. _unique:

``unique()``
------------

The ``unique`` method returns all of the unique items in the collection:

.. code-block:: python

collection = Collection([1, 1, 2, 2, 3, 4, 2])

unique = collection.unique()

unique.all()

# [1, 2, 3, 4]

When dealing with dictionaries or objects, you can specify the key used to determine uniqueness:

.. code-block:: python

collection = Collection([
{'name': 'iPhone 6', 'brand': 'Apple', 'type': 'phone'},
{'name': 'iPhone 5', 'brand': 'Apple', 'type': 'phone'},
{'name': 'Apple Watch', 'brand': 'Apple', 'type': 'watch'},
{'name': 'Galaxy S6', 'brand': 'Samsung', 'type': 'phone'},
{'name': 'Galaxy Gear', 'brand': 'Samsung', 'type': 'watch'}
])

unique = collection.unique('brand')

unique.all()

# [
# {'name': 'iPhone 6', 'brand': 'Apple', 'type': 'phone'},
# {'name': 'Galaxy S6', 'brand': 'Samsung', 'type': 'phone'}
# ]

You can also pass your own callback to determine item uniqueness:

.. code-block:: python

unique = collection.unique(lambda item: item['brand'] + item['type'])

unique.all()

# [
# {'name': 'iPhone 6', 'brand': 'Apple', 'type': 'phone'},
# {'name': 'Apple Watch', 'brand': 'Apple', 'type': 'watch'},
# {'name': 'Galaxy S6', 'brand': 'Samsung', 'type': 'phone'},
# {'name': 'Galaxy Gear', 'brand': 'Samsung', 'type': 'watch'}
# ]


.. _where:

``where()``
-----------

The ``where`` method filters the collection by a given key / value pair:

.. code-block:: python

collection = Collection([
{'name': 'Desk', 'price': 200},
{'name': 'Chair', 'price': 100},
{'name': 'Bookcase', 'price': 150},
{'name': 'Door', 'price': 100},
])

filtered = collection.where('price', 100)

filtered.all()

# [
# {'name': 'Chair', 'price': 100},
# {'name': 'Door', 'price': 100}
# ]


.. _zip:

``zip()``
---------

The ``zip`` method merges together the values of the given list
with the values of the collection at the corresponding index:

.. code-block:: python

collection = Collection(['Chair', 'Desk'])

zipped = collection.zip([100, 200])

zipped.all()

# [('Chair', 100), ('Desk', 200)]