Check If Value Exists in Python List of Objects
Last Updated :
23 Jul, 2025
When working with Python, we might need to check whether a specific value exists in a list of objects. This problem often arises when dealing with data stored as objects and we want to verify the presence of a specific property value.
Using any() Function with List Comprehension
any() function is an efficient way to check if a value exists in a list of objects. It stops searching as soon as it finds the first match.
Python
# Define a class to represent objects
class Item:
def __init__(self, name, price):
self.name = name
self.price = price
# Create a list of objects
items = [
Item("Laptop", 1000),
Item("Phone", 700),
Item("Tablet", 400)
]
# Check if any object has a name 'Phone'
value_to_check = "Phone"
exists = any(item.name == value_to_check for item in items)
print("Value exists:", exists)
Explanation:
- any() function iterates through the list and evaluates the condition item.name == value_to_check.
- The iteration stops as soon as a match is found, making it efficient.
- This method is concise and widely used.
Let's explore some more methods and see how we can check if value exists in Python list of objects.
Using for Loop
A for loop offers simplicity and allows customization for additional logic.
Python
# Define a class to represent objects
class Item:
def __init__(self, name, price):
self.name = name
self.price = price
# Create a list of objects
items = [
Item("Laptop", 1000),
Item("Phone", 700),
Item("Tablet", 400)
]
# Check if any object has a name 'Phone'
value_to_check = "Phone"
exists = False
for item in items:
if item.name == value_to_check:
exists = True
break
print("Value exists:", exists)
Explanation:
- This method explicitly iterates through each object in the list.
- The loop breaks immediately after finding the required value, improving efficiency.
- It is easy to understand and modify.
Using filter()
The filter() function can identify matching objects in the list.
Python
# Define a class to represent objects
class Item:
def __init__(self, name, price):
self.name = name
self.price = price
# Create a list of objects
items = [
Item("Laptop", 1000),
Item("Phone", 700),
Item("Tablet", 400)
]
# Check if any object has a name 'Phone'
value_to_check = "Phone"
exists = bool(list(filter(lambda item: item.name == value_to_check, items)))
print("Value exists:", exists)
Explanation:
- The
filter() function filters the list based on the condition item.name == value_to_check. - The result is converted to a list and checked for non-emptiness using
bool(). - While useful, this method is less efficient as it processes the entire list.
Using List Comprehension
List comprehension can be used to build a list of matching objects and check if it’s non-empty.
Python
# Define a class to represent objects
class Item:
def __init__(self, name, price):
self.name = name
self.price = price
# Create a list of objects
items = [
Item("Laptop", 1000),
Item("Phone", 700),
Item("Tablet", 400)
]
# Check if any object has a name 'Phone'
value_to_check = "Phone"
exists = len([item for item in items if item.name == value_to_check]) > 0
print("Value exists:", exists)
Explanation:
- A list comprehension filters objects matching the condition.
- The length of the resulting list determines if a match exists.
- This method is less efficient as it creates a list of all matches.
Using next()
The next() function can retrieve the first matching object and indicate if a match exists.
Python
# Define a class to represent objects
class Item:
def __init__(self, name, price):
self.name = name
self.price = price
# Create a list of objects
items = [
Item("Laptop", 1000),
Item("Phone", 700),
Item("Tablet", 400)
]
# Check if any object has a name 'Phone'
value_to_check = "Phone"
exists = next((True for item in items if item.name == value_to_check), False)
print("Value exists:", exists)
Explanation:
- The generator expression inside next() checks each object for a match.
- If no match is found, the default value False is returned.
- This method is efficient as it stops after finding the first match.
