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De-duplicate arrays in Python, Perl and Ruby

Duplicate

Today some short codes for the essential task that is de-duplication! 😄

Python

Starting with python, we use the properties of data containers. Here using an intermediate dictionary:

array = [1, 2, 1, 2, 1, 2]
array = list(dict.fromkeys(array))
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Or similar approach using a set:

array = [1, 2, 1, 2, 1, 2]
array = list(set(array))
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Perl

The elegant uniq method:

my @dups = (1, 2, 1, 2, 1, 2);
@nodup = uniq @dups;
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You have to install and use List::MoreUtils which is a VERY famous Perl CPAN module.

But if you want to do not use a module, here is my "go-to" (no-module) trick:

my @dups = (1, 2, 1, 2, 1, 2);
my @nodup = do { my %seen; grep { !$seen{$_}++ } @dups };
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The idea behind is like the first Python (intermediate hash).

Ruby

Ruby takes adventage of the "almost everything in ruby is an object" so it's simple with the uniq method:

array = [1, 2, 1, 2, 1, 2]
nodup = array.uniq
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It's your turn

Please comment yours 😄 in Python, Perl, Ruby or any other language!

Top comments (5)

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jgpuckering profile image
Gary Puckering • Edited

As of perl 5.20 you can use a hash slice:

my @dups=(1,2,1,2,1,2);
my @nodups = do { my %h; @h{ @dups } = (1) x @dups; keys %h };

Add a sort before keys if you need them ordered.

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yukikimoto profile image
Yuki Kimoto - SPVM Author

I use hash way in Perl because this is O(1) instead of O(n)

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matthewpersico profile image
Matthew O. Persico

How is this O(1)? You are going to go through every element in @dups at least once.

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yukikimoto profile image
Yuki Kimoto - SPVM Author

Sorry. I misunderstood.

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grinnz profile image
Dan Book

uniq is now available from List::Util 1.45 or newer, which came with Perl 5.26 or can be updated from CPAN.