How to remove a sublist which starts with particular element in python 3?

Question

How to remove a sublist which starts with particular element in python 3?

updated_code_result_2_2 =[["DR JOHN","HOSPITAL"],["TOTAL CHARGES","5OO"],["yes"]]

def remove_dr(updated_code_result_2_2):
    rem_list = []
    rem_ele_list = ['DR','TOTAL']
    for x in updated_code_result_2_2:
        for i in rem_ele_list:
            if not x[0].startswith(i):
                rem_list.append(x)
    print(rem_list)
    return rem_list

remove_dr(updated_code_result_2_2)

Expected Output: [["yes"]]

Answer 1

You are pretty close. You can use a tuple inside str.startswith

EX:

updated_code_result_2_2 =[["DR JOHN","HOSPITAL"],["TOTAL CHARGES","5OO"],["yes"]]
def remove_dr(updated_code_result_2_2):
    rem_list = []
    rem_ele_list = ('DR','TOTAL')
    for x in updated_code_result_2_2:            #Iterate each element
        if not x[0].startswith(rem_ele_list):    #Check if element startswith anything from rem_ele_list 
            rem_list.append(x)
    return rem_list

print(remove_dr(updated_code_result_2_2))

Answer 2

I just change your existing code, use temp variable and if condition, if condition to check where the start element is matched. Add break condition inside inner for-loop and set and temp variable is true.

updated_code_result_2_2 =[["DR JOHN","HOSPITAL"],["TOTAL CHARGES","5OO"],["yes"]]

def remove_dr(updated_code_result_2_2):
    rem_list = []
    rem_ele_list = ['DR','TOTAL']

    for x in updated_code_result_2_2:
        temp = False
        for i in rem_ele_list:
            if x[0].startswith(i):
                temp  = True
                break

        if temp is False:
            rem_list.append(x)

    print(rem_list)
    return rem_list

remove_dr(updated_code_result_2_2)

O/P:

[['yes']]

Answer 3

I'll offer a few optimizations to the existing solutions. First, I'll point out that @bharatk's answer can be cleaned up by making use of the Python for loop's else clause:

updated_code_result_2_2 =[["DR JOHN","HOSPITAL"],["TOTAL CHARGES","5OO"],["yes"]]

def remove_dr(updated_code_result_2_2):
    rem_list = []
    rem_ele_list = ['DR','TOTAL']

    for x in updated_code_result_2_2:
        for i in rem_ele_list:
            if x[0].startswith(i):
                break
        else:
            rem_list.append(x)

    print(rem_list)
    return rem_list

remove_dr(updated_code_result_2_2)

Second, I'll point out that @Rakesh's solution can be done in a single line using a list comprehension:

updated_code_result_2_2 =[["DR JOHN","HOSPITAL"],["TOTAL CHARGES","5OO"],["yes"]]

def remove_dr(updated_code_result_2_2):
    rem_list = [x for x in updated_code_result_2_2 if not x[0].startswith(('DR', 'TOTAL'))]
    print(rem_list)
    return rem_list

remove_dr(updated_code_result_2_2)

Both of these also result in:

[['yes']]