[Python-Dev] Re: PEP 279

[Just van Rossum]

Raymond Hettinger wrote:

> I like itercount() or enumerate().  The reason is that this
> function can work with any iterable including those that
> do not have numeric indices (such as dictionaries).
> Counting or enumeration is what is really happening.

But the *reason* for this proposal is to turn this idiom:

  for i in range(len(seq)):
      element = seq[i]
      ...

into this:

  for i, element in enumerate(seq):
      ...

It's hardly useful for types that don't have numeric indices, so the fact that
it _does_ work with any iterator seems almost an implementation detail.

I quite like the name enumerate. Hate itercount. I'm neutral on indexed.

Just