[Tutor] Python type confusion?

[Danny Yoo]

> As C Smith notes, raw_input() returns a string.  As the name suggests,
> it treats its input as raw text, and does not try to interpret it as
> data.

Whoops!   I slightly misspoke here: I mean to say that it does not try
to interpret it as *structured* data.

That is, we want things that look like numbers to be treated as
numbers.  Likewise, we'd like a string that looks like a list of
numbers to be treated as a list of numbers.  That's the role of a
parser, and why we need to do something, such as using the
json.loads() function.

Others on the list might suggest instead using input() instead of
raw_input(), which will try to interpret what you enter in as if it
were a Python expression.  Effectively, this will also parse the text
into structured values.  However, although this is a straightforward
way to make your program work, I don't think it's a good approach
because input() has a hidden use of the infamous "eval()" function
embedded in it.  Certain inputs to input() can cause your program to
do weird things due to its use of eval(), so I think it's best to
avoid it.

Dunno if you're familiar with all the problems with eval(); if you are
interested, ask, and I'm sure there will be a lot of response from the
list.

Best of wishes to you!