Matrix Transpose in Python

Solution 1:

Python 2:

>>> theArray = [['a','b','c'],['d','e','f'],['g','h','i']]
>>> zip(*theArray)
[('a', 'd', 'g'), ('b', 'e', 'h'), ('c', 'f', 'i')]

Python 3:

>>> [*zip(*theArray)]
[('a', 'd', 'g'), ('b', 'e', 'h'), ('c', 'f', 'i')]

Solution 2:

>>> theArray = [['a','b','c'],['d','e','f'],['g','h','i']]
>>> [list(i) for i in zip(*theArray)]
[['a', 'd', 'g'], ['b', 'e', 'h'], ['c', 'f', 'i']]

the list generator creates a new 2d array with list items instead of tuples.

Solution 3:

If your rows are not equal you can also use map:

>>> uneven = [['a','b','c'],['d','e'],['g','h','i']]
>>> map(None,*uneven)
[('a', 'd', 'g'), ('b', 'e', 'h'), ('c', None, 'i')]

Edit: In Python 3 the functionality of map changed, itertools.zip_longest can be used instead:
Source: What’s New In Python 3.0

>>> import itertools
>>> uneven = [['a','b','c'],['d','e'],['g','h','i']]
>>> list(itertools.zip_longest(*uneven))
[('a', 'd', 'g'), ('b', 'e', 'h'), ('c', None, 'i')]

Solution 4:

Much easier with numpy:

>>> arr = np.array([[1,2,3],[4,5,6],[7,8,9]])
>>> arr
array([[1, 2, 3],
       [4, 5, 6],
       [7, 8, 9]])
>>> arr.T
array([[1, 4, 7],
       [2, 5, 8],
       [3, 6, 9]])
>>> theArray = np.array([['a','b','c'],['d','e','f'],['g','h','i']])
>>> theArray 
array([['a', 'b', 'c'],
       ['d', 'e', 'f'],
       ['g', 'h', 'i']], 
      dtype='|S1')
>>> theArray.T
array([['a', 'd', 'g'],
       ['b', 'e', 'h'],
       ['c', 'f', 'i']], 
      dtype='|S1')