Python convert int list to bytes

Convert int to bytes in Python

In this tutorial, we will look at how to convert an int type object to a bytes type object in Python with the help of some examples.

How to convert int to bytes in Python?

You can use the int class method int.to_bytes() to convert an int object to an array of bytes representing that integer. The following is the syntax –

# int to bytes int.to_bytes(length, byteorder, signed)

It takes the following arguments –

• length – The number of bytes to use to represent the integer. If the integer is not representable with the given number of bytes, an OverflowError is raised.
• byteorder – Determines the byte order used to represent the integer. Use ‘big’ as the byte order to have the most significant byte at the beginning of the byte array. Use ‘little’ as the byte order to have the most significant byte at the end of the byte array.
• signed – Determines wheter to use two’s compliment to represent the integer. It is an optional parameter and is False by default. Helpful in converting signed integers to bytes.

Examples

Let’s look at some examples of using the int.to_bytes() function to convert an integer to bytes.

Using ‘big’ as the byteorder

Let’s convert the integer value 7 to a byte array of length 2 and with “big” as the byteorder.

# integer variable num = 7 # integer to bytes num_bytes = num.to_bytes(2, byteorder='big') # display result and type print(num_bytes) print(type(num_bytes))

We get the returned value as bytes with the most significant byte at the beginning.

Using ‘little’ as the byteorder

Let’s use the same example as above but with “little” as the byteorder

# integer variable num = 7 # integer to bytes num_bytes = num.to_bytes(2, byteorder='little') # display result and type print(num_bytes) print(type(num_bytes))

We get the most significant byte at the end of the byte array.

Negative Integers to bytes with signed=True

If you use the default signed=False on a negative integer, you will get an OverflowError .

# integer variable num = -7 # integer to bytes num_bytes = num.to_bytes(2, byteorder='big') # display result and type print(num_bytes) print(type(num_bytes))

--------------------------------------------------------------------------- OverflowError Traceback (most recent call last) Input In [11], in 2 num = -7 3 # integer to bytes ----> 4 num_bytes = num.to_bytes(2, byteorder='big') 5 # display result and type 6 print(num_bytes) OverflowError: can't convert negative int to unsigned

To convert negative integers to bytes with the int.to_bytes() function, pass signed=True . It will use two’s complement to represent the integer.

# integer variable num = -7 # integer to bytes num_bytes = num.to_bytes(2, byteorder='big', signed=True) # display result and type print(num_bytes) print(type(num_bytes))

We get the bytes for the negative integer.

For more on the int.to_bytes() function, refer to its documentation.

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Piyush is a data professional passionate about using data to understand things better and make informed decisions. He has experience working as a Data Scientist in the consulting domain and holds an engineering degree from IIT Roorkee. His hobbies include watching cricket, reading, and working on side projects. View all posts

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Convert List to Bytes & Vice Versa in Python (Examples)

Hi! This tutorial will show you how to turn a list to bytes object and vice-versa in the Python programming language.

First, though, here is an overview of this tutorial:

Let’s jump into the Python code!

Create Sample List

Here, we will create the sample list that will be transformed into a bytes object. So, in your Python IDE, run the line of code below:

Above, we created a list of integers: my_list, for demonstration.

Example 1: List to Bytes | Transform List to Bytes Using bytes() Function

In this first example, we will turn a list into a bytes object using the built-in bytes() function.

my_bytes = bytes(my_list) print(my_bytes) # b'\x00\x01\x02\x03\x04'

You can check out the class of the object by running the following.

See, now you got bytes instead of a list.

Example 2: List to Bytes | Transform List to Bytes Using bytearray() & extend() Functions

In this second example, we will use Python’s built-in bytearray() function and extend() function to convert the list into a bytes object.

my_bytearray = bytearray() my_bytearray.extend(my_list) my_bytes = bytes(my_bytearray) print(my_bytes) # b'\x00\x01\x02\x03\x04' print(type(my_bytes)) #

The bytearray() function can be modified in place, meaning its contents can be changed by appending new values to individual bytes. That is why in the code above, we, first of all, created an empty bytes array, then extended it with the list; after which we converted it to bytes with the bytes() function.

Next, we will demonstrate how to convert a bytes object back into a list.

Example 1: Bytes to List | Transform Bytes to List Using list() Function

In this first example, we will use Python’s list() function to convert the bytes object back into a list.

new_list = list(my_bytes) print(new_list) # [0, 1, 2, 3, 4] print(type(new_list)) #

As seen, it is again a list, which is called new_list this time.

Example 2: Bytes to List | Transform Bytes to List Using map() Function

In this second example, we will use the map() function to transform the bytes object into a list.

new_list = list(map(int,my_bytes)) print(new_list) # [0, 1, 2, 3, 4] print(type(new_list)) #

As shown, the map() function converts the items in the bytes object to integers. Then the list() function packs the items in a list.

Example 3: Bytes to List | Transform Bytes to List Using List Comprehension

In this third example, we will make use of list comprehension to turn the bytes object back into a list.

new_list = [x for x in my_bytes] print(new_list) # [0, 1, 2, 3, 4] print(type(new_list)) #

Thanks to the list comprehension method, the items in the bytes object were iterated inside a Python list construct to form a Python list from my_bytes.

With that, we have demonstrated how to turn a list into a bytes object and how to turn the bytes object back into a list in the Python programming language. I hope you found this tutorial helpful!

Video, Further Resources & Summary

Do you need more explanations on how to turn a list into a bytes object and vice-versa in Python? Then you should have a look at the following YouTube video of the Statistics Globe YouTube channel.

In the video, we explain in some more detail how to turn a list into a bytes object and vice-versa in Python.

The YouTube video will be added soon.

Furthermore, I encourage you to check out other interesting Python list tutorials on Statistics Globe, starting with these ones:

This post has shown how to turn a list into a bytes object and vice-versa in Python. In case you have further questions, you may leave a comment below.

This page was created in collaboration with Ifeanyi Idiaye. You might check out Ifeanyi’s personal author page to read more about his academic background and the other articles he has written for the Statistics Globe website.

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Python convert int list to bytes

Last updated: Jun 23, 2023
Reading time · 3 min

# Table of Contents

# How to convert Int to Bytes in Python

Use the int.to_bytes() method to convert an integer to bytes in Python.

The method returns an array of bytes representing an integer.

Copied! 
num = 2048 my_bytes = num.to_bytes(2, byteorder='big') print(my_bytes) # 👉️ b'\x08\x00' 

If your integer is not stored in a variable, make sure to wrap it in parentheses before calling to_bytes() .

Copied! 
my_bytes = (2048).to_bytes(2, byteorder='big') print(my_bytes) # 👉️ b'\x08\x00' 

The int.to_bytes method returns an array of bytes representing an integer.

The integer is represented using length bytes and defaults to 1 .

An OverflowError is raised if the integer cannot be represented using the given number of bytes.

Copied! 
my_bytes = (1024).to_bytes(2, byteorder='big') print(my_bytes) # 👉️ b'\x04\x00' my_bytes = (1024).to_bytes(10, byteorder='big') print(my_bytes) # 👉️ b'\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x04\x00' 

The second argument we passed to the to_bytes() method determines the byte order that is used to represent the integer.

The byteorder argument defaults to big .

If the byteorder argument is set to big , then the most significant byte is at the beginning of the byte array.

If you set the byteorder argument to little , the most significant byte is at the end of the byte array.

Copied! 
my_bytes = (1024).to_bytes(2, byteorder='little') print(my_bytes) # 👉️ b'\x00\x04' my_bytes = (1024).to_bytes(10, byteorder='little') print(my_bytes) # 👉️ b'\x00\x04\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00' 

# Creating a reusable function to convert an integer to bytes and vice versa

You can also create a reusable function that converts integers to bytes.

Copied! 
def int_to_bytes(integer): return integer.to_bytes((integer.bit_length() + 7) // 8, 'big') print(int_to_bytes(65)) # 👉️ b'A' print(int_to_bytes(1024)) # 👉️ b'\x04\x00' print(int_to_bytes(2048)) # 👉️ b'\x08\x00' 

The int_to_bytes function takes an integer as a parameter and converts it to a bytes object.

Conversely, if you need to convert a bytes object to an integer, use the int.from_bytes() method instead.

Copied! 
def int_from_bytes(bytes_obj): return int.from_bytes(bytes_obj, byteorder='big') print(int_from_bytes(b'A')) # 👉️ b'A' print(int_from_bytes(b'\x04\x00')) # 👉️ b'\x04\x00' print(int_from_bytes(b'\x08\x00')) # 👉️ b'\x08\x00' 

The int.from_bytes() method returns the integer represented by the given byte array.

The first argument the method takes must be a bytes-like object or an iterable that produces bytes.

The byteorder argument determines which byte order is used to represent the integer.

The default value is big which means that the most significant byte is at the beginning of the byte array.

If the byteorder argument is set to «little» , then the most significant byte is at the end of the byte array.

# Converting signed (negative) integers to bytes in Python

The examples above only work for unsigned (non-negative integers).

If you need to convert signed integers to bytes, use the following function instead.

Copied! 
def int_to_bytes(integer): return integer.to_bytes( length=(8 + (integer + (integer  0)).bit_length()) // 8, byteorder='big', signed=True ) print(int_to_bytes(-1024)) # 👉️ b'\xfc\x00' print(int_to_bytes(-2048)) # 👉️ b'\xf8\x00' 

Calculating the length argument when converting signed (negative) integers to bytes is a bit more complicated.

The signed argument determines whether two’s complement is used to represent the integer.

If signed is False and a negative integer is supplied, an OverflowError is raised.

By default, the signed argument is set to False .

The following function can be used if you need to convert signed bytes to integers.

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def int_from_bytes(binary_data): return int.from_bytes(binary_data, byteorder='big', signed=True) print(int_from_bytes(b'\xfc\x00')) # -1024 print(int_from_bytes(b'\xf8\x00')) # -2048 

The signed argument indicates whether two’s complement is used to represent the integer.

# Converting the Integer to a String and then Bytes

If you need to convert the integer to a string and then bytes, use the str.encode method.

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num = 2048 my_bytes = str(num).encode(encoding='utf-8') print(my_bytes) # 👉️ b'2048' 

We passed the integer to the str class to convert it to a string and then used the str.encode() method to convert the string to bytes.

The same can be achieved by using the bytes class.

Copied! 
num = 2048 my_bytes = bytes(str(num), encoding='utf-8') print(my_bytes) # 👉️ b'2048' 

If you need to convert the bytes object back to an integer, use the bytes.decode method and the int() class.

Copied! 
num = 2048 my_bytes = str(num).encode(encoding='utf-8') print(my_bytes) # 👉️ b'2048' my_int = int(my_bytes.decode(encoding='utf-8')) print(my_int) # 👉️ 2048 

The bytes.decode() method converts the bytes object to a string.

The last step is to use the int() class to convert the string to an integer.

# Additional Resources

You can learn more about the related topics by checking out the following tutorials:

I wrote a book in which I share everything I know about how to become a better, more efficient programmer.

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