What is the maximum size of list in Python?

In Python, a list is a dynamic array that can be expanded in size as needed. The maximum size of a list is limited by the system's memory and the platform's architecture. In this article, we will explore how to determine the maximum size of a list in Python.

Understanding Python List Limits

The size of a list in Python is not restricted by any fixed value set in the language itself but also it depends on below factors -

• Available system memory (RAM)
• System architecture, i.e., 32-bit or 64-bit
• The value of sys.maxsize

Maximum Size of List using sys.maxsize

The sys.maxsize attribute returns the largest possible index for containers. This value typically indicates the practical maximum size of a list in Python.

Example

Here is an example which shows how to get the maximum size of a list in Python using the sys.maxsize attribute -

import sys

print("Maximum theoretical list size:", sys.maxsize)

Following is the output of the above example ?

Maximum theoretical list size: 9223372036854775807