Python bytearray() Function

Python’s built-in bytearray() method takes an iterable such as a list of integers between 0 and 256, converts them to bytes between 00000000 and 11111111, and returns a new array of bytes as a bytearray class.

Here’s a minimal example that creates a bytearray from three integers stored in a list:

>>> bytearray([1, 2, 3])
bytearray(b'\x01\x02\x03')

The prefix \x escape sequence means the next two characters are interpreted as hex character codes. For instance, the hex code \x01 is the same as chr(0x01)=16*0+1=1 that’s simply a start of heading SOH character. (source, ASCII table)

Syntax: bytearray([source[, encoding[, errors]]])

Here are some basic usages of the function:

Input : bytearray(4)
Output : bytearray(b'\x00\x00\x00\x00')

Input : bytearray([1, 2, 3])
Output : bytearray(b'\x01\x02\x03')

Input : bytearray('hi', 'UTF-8')
Output : bytearray(b'hi')

Want to learn more, we’re going to dive into more examples next!

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Create Bytearray From Single Integer Argument — Examples

The following code shows you how to use the bytearray() function on simple integer arguments.

# Single Integer Input Argument
print(bytearray())
print(bytearray(2))
print(bytearray(4))

'''
bytearray(b'')
bytearray(b'\x00\x00')
bytearray(b'\x00\x00\x00\x00')
'''

If you provide only one input argument, it uses this input argument to determine how many bytes should be created. It just uses bytes with value 0, in byte notation \x00 to fill the bytearray.

Create ByteArray From Iterable of Integers — Examples

You can also provide an iterable argument to obtain a new bytearray:

# Iterable Input Argument
print(bytearray([1, 1, 1]))
print(bytearray([14]))
print(bytearray({9, 8, 7}))

'''
bytearray(b'\x01\x01\x01')
bytearray(b'\x0e')
bytearray(b'\x08\t\x07')
'''

The iterable must consist of a number of integers between 0 and 256. If you fail to do so, Python will throw a ValueError:

How to Fix “ValueError: byte must be in range(0, 256)”

If you use the bytearray() function on an iterable that contains at least one integer greater than the maximum number representable by 8 bits, namely 256, or smaller than 0, Python will throw a ValueError: byte must be in range(0, 256). You can fix it by ensuring that each number in your iterable can actually be represented by 8 bits and falls into the interval 0 to 256.

Here’s an example of the ValueError where you use a number larger or equal than 256:

>>> bytearray([999])
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "<pyshell#6>", line 1, in <module>
    bytearray([999])
ValueError: byte must be in range(0, 256)

Another example when using a number smaller than 0:

>>> bytearray([-10])
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "<pyshell#8>", line 1, in <module>
    bytearray([-10])
ValueError: byte must be in range(0, 256)

Fix it by modifying the numbers to lie within the interval 0 to 256:

>>> bytearray([255])
bytearray(b'\xff')

Summary

Python’s built-in bytearray() function allows you to create a new bytearray an intialize it in four different ways (from simple to more complex):

👉 integer –> array has this size and is initialized with 0 bytes:

>>> bytearray(4)
bytearray(b'\x00\x00\x00\x00')

👉 iterable –> integers in the range 0 <= x < 256 are initial bytearray contents:

>>> bytearray([1, 2, 3])
bytearray(b'\x01\x02\x03')

👉 string and you provide the encoding (and optionally, errors) arguments –> bytearray() converts string to bytes using str.encode().

>>> bytearray('hi', 'UTF-8')
bytearray(b'hi')

👉 object implementing the buffer interface –> initializes the bytes array via a read-only object buffer.

🌍 Recommended Tutorial: Python Bytes vs ByteArray

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