list0

List0 is a conventional label used in computer science and programming to denote the first list in a collection of lists. It is not a standard data type or library construct, but a naming convention applied in examples, explanations, and code that manipulates multiple lists. The term assumes zero-based organization, so list0 typically corresponds to the first sublist in a two-dimensional list or a list of lists.

In practice, list0 can refer to a variable literally named "list0" or to the element at index 0 of an array of lists. For example, in Python: lists = [[1,2,3], [4,5], [6]]; list0 = lists[0]. In other languages or in pseudocode, list0 may be used to denote the first list in a sequence of lists, regardless of the underlying type.

Its use is common in algorithmic descriptions where several lists are processed in parallel or sequentially, such as merging k sorted lists, partitioning data, or iterating over a matrix treated as a list of rows. The exact meaning of list0 depends on context, including language syntax and naming conventions.

Naming practice varies: some authors prefer descriptive labels such as firstList or primaryList to avoid confusion, especially for readers new to indexing, while others retain concise names like list0 for brevity in demonstrations.

See also: list, lists, sublist, multi-dimensional array, zero-based indexing.