python - How do I choose the correct list depending on an argument value? -

i have class contains several lists, i.e.:

class my_class(object):     def __init__(self, list_a, list_b, ..., list_z):         self.list_a = list_a         (...)         self.list_z = list_z 

then need method append element 1 of lists. did switch case c:

def add_to_list(self, list_name, item):     if list_name == 'a':         self.list_a.append(item)     elif list_name == 'b':         self.list_b.append(item)     (...) , on 

its uneffective, , needs lot of work if want change something. there way make shorter? imagine analogous string.format():

self.list_{}.append(item) .format(list_name) 

don't build programs logic around variable names. please specify criteria 1 item has fullfill in order sorted particular list. if simple alphabetical order, express within code.

example:

class my_class():     def __init__(self):         self.list_a = []         self.list_b = []         self.dict = { "a":self.list_a, "b":self.list_b }      def add_to_list(self, key):         # logic in here         self.dict.get(key[:1]).append(key)  if __name__ == "__main__":     c = my_class()     c.add_to_list("apple")     c.add_to_list("bus")     c.add_to_list("airplane")     print(c.dict["a"])     print(c.dict["b"])