# Getting elements from a list within a list
**URL:** https://community.thunkable.com/t/getting-elements-from-a-list-within-a-list/2868548
**Category:** Questions about Thunkable X
**Tags:** beginner
**Created:** [March 2, 2024, 12:20am UTC](https://community.thunkable.com/t/getting-elements-from-a-list-within-a-list/2868548 "2024-03-02T00:20:38Z")
**Posts on this page:** 7
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@thorntonp72l3](https://community.thunkable.com/u/thorntonp72l3)
#### Post date: [March 2, 2024, 12:20am UTC](https://community.thunkable.com/t/getting-elements-from-a-list-within-a-list/2868548/1 "2024-03-02T00:20:38Z")
Hi,
I have been trying for a little while to extract the elements of a list within a list and populate 4 different text boxes. Now I can do this with no problems using 4 separate lists and going through each one by using the same index number, but I am wondering if there is a better way to do this?
As you can see from this image, I can get it to work, but I think the bottom list structure is easier to maintain, but I cannot figure out how to extract the elements from the second list.
Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Thank you,
Paul
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### Author:  [@tatiang](https://community.thunkable.com/u/tatiang)
#### Post date: [March 2, 2024, 12:36am UTC](https://community.thunkable.com/t/getting-elements-from-a-list-within-a-list/2868548/2 "2024-03-02T00:36:16Z")
Is there a reason you’re wanting to use a list of lists when you should be using a data source instead?
If you decide to stick with lists – which are a pain to use in the way you’re choosing to use them – then you would replace the `app variable solution_questions_val0` block with another `in list` block that gets #1 of `app variable solution_questions_combined` (and do that for each label’s text).
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### Author:  [@thorntonp72l3](https://community.thunkable.com/u/thorntonp72l3)
#### Post date: [March 2, 2024, 12:38am UTC](https://community.thunkable.com/t/getting-elements-from-a-list-within-a-list/2868548/3 "2024-03-02T00:38:20Z")
Hi Tatiang,
A couple of reasons.
1. I am trying to avoid as much internet connection as possible to reduce lag in the app
2. I don’t have that many questions.
Do you think a datasource would be better, as I have not looked at that as an option. Would it make the above task easier you think?
Thank you,
Paul
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### Author:  [@tatiang](https://community.thunkable.com/u/tatiang)
#### Post date: [March 2, 2024, 12:41am UTC](https://community.thunkable.com/t/getting-elements-from-a-list-within-a-list/2868548/4 "2024-03-02T00:41:33Z")
A local data source would make the process 100x easier. I can’t imagine trying to do that with lists. A local data source doesn’t need an Internet connection. The data is stored directly on the device and accessed from there.
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### Author:  [@tatiang](https://community.thunkable.com/u/tatiang)
#### Post date: [March 2, 2024, 12:42am UTC](https://community.thunkable.com/t/getting-elements-from-a-list-within-a-list/2868548/5 "2024-03-02T00:42:50Z")
In my opinion, it’s worth the time to learn how to do this properly. It will teach you a lot about Thunkable and about programming in general that will be applicable later on.
Start here:
[ ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4d1ofZlbZy4)
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### Author:  [@thorntonp72l3](https://community.thunkable.com/u/thorntonp72l3)
#### Post date: [March 2, 2024, 12:53am UTC](https://community.thunkable.com/t/getting-elements-from-a-list-within-a-list/2868548/6 "2024-03-02T00:53:14Z")
Thanks Tatiang,
I will take a look at the video and try to improve my skills.
Appreciate it.
Thank you
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### Author:  [@system](https://community.thunkable.com/u/system)
#### Post date: [May 31, 2024, 12:53am UTC](https://community.thunkable.com/t/getting-elements-from-a-list-within-a-list/2868548/7 "2024-05-31T00:53:29Z")
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