List of parameters to manipulate from an external list

Question

I am trying to achieve the functionality of the following command:

Manipulate[ z, {z, 0, 1}]

but with passing the list of parameters into Manipulate from and external list, e.g.

list = {z, 0, 1};
Manipulate[ z, list ]

but with this syntax I recieve the following error:

Manipulate::vsform: "Manipulate argument \!\(ToExpression[{\"z\", 0, 1}]\) does not have the correct form for a variable specification"

How can I overcome this?

Answer 1

list = {z, 0, 1};
Manipulate[z, Evaluate@list]

Manipulate has attribute HoldAll,

Attributes[Manipulate]
{HoldAll, Protected, ReadProtected}

i.e.

all arguments to a function are to be maintained in an unevaluated form

Using Evaluate@list makes Manipulate see {z,0,1} rather than the symbol list.

Answer 2

In addition to what kguler has said, you can also inject with With:

With[{l = list}, Manipulate[z, l] ]

or

Manipulate[z, #] &[list]