Python List Methods Tutorial: Python List Pop()
The pop() method removes the item at the given index from the list and returns the removed item.
The syntax of the pop``() method is:
list.pop(index)
pop() parameters
- The
pop()method takes a single argument (index). - The argument passed to the method is optional. If not passed, the default index -1 is passed as an argument (index of the last item).
- If the index passed to the method is not in range, it throws IndexError: pop index out of range exception.
Return Value from pop()
The pop() method returns the item present at the given index. This item is also removed from the list.
Example 1: Pop item at the given index from the list
# programming languages list
languages = ['Python', 'Java', 'C++', 'French', 'C']
# remove and return the 4th item
return_value = languages.pop(3)
print('Return Value:', return_value)
# Updated List
print('Updated List:', languages)
Output
Return Value: French
Updated List: ['Python', 'Java', 'C++', 'C']
Note: Index in Python starts from 0, not 1.
If you need to pop the 4th element, you need to pass 3 to the pop() method.
Example 2: pop() without an index, and for negative indices
# programming languages list
languages = ['Python', 'Java', 'C++', 'Ruby', 'C']
# remove and return the last item
print('When index is not passed:')
print('Return Value:', languages.pop())
print('Updated List:', languages)
# remove and return the last item
print('\nWhen -1 is passed:')
print('Return Value:', languages.pop(-1))
print('Updated List:', languages)
# remove and return the third last item
print('\nWhen -3 is passed:')
print('Return Value:', languages.pop(-3))
print('Updated List:', languages)
Output
When index is not passed:
Return Value: C
Updated List: ['Python', 'Java', 'C++', 'Ruby']
When -1 is passed:
Return Value: Ruby
Updated List: ['Python', 'Java', 'C++']
When -3 is passed:
Return Value: Python
Updated List: ['Java', 'C++']
If you need to remove the given item from the list, you can to use the remove() method.
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