Python List pop()

The list pop() method removes and returns the item at the specified index from a list. It modifies the original list.

Syntax

list.pop(index)

Parameters

index (optional): The position of the element to be removed. If no index is provided, it removes and returns the last element of the list.

Return Value

Returns the removed item

Example 1: Removing an item at a specific index from the list

my_list = [5, 10, 15, 20]

# Remove item at index 1
removed_item = my_list.pop(1)
print(removed_item) # Output: 10

print(my_list) # Output: [5, 15, 20]

In Python, list indexes start from 0. This means the first item is at the index 0, the second item is at the index 1 and so on. So to remove the second item from the list using the pop() method, you need to pass 1 as the index.

Example 2: Removing the last item from the list

my_list = ["apple", "banana", "mango", "orange"]

# Remove the last item
removed_item = my_list.pop()
print(removed_item) # Output: orange

print(my_list) # Output: ['apple', 'banana', 'mango']

If no index is passed to the pop() method, it removes and returns the last item in the list by default.

Example 3: Removing the first item from the list

my_list = ["apple", "banana", "mango", "orange"]

# Remove the first item
removed_item = my_list.pop(0)
print(removed_item) # Output: apple

print(my_list) # Output: ['banana', 'mango', 'orange']

Error Handling

Error handling is necessary when using pop() method in Python. The most common issue is an IndexError, which occurs if you try to remove an item from the empty list or use an index that is out of range.

Example 1: Error handling for an empty list

my_list = []

try:
    removed_item = my_list.pop()
except IndexError:
    print("Cannot pop from empty list!")

# Output: Cannot pop from empty list!

Example 2: Error handling with invalid index

my_list = ["apple", "banana", "mango", "kiwi"]

try:
    removed_item = my_list.pop(10)
except IndexError:
    print("Error: Index is out of range.")

# Output: Error: Index is out of range.

If you want to remove an element by its value, you can use the remove() method.