Difference Between Del, Remove, Clear and Pop on Python Lists

In this Python tutorial, we will learn the three different techniques to remove or delete elements from the list. These are del, remove, and pop. Moreover, we will also know the difference between del, remove, and pop on Python lists. In Python, we don't have arrays. Thus, we use the list data structure as an alternative to arrays to store elements or items in sequential order. Inserting and deleting elements from a list is easy, and there are many methods provided by the list itself for the insertion and removal of elements between the list.

Del, Remove, Clear, and Pop in Python Lists

Python del Keyword with a List

The del is a Python reserve word that is used to delete the complete object or variable from the program. We can use the del keyword to delete the individual list element or the complete list itself. Syntax

del list_name[index]   # delete specific element
del list_name          #delete the complete list

Example

>>> my_list = [1,2,3,4,5,6,7]
>>> del my_list[0] #delete 1 from the list
>>> my_list
[2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7]

>>> del my_list         #delete the complete list
>>> my_list
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "<stdin>", line 1, in <module>
NameError: name 'my_list' is not defined

Python List remove() Method

remove() is a Python list method that is used to remove a specific value from the list. The remove method accepts the element value as a parameter and deletes the first occurrence of the value from the list. The remove method returns a None value. If the specified value does not exist in the list, then the remove method throws a ValueError . Syntax

list_name.remove(value)

Example

>>> my_list = [1,1,2,2,3,3]
>>> my_list.remove(2)        #remove the first 2 from the list
>>> my_list
[1, 1, 2, 3, 3]

>>> my_list.remove(12)        #try to remove non exist element
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "<stdin>", line 1, in <module>
ValueError: list.remove(x): x not in list

Python List pop Method

By default, the pop() method is used to remove the last element from the list, but it also accepts an optional parameter that represents the index number that is supposed to pop out or delete from the list. The pop() method also returns the value that it popped out or deleted from the list. Syntax

list_name.pop(index)

Example

>>> my_list = [1,1,2,2,3,3]

>>> my_list.pop()
3

>>> my_list
[1, 1, 2, 2, 3]

>>> my_list.pop(0) #remove the first element
1

>>> my_list
[1, 2, 2, 3]

Python List clear() Method

If you want to delete all the elements from the list, then instead of using the pop() method in for loop, we can use the list clear() method that will delete all the elements from the list. Syntax

list_name.clear()

Example

>>> my_list = [1,1,2,2,3,3]
>>> my_list.clear()
>>> my_list
[]

Del, remove, clear, and pop on Python Lists: A Comparison Table

Conclusion

The del keyword can delete an element or an entire list, while the remove method deletes only a specific value from the list. The pop() method is generally used to remove the last element from the list, and the clear() method is used to delete all the elements from the list in one go. Unlike del, remove(), pop(), and clear() are list methods .

People are also reading:

• Del, Remove and Pop on Python Lists
• Python Keywords & Identifiers
• Input Output (I/O) and Import in Python
• Python Exception or Error
• Global Keyword in Python
• Python Continue and Break Keywords
• Pass Keyword in Python
• What is Python Used For?
• Data Science Packages for Python
• How to Slice List/Arrays and Tuples in Python?