To remove an item from a list in Python, you have several options depending on the situation. Here are the most common methods:

1. Using remove() method:

The remove() method removes the first occurrence of the specified value from the list.

my_list = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
my_list.remove(3)
print(my_list)

Output:

[1, 2, 4, 5]
  • Note: If the specified value is not found, it raises a ValueError.

2. Using pop() method:

The pop() method removes the item at the specified index and returns it. If no index is specified, it removes and returns the last item in the list.

my_list = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
my_list.pop(2)  # Removes the item at index 2
print(my_list)

Output:

[1, 2, 4, 5]
  • Note: If the index is out of range, it raises an IndexError.

3. Using del statement:

The del statement can be used to delete an item at a specific index or to delete a slice of items.

my_list = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
del my_list[2]  # Deletes the item at index 2
print(my_list)

Output:

[1, 2, 4, 5]
  • Note: If the index is out of range, it raises an IndexError.

4. Using List Comprehension:

If you want to remove all occurrences of a value, you can use a list comprehension to create a new list without the unwanted items.

my_list = [1, 2, 3, 4, 3, 5]
my_list = [item for item in my_list if item != 3]
print(my_list)

Output:

[1, 2, 4, 5]

Summary:

  • Use remove() to delete the first occurrence of a specific value.
  • Use pop() to remove an item at a specific index or the last item.
  • Use del to delete an item at a specific index or a slice of the list.
  • Use list comprehension to remove all occurrences of a specific value.

Choose the method that best fits your use case!

Simon

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