Python List Methods are the built-in methods in lists used to perform operations on Python lists/arrays.
Below, we’ve explained all the methods you can use with Python lists, for example, append(), copy(), insert(), and more.
List / Array Methods in Python
Let’s look at some different methods for lists in Python:
1 |
append() |
Used for adding elements to the end of the List. |
2 |
copy() |
It returns a shallow copy of a list |
3 |
clear() |
This method is used for removing all items from the list. |
4 |
count() |
These methods count the elements. |
5 |
extend() |
Adds each element of an iterable to the end of the List |
6 |
index() |
Returns the lowest index where the element appears. |
7 |
insert() |
Inserts a given element at a given index in a list. |
8 |
pop() |
Removes and returns the last value from the List or the given index value. |
9 |
remove() |
Removes a given object from the List. |
10 |
reverse() |
Reverses objects of the List in place. |
11 |
sort() |
Sort a List in ascending, descending, or user-defined order |
12 |
min() |
Calculates the minimum of all the elements of the List |
13 |
max() |
Calculates the maximum of all the elements of the List |
This article is an extension of the below articles:
Adding Element in List
Let’s look at some built-in Python methods to add element in a list.
1. Python append() method
Adds element to the end of a list.
Syntax: list.append (element)
Example:
Python3
List = [ 'Mathematics' , 'chemistry' , 1997 , 2000 ]
List .append( 20544 )
print ( List )
|
Output
['Mathematics', 'chemistry', 1997, 2000, 20544]
2. Python insert() method
Inserts an element at the specified position.
Syntax:
list.insert(<position, element)
Note: The position mentioned should be within the range of List, as in this case between 0 and 4, else wise would throw IndexError.
Example:
Python3
List = [ 'Mathematics' , 'chemistry' , 1997 , 2000 ]
List .insert( 2 , 10087 )
print ( List )
|
Output
['Mathematics', 'chemistry', 10087, 1997, 2000]
3. Python extend() method
Adds items of an iterable(list, array, string , etc.) to the end of a list
Syntax: List1.extend(List2)
Example:
Python3
List1 = [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
List2 = [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
List1.extend(List2)
print (List1)
List2.extend(List1)
print (List2)
|
Output
[1, 2, 3, 2, 3, 4, 5]
[2, 3, 4, 5, 1, 2, 3, 2, 3, 4, 5]
Important functions of the Python List
We have mentioned some essential Python list functions along with their syntax and example:
1. Python sum() method
Calculates the sum of all the elements of the List.
Syntax: sum(List)
Example:
Python3
List = [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
print ( sum ( List ))
|
What happens if a numeric value is not used as a parameter?
The sum is calculated only for numeric values, else wise throws TypeError.
See example:
Python3
List = [ 'gfg' , 'abc' , 3 ]
print ( sum ( List ))
|
Output:
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "", line 1, in
sum(List)
TypeError: unsupported operand type(s) for +: 'int' and 'str'
2. Python count() method
Calculates the total occurrence of a given element of the List.
Syntax: List.count(element)
Example:
Python3
List = [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 1 , 2 , 1 , 2 , 3 , 2 , 1 ]
print ( List .count( 1 ))
|
3. Python len() method
Calculates the total length of the List.
Syntax: len(list_name)
Example:
Python3
List = [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 1 , 2 , 1 , 2 , 3 , 2 , 1 ]
print ( len ( List ))
|
4. Python index() method
Returns the index of the first occurrence. The start and end indexes are not necessary parameters.
Syntax: List.index(element[,start[,end]])
Example:
Python3
List = [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 1 , 2 , 1 , 2 , 3 , 2 , 1 ]
print ( List .index( 2 ))
|
Another example:
Python3
List = [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 1 , 2 , 1 , 2 , 3 , 2 , 1 ]
print ( List .index( 2 , 2 ))
|
5. Python min() method
Calculates minimum of all the elements of List.
Syntax: min(iterable, *iterables[, key])
Example:
Python3
numbers = [ 5 , 2 , 8 , 1 , 9 ]
print ( min (numbers))
|
6. Python max() method
Calculates the maximum of all the elements of the List.
Syntax: max(iterable, *iterables[, key])
Python3
numbers = [ 5 , 2 , 8 , 1 , 9 ]
print ( max (numbers))
|
7. Python sort() method
Sort the given data structure (both tuple and list) in ascending order.
Key and reverse_flag are not necessary parameter and reverse_flag is set to False if nothing is passed through sorted().
Syntax: list.sort([key,[Reverse_flag]])
Example:
Python
List = [ 2.3 , 4.445 , 3 , 5.33 , 1.054 , 2.5 ]
List .sort(reverse = True )
print ( List )
|
Output
[5.33, 4.445, 3, 2.5, 2.3, 1.054]
8. Python reverse() method
reverse() function reverses the order of list.
Syntax: list. reverse()
Example:
Python3
list = [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
list .reverse()
print ( list )
|
Deletion of List Elements
To Delete one or more elements, i.e. remove an element, many built-in Python functions can be used, such as pop() & remove() and keywords such as del.
1. Python pop() method
Removes an item from a specific index in a list.
Syntax: list.pop([index])
The index is not a necessary parameter, if not mentioned takes the last index.
Note: The index must be in the range of the List, elsewise IndexErrors occur.
Example 1:
Python3
List = [ 2.3 , 4.445 , 3 , 5.33 , 1.054 , 2.5 ]
print ( List .pop())
|
Example 2:
Python3
List = [ 2.3 , 4.445 , 3 , 5.33 , 1.054 , 2.5 ]
print ( List .pop( 0 ))
|
2. Python del() method
Deletes an element from the list using it’s index.
Syntax: del list.[index]
Example:
Python3
List = [ 2.3 , 4.445 , 3 , 5.33 , 1.054 , 2.5 ]
del List [ 0 ]
print ( List )
|
Output
[4.445, 3, 5.33, 1.054, 2.5]
3. Python remove() method
Removes a specific element using it’s value/name.
Syntax: list.remove(element)
Example :
Python3
List = [ 2.3 , 4.445 , 3 , 5.33 , 1.054 , 2.5 ]
List .remove( 3 )
print ( List )
|
Output
[2.3, 4.445, 5.33, 1.054, 2.5]
We have discussed all major Python list methods, that one should know to work on list. We have seen how to add and remove elements from list and also perform basic operations like count , sort, reverse.
Hope these Python methods were of help!
Last Updated :
04 Dec, 2023
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