Python provides several methods to remove items from a list. You can remove items by value, by index, remove all items, or even delete the entire list.

In this tutorial, you'll learn how to use remove(), pop(), del, and clear() with practical examples.

Using remove()

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

Syntax

list_name.remove(value)
            

Example

fruits = ["Apple", "Banana", "Mango"] 
fruits.remove("Apple") 
print(fruits)
            

Output:

['Banana', 'Mango']
            

The item "Apple" is removed from the list.

Using pop()

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

Syntax

list_name.pop(index)
# Or
list_name.pop()

            

Example: Remove Last Item

fruits = ["Apple", "Banana", "Mango"] 
fruits.pop() 
print(fruits)
            

Output:

['Apple', 'Banana']
            

Example: Remove Item at a Specific Index

fruits = ["Apple", "Banana", "Mango"] 
fruits.pop(1) 
print(fruits)
            

Output:

['Apple', 'Mango']
            

Using del

The del keyword removes an item at a specific index or deletes the entire list.

Example: Delete an Item

fruits = ["Apple", "Banana", "Mango"] 
del fruits[1] 
print(fruits)
            

Output:

['Apple', 'Mango']
            

Example: Delete the Entire List

fruits = ["Apple", "Banana", "Mango"] 
del fruits
            

After deleting the list, trying to access it will raise an error because it no longer exists.

Using clear()

The clear() method removes all items from a list but keeps the list itself.

Syntax

list_name.clear()
            

Example

fruits = ["Apple", "Banana", "Mango"] 
fruits.clear() 
print(fruits)
            

Output:

[]
            

The list still exists, but it contains no items.

Difference Between clear() and del

Summary