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Python List remove() Function

The List remove() method searches for the first instance of the given item and removes it.

note

If specified item is not found, it raises ValueError exception.

Syntax​

my_list.remove(item)

remove() Parameters​

Python List remove() method parameters::

ParameterConditionDescription
itemRequiredAny item you want to remove

remove() Return Value​

Python List remove() function does not return a value: it modifies the original list.

Examples​

Example 1: Remove a Single Item in a List​

The remove() method removes item based on specified value and not by index.

names = ['Tom', 'Anna', 'David', 'Ryan']
names.remove('Ryan')

print(names)   # Output: ['Tom', 'Anna', 'David']

output

['Tom', 'Anna', 'David']
danger

If the element does not exist in the list, it throws ValueError exception.

note

If you want to delete list items based on the index, use pop() method or del keyword.

Example 2: Remove a List Element in a List​

The remove() method can remove complex elements like lists:

names = ['Tom', 'Anna', ['David', 'Ryan']]
names.remove(['David', 'Ryan'])

print(names)   # Output: ['Tom', 'Anna']

output

['Tom', 'Anna']

Example 3: Remove Duplicate Items in a List​

The remove() method searches for the first instance of the given item and removes it.

names = ['Tom', 'Anna', 'David', 'Anna']
names.remove('Anna')

print(names)   # Output: ['Tom', 'David', 'Anna']

output

['Tom', 'David', 'Anna']

If you want to remove multiple instances of an item in a list, you can use List Comprehension or Lambda Expression.

For example, use List Comprehension:

names = ['Tom', 'Anna', 'David', 'Anna']
to_remove = 'Anna'
names = [x for x in names if x is not to_remove]
print(names) # Output: ['Tom', 'David']

output

['Tom', 'David']

For example, use Lambda Expression:

names = ['Tom', 'Anna', 'David', 'Anna']
to_remove = 'Anna'
names = list(filter(lambda x: x is not to_remove, names))
print(names) # Output: ['Tom', 'David']

output

['Tom', 'David']

Example 4: Remove Item that does Not Exist in a List​

If the element passed to the remove() method is not in the list, it throws ValueError (pop index out of range exception).

names = ['Tom', 'Anna', 'David', 'Ryan']
removed = names.remove('Thomas')

output

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "main.py", line 2, in <module>
    removed = names.remove('Thomas')
ValueError: list.remove(x): x not in list

To avoid such exception, you can check if item exists in a list, using in operator inside if statement, and the remove it.

names = ['Tom', 'Anna', 'David', 'Ryan']
to_remove = 'Thomas'

if to_remove in names:
    removed = names.remove('Thomas')
    print(removed)
else:
    print('Element is not in the list.')

print(names)

output

Element is not in the list.
['Tom', 'Anna', 'David', 'Ryan']

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