Python List remove()

In this tutorial, we will learn about the Python List remove() method with the help of examples.

The remove() method removes the first matching element (which is passed as an argument) from the list.

Example

# create a list
prime_numbers = [2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11]

# remove 9 from the list
prime_numbers.remove(9)


# Updated prime_numbers List
print('Updated List: ', prime_numbers)

# Output: Updated List:  [2, 3, 5, 7, 11]

1. Syntax of List remove()

The syntax of the remove() method is:

list.remove(element)

2. remove() Parameters

• The remove() method takes a single element as an argument and removes it from the list.
• If the element doesn’t exist, it throws ValueError: list.remove(x): x not in list exception.

3. Return Value from remove()

The remove() doesn’t return any value (returns None).

4. Example 1: Remove element from the list

# animals list
animals = ['cat', 'dog', 'rabbit', 'guinea pig']

# 'rabbit' is removed
animals.remove('rabbit')


# Updated animals List
print('Updated animals list: ', animals)

Output

Updated animals list:  ['cat', 'dog', 'guinea pig']

5. Example 2: remove() method on a list having duplicate elements

If a list contains duplicate elements, the remove() method only removes the first matching element.

# animals list
animals = ['cat', 'dog', 'dog', 'guinea pig', 'dog']

# 'dog' is removed
animals.remove('dog')


# Updated animals list
print('Updated animals list: ', animals)

Output

Updated animals list:  ['cat', 'dog', 'guinea pig', 'dog']

Here, only the first occurrence of element ‘dog’ is removed from the list.

6. Example 3: Deleting element that doesn’t exist

# animals list
animals = ['cat', 'dog', 'rabbit', 'guinea pig']

# Deleting 'fish' element
animals.remove('fish')


# Updated animals List
print('Updated animals list: ', animals)

Output

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File ".. .. ..", line 5, in <module>
    animal.remove('fish')
ValueError: list.remove(x): x not in list

Here, we are getting an error because the animals list doesn’t contain 'fish'.

• If you need to delete elements based on the index (like the fourth element), you can use the pop() method.
• Also, you can use the Python del statement to remove items from the list.