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How do I add an element to a list in Python?

Published in Python Lists 2 mins read

You can add an element to a list in Python using several methods, depending on where you want to insert the element. The most common methods are append(), insert(), and extend().

Methods for Adding Elements to a List

Here's a breakdown of each method:

  • append(element): Adds a single element to the end of the list.
  • insert(index, element): Inserts the element at a specific index within the list, shifting existing elements to the right.
  • extend(iterable): Adds elements from an iterable (like another list, tuple, or string) to the end of the list.

Examples

Here are examples demonstrating how to use each method:

# Initial list
my_list = [1, 2, 3]

# 1. append(): Adding to the end
my_list.append(4)
print(my_list)  # Output: [1, 2, 3, 4]

# 2. insert(): Inserting at a specific index
my_list.insert(1, 5)  # Insert 5 at index 1
print(my_list)  # Output: [1, 5, 2, 3, 4]

# 3. extend(): Adding elements from another iterable
another_list = [6, 7]
my_list.extend(another_list)
print(my_list)  # Output: [1, 5, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7]

# extend() with a tuple
my_list.extend((8,9))
print(my_list) # Output: [1, 5, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9]

# extend() with a string
my_list.extend("abc")
print(my_list) # Output: [1, 5, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 'a', 'b', 'c']

Summary

In summary, append() is used to add a single element to the end, insert() is used to add an element at a specific position, and extend() is used to add multiple elements from an iterable to the end of the list. Choose the method that best suits your needs based on where you want to add the element(s).