Python List pop() Method Last Updated : 11 Sep, 2025 Comments Improve Suggest changes 34 Likes Like Report pop() method removes and returns an element from a list. By default, it removes the last item, but we can specify an index to remove a particular element. It directly modifies the original list.Let's take an example to remove an element from the list using pop(): Python a = [10, 20, 30, 40] a.pop() print(a) Output[10, 20, 30] Explanation: a.pop() removes the last element, which is 40. The list a is now [10, 20, 30].Syntax:list.pop(index)Parameters:index (optional): index of an item to remove. Defaults to -1 (last item) if argument is not provided.Return Type:Returns the removed item from the specified indexRaises IndexError if the index is out of range.Examples of pop() MethodExample 1: Using pop() with an indexWe can specify an index to remove an element from a particular position (index) in the list. Python a = ["Apple", "Orange", "Banana", "Kiwi"] val = a.pop(2) print(val) print(a) OutputBanana ['Apple', 'Orange', 'Kiwi'] Explanation:a.pop(2) removes the element at index 2, which is "Banana".val stores the value Banana.Example 2: Using pop() without an indexIf we don't pass any argument to the pop() method, it removes the last item from the list because the default value of the index is -1. Python a = [10, 20, 30, 40] val = a.pop() print(val) print(a) Output40 [10, 20, 30] Explanation:a.pop() removes the last element, which is 40.val stores the value 40.Example 3: Handling IndexErrorsThe pop() method will raise an IndexError if we try to pop an element from an index that does not exist. Let’s see an example: Python a = [1, 2, 3] a.pop(5) Output:IndexError: pop index out of rangeExplanation:list a has only three elements with valid indices 0, 1, and 2.Trying to pop from index 5 will raise an IndexError.Related Articles:Python - Remove first element of listPython - Remove rear element from listPython | Remove given element from the list Create Quiz Comment S Striver Follow 34 Improve S Striver Follow 34 Improve Article Tags : Misc Python python-list Python-Built-in-functions python-list-functions python +2 More Explore Python FundamentalsPython Introduction 2 min read Input and Output in Python 4 min read Python Variables 4 min read Python Operators 4 min read Python Keywords 2 min read Python Data Types 8 min read Conditional Statements in Python 3 min read Loops in Python - For, While and Nested Loops 5 min read Python Functions 5 min read Recursion in Python 4 min read Python Lambda Functions 5 min read Python Data StructuresPython String 5 min read Python Lists 4 min read Python Tuples 4 min read Python Dictionary 3 min read Python Sets 6 min read Python Arrays 7 min read List Comprehension in Python 4 min read Advanced PythonPython OOP Concepts 11 min read Python Exception Handling 5 min read File Handling in Python 4 min read Python Database Tutorial 4 min read Python MongoDB Tutorial 3 min read Python MySQL 9 min read Python Packages 10 min read Python Modules 3 min read Python DSA Libraries 15 min read List of Python GUI Library and Packages 3 min read Data Science with PythonNumPy Tutorial - Python Library 3 min read Pandas Tutorial 4 min read Matplotlib Tutorial 5 min read Python Seaborn Tutorial 3 min read StatsModel Library - Tutorial 3 min read Learning Model Building in Scikit-learn 6 min read TensorFlow Tutorial 2 min read PyTorch Tutorial 6 min read Web Development with PythonFlask Tutorial 8 min read Django Tutorial | Learn Django Framework 7 min read Django ORM - Inserting, Updating & Deleting Data 4 min read Templating With Jinja2 in Flask 6 min read Django Templates 5 min read Build a REST API using Flask - Python 3 min read Building a Simple API with Django REST Framework 3 min read Python PracticePython Quiz 1 min read Python Coding Practice 1 min read Python Interview Questions and Answers 15+ min read Like