Python List Methods Cheat Sheet [Instant PDF Download]

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Here’s your free PDF cheat sheet showing you all Python list methods on one simple page. Click the image to download the high-resolution PDF file, print it, and post it to your office wall:

I’ll lead you through all Python list methods in this short video tutorial:

Python List Methods

If you want to study the methods yourself, have a look at the following table from my blog article:

MethodDescription
lst.append(x)Appends element x to the list lst.
lst.clear()Removes all elements from the list lst–which becomes empty.
lst.copy()Returns a copy of the list lst. Copies only the list, not the elements in the list (shallow copy).
lst.count(x)Counts the number of occurrences of element x in the list lst.
lst.extend(iter)Adds all elements of an iterable iter(e.g. another list) to the list lst.
lst.index(x)Returns the position (index) of the first occurrence of value x in the list lst.
lst.insert(i, x)Inserts element x at position (index) i in the list lst.
lst.pop()Removes and returns the final element of the list lst.
lst.remove(x)Removes and returns the first occurrence of element x in the list lst.
lst.reverse()Reverses the order of elements in the list lst.
lst.sort()Sorts the elements in the list lst in ascending order.

Go ahead and try the Python list methods yourself:

Puzzle: Can you figure out all outputs of this interactive Python script?

If you’ve studied the table carefully, you’ll know the most important list methods in Python. Let’s have a look at some examples of above methods:

>>> l = []
>>> l.append(2)
>>> l
[2]
>>> l.clear()
>>> l
[]
>>> l.append(2)
>>> l
[2]
>>> l.copy()
[2]
>>> l.count(2)
1
>>> l.extend([2,3,4])
>>> l
[2, 2, 3, 4]
>>> l.index(3)
2
>>> l.insert(2, 99)
>>> l
[2, 2, 99, 3, 4]
>>> l.pop()
4
>>> l.remove(2)
>>> l
[2, 99, 3]
>>> l.reverse()
>>> l
[3, 99, 2]
>>> l.sort()
>>> l
[2, 3, 99]

Where to Go From Here?

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