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Python Python Collections (Retired) Lists Redux Manipulating Lists

Kody Dibble
Kody Dibble
2,554 Points
Posted by Kody Dibble
Kody Dibble
2,554 Points

How to use insert and pop

Not sure exactly how to use the .pop and .insert syntax together.

lists.py 
the_list = ["a", 2, 3, 1, False, [1, 2, 3]]

# Your code goes below her
the_list.pop[0].insert(1)

1 Answer

Chris Freeman
MOD
Chris Freeman
Treehouse Moderator 68,423 Points
Chris Freeman
Chris Freeman
Treehouse Moderator 68,423 Points

assert() tasks two arguments: the insert position and the item to insert. pop() takes one argument: the position of the item to be removed. pop() return the popped item.

# pop the 1 from the list. It's in the 4th position so use index 3 in 0-based counting
popped_item = the_list.pop(3)
# insert it at the beginning of the list. Beginning is index 0
the_list.insert(0, popped_item)

# combining the statements above into one 
the_list.insert(0, the_list.pop(3))
Andy Manning
Andy Manning
628 Points
Andy Manning
Andy Manning
628 Points

Thanks, this made it super clear for me - noob question but why not use [] to describe the index inside the insert and pop methods? I wanted to as that's how describing indexes has been taught so far, is there a logical rule/reason I can remember as to why?