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Python Introducing Lists Meet Lists Review Deletion

Ben Wiley
Ben Wiley
461 Points
Posted by Ben Wiley
Ben Wiley
461 Points

I am unclear on the function of del.

If del removes the label and not the element within a list, shouldn't the len() function remain constant, regardless of how many specific items are "del"-ed?

I clearly am having some difficulty understanding the nuances of del.

1 Answer

Steven Parker
Steven Parker
229,732 Points
Steven Parker
Steven Parker
229,732 Points

The "del" statement does remove an item from a list, reducing the length of the list.

What it does not delete is the object that the list element was referencing. But if there are no other references to the object, it won't be possible to access it again.