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Python Python Collections (2016, retired 2019) Sets Set Basics

Posted by Andrew McLane
Andrew McLane
3,385 Points

I don't understand what the .pop() function did. I thought it was used to delete and return a value.

.pop() value was used and not sure what it did.

1 Answer

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

It does exactly what you said, it deletes an item and returns the value. So after his demonstration, the set would be empty.

However, in looking at the video again I noticed something .. the values appear in numerical order! On a list, the "pop" function removes the last item. Yet it appears that on a set, it removes the first item! But you should probably not count on that. According to the "help" documentation, on a set it will "Remove and return an arbitrary set element."