[Tut] How to Add an Element to a Python List at an Index?

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How to Add an Element to a Python List at an Index?

To add an element to a given Python list, you can use either of the three following methods:

1. Use the list insert method
   Code:

   list.insert(index, element)
   .
   
   
2. Use slice assignment
   Code:

   lst[index:index] = [element]
   to overwrite the empty slice with a list of one element.
   
   
3. Use list concatenation with slicing
   Code:

   lst[:2] + ['Alice'] + lst[2:]
   to create a new listobject.
   

In the following, you’ll learn about all three methods in greater detail. But before that, feel free to test those yourself in our interactive Python shell (just click “Run” to see the output):

https://trinket.io/embed/python/37221a165c

Method 1: insert(index, element)

The

Code:

list.insert(i, element)

method adds an element

Code:

element

to an existing

Code:

list

at position

Code:

i

. All elements

Code:

j>i

will be moved by one index position to the right.

Here’s an example with comments:

Code:

# Create the list lst = [2, 4, 6, 8] # Insert string at index 2 lst.insert(2, 'Alice') # Print modified list object print(lst) # [2, 4, 'Alice', 6, 8]

Properties of

Code:

insert()

Operates on existing list object

Simple

Fast

Check out the objects in memory while executing this code snippet (in comparison to the other methods discussed in this article):

https://pythontutor.com/iframe-embed.htm...nces=false

Click “Next” to move on in the code and observe the memory objects creation.

Related article: Python List insert() Method

Method 2: Slice Assignment

Slice assignment is a little-used, beautiful Python feature to replace a slice with another sequence.

Simply select the slice you want to replace on the left and the values to replace it on the right side of the equation.

For example, the slice assignment

Code:

list[2:4] = [42, 42]

replaces the list elements with index

Code:

2

and

Code:

3

with the value

Code:

42

.

Here’s another example that shows you how to insert the string

Code:

'Alice'

into a list with four integers.



Let’s have a look at the code:

Code:

# Create the list lst = [2, 4, 6, 8] # Insert string at index 2 lst[2:2] = ['Alice'] # Print modified list object print(lst) # [2, 4, 'Alice', 6, 8]

Properties of Slice Assignment

Operates on existing list object

Slightly more complex

Fast

Related article: Python Slice Assignment

Method 3: List Concatenation

If you use the

Code:

+

operator on two integers, you’ll get the sum of those integers. But if you use the

Code:

+

operator on two lists, you’ll get a new list that is the concatenation of those lists.

Here’s the same example, you’ve already seen in the previous sections:

Code:

# Create the list lst = [2, 4, 6, 8] # Insert string at index 2 lst = lst[:2] + ['Alice'] + lst[2:] # Print modified list object print(lst) # [2, 4, 'Alice', 6, 8]

Properties of List Concatenation

Creates a new list object

Slightly more complex

Slower

Related article: How to Concatenate Lists in Python? [Interactive Guide]

Where to Go From Here?

Enough theory, let’s get some practice!

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Practice projects is how you sharpen your saw in coding!

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Then become a Python freelance developer! It’s the best way of approaching the task of improving your Python skills—even if you are a complete beginner.

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