Different ways to clear a list in Python
In this article, we will explore various methods to clear a list in Python. The simplest way to do is by using a loop.
Using clear() Method
Using clear() method we can remove all elements from a list. This method modifies the list in place and removes all its elements.
a = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
a.clear()
print("List after clearing:", a)
Output
List after clearing: []
Explaination: a.clear() clears all elements of the list a.
Note: This method modify the original list in-place.
Let’s explore other different ways to clear a list in Python:
Reassigning to an Empty List
Another common method to clear a list is by simply reassigning the list to an empty list []. This method also clears the list but it does not modify the original list in place.
a = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
# Reassign 'a' to a new empty list
a = []
# Print the current state of 'a'
print("List after reassignment:", a)
Output
List after reassignment: []
Explaination:
- Reassigning a = [] creates a new empty list and assigns it to the variable a.
- The original list is not affected and the reference to the old list is lost.
Using del Statement
The del statement can be used to delete all items in a list. This method removes the items from the list and the list is modified in place.
a = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
del a[:]
print("List after using del:", a)
Output
List after using del: []
Explaination:
- del a[:] deletes all elements from the list a.
- This modifies the list in place and leaves it empty.
Using a Loop with pop()
We can use pop() method in a loop to remove elements from the list one by one. Although this is not the most efficient method.
Example:
while a:
a.pop()
