Python List append() Method

Q: Does append() return a new list?

No. It returns `None` and changes the original list in place.

Q: How do I add multiple items to a list in Python?

Use `extend()` with an iterable, or concatenate with `+`. `append()` always adds exactly one item.

By Yogesh Sharma (LinkedIn) · Every code example is run and checked on Python 3.13 (how we test) · Last updated 21 Oct 2026

Short answer

list.append(item) adds one item to the end of a list, changes the list in place and returns None.

Use append() whenever you build a list one value at a time, for example while looping over input. The list grows by exactly one element, no matter what that element is, even another list.

Quick facts
Syntax	`my_list.append(item)`
Parameters	`item`: any object to add
Returns	`None` (the list is modified in place)
Time complexity	O(1) on average

How list.append() works

Python places the new item after the last one, so the new item gets the index len(my_list) - 1.

Python

fruits = ["apple", "kiwi"]
fruits.append("mango")
print(fruits)
print(len(fruits))

append() vs extend() vs +

Tool	Adds	Changes the list in place?	Example result for [1] and [2, 3]
`append()`	One item (a list stays one item)	Yes	`[1, [2, 3]]`
`extend()`	Every item of an iterable	Yes	`[1, 2, 3]`
`+`	Every item of another list	No, makes a new list	`[1, 2, 3]`

Examples you can run

Press Run, then edit the code and run it again.

Build a list in a loop

A common pattern: start with an empty list and append inside a loop.

Build a list in a loop

squares = []
for n in range(1, 6):
    squares.append(n * n)
print(squares)

Expected output[1, 4, 9, 16, 25]

Appending a list adds one nested item

append() never unpacks its argument.

Appending a list adds one nested item

row = [1, 2]
row.append([3, 4])
print(row)
print(len(row))

Expected output[1, 2, [3, 4]]
3

Common mistakes

Using the return value

✗ Wrong

cart = ["pen"]
cart = cart.append("book")
print(cart)

None

✓ Right

cart = ["pen"]
cart.append("book")
print(cart)

append() returns None. Call it on its own line and keep using the original list.

Passing several items

✗ Wrong

nums = [1]
nums.append(2, 3)

TypeError: list.append() takes exactly one argument (2 given)

✓ Right

nums = [1]
nums.extend([2, 3])
print(nums)

Use extend([2, 3]) to add several items at once.

Python List append() Method: questions people ask

Does append() return a new list?

No. It returns None and changes the original list in place.

How do I add multiple items to a list in Python?

Use extend() with an iterable, or concatenate with +. append() always adds exactly one item.

Keep learning

Step-by-step lessons:
Python Lists Python List Methods

Related:
Python List Methods Python Lists

More in list methods:
Python List extend() Method Python List insert() Method Python List remove() Method Python List pop() Method Python List clear() Method Python List index() Method Python List count() Method Python List sort() Method See all →