Python remove() vs pop() vs del: What Is the Difference?

Q: What is the difference between remove() and pop() in Python?

`remove(x)` deletes the first item equal to a value and returns `None`, while `pop(i)` deletes the item at an index and returns that item. Use `remove()` when you know the value and `pop()` when you know the position or need the item back.

Q: Is del faster than pop() or remove()?

Deleting from the end of a list is O(1) for both `del nums[-1]` and `nums.pop()`, so the speed is practically the same. Removing from the front or middle is O(n) for all three because later items must shift, and `remove()` also has to search first.

Q: How do I remove all occurrences of a value from a list?

Build a new list that keeps everything else, for example `[n for n in nums if n != 2]`. Calling `remove()` removes only the first match each time.

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

remove(x) deletes the first item equal to a value, pop(i) deletes the item at an index and hands it back, and del is a statement that deletes by index, slice or name and returns nothing.

All three tools take something out of a collection, so beginners often grab whichever one they remember first. The right choice depends on what you know about the item: do you know its value, its position, or do you need it afterwards? Picking correctly avoids ValueError, IndexError and subtle bugs where the wrong element disappears.

This page focuses on Python lists, where all three work, and also shows how they behave on dictionaries. For the full method references see list.remove() and list.pop().

remove() vs pop() vs del at a glance

The three ways to delete from a Python list.
Aspect	`list.remove(x)`	`list.pop(i)`	`del`
What you give it	A value	An index (default: last item)	An index, a slice or a name
What it removes	The first item equal to the value	The item at that position	Whatever the target refers to
Return value	`None`	The removed item	Nothing: it is a statement, not a function
Works on slices	No	No	Yes: `del nums[1:3]`
Missing target	`ValueError`	`IndexError` (also on an empty list)	`IndexError`, `KeyError` or `NameError`
Removes several items at once	No, only the first match	No	Yes, with a slice
Typical use	Delete a known value	Take an item and use it (stack, queue)	Delete a range or free a variable

When to use remove()

Use remove() when you know what you want gone but not where it sits, for example removing a product from a cart by name. It scans from the left and deletes only the first match, so duplicates later in the list stay. It raises ValueError if the value is absent, so check with in first when the value might not be there.

Python

cart = ["pen", "book", "pen"]
if "lamp" in cart:
    cart.remove("lamp")
cart.remove("pen")
print(cart)

If you need to delete every occurrence, build a new list with a list comprehension instead of calling remove() repeatedly.

When to use pop()

Use pop() when you need the removed item afterwards. With no argument it takes the last element in O(1) time, which is why a list works well as a stack. pop(0) takes the first element but must shift every other item, so it is O(n); for large queues prefer collections.deque. On a dictionary, pop(key) removes the key and returns its value, and accepts a default so a missing key does not raise (see dict.pop()).

When to use the del statement

Use del when you do not need the item back, or when you want to remove a slice. It is also the only one of the three that can delete a variable name or an entry from a dictionary by key without needing a return value. Because del is a statement, you write del nums[0], not del(nums[0]) as a call that returns something (the parentheses are allowed but only group the expression).

One more subtlety: del nums removes the name nums, not the list's items. Use nums.clear() to empty a list but keep the name. Deleting a name also does not destroy the object if another name still refers to it; see Python variables for how names and objects relate.

Examples you can run

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

remove() deletes the first matching value

Only the first "pen" goes; the second one is kept, and nothing is returned.

remove() deletes the first matching value

cart = ["pen", "book", "pen", "lamp"]
result = cart.remove("pen")
print(cart)
print(result)

Expected output['book', 'pen', 'lamp']
None

pop() removes by index and returns the item

pop() with no argument takes the last item; pop(0) takes the first.

pop() removes by index and returns the item

scores = [70, 85, 92]
last = scores.pop()
first = scores.pop(0)
print(last, first, scores)

Expected output92 70 [85]

del removes an index or a whole slice

A slice 1:3 removes indexes 1 and 2 in one step.

del removes an index or a whole slice

nums = [0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
del nums[1:3]
print(nums)
del nums[0]
print(nums)

Expected output[0, 3, 4, 5]
[3, 4, 5]

Deleting from a dictionary with del and pop

del just removes the key. pop() also returns the value, and a second argument is a safe default.

Deleting from a dictionary with del and pop

prices = {"tea": 3, "coffee": 4}
del prices["tea"]
value = prices.pop("coffee")
print(value, prices)
print(prices.pop("juice", 0))

Expected output4 {}
0

Common mistakes

Removing a value that is not in the list

✗ Wrong

cart = ["pen", "book"]
cart.remove("lamp")

ValueError: list.remove(x): x not in list

✓ Right

cart = ["pen", "book"]
if "lamp" in cart:
    cart.remove("lamp")
print(cart)

Check membership first with in, or catch ValueError if a missing item is expected.

Popping from an empty list

✗ Wrong

stack = []
stack.pop()

IndexError: pop from empty list

✓ Right

stack = []
if stack:
    stack.pop()
print(stack)

Test the list first: an empty list is falsy, so if stack: is enough.

Removing items while looping over the same list

✗ Wrong

nums = [1, 2, 2, 3]
for n in nums:
    if n == 2:
        nums.remove(n)
print(nums)

No error, but the output is [1, 2, 3]: one 2 survives because the list shifted during the loop.

✓ Right

nums = [1, 2, 2, 3]
nums = [n for n in nums if n != 2]
print(nums)

Loop over a copy, or build a new list with a comprehension.

Using del on the name instead of the items

✗ Wrong

items = [1, 2, 3]
del items
print(items)

NameError: name 'items' is not defined

✓ Right

items = [1, 2, 3]
items.clear()
print(items)

del items deletes the variable. Use items.clear() to empty the list.

Python remove() vs pop() vs del: What Is the Difference?: questions people ask

What is the difference between remove() and pop() in Python?

remove(x) deletes the first item equal to a value and returns None, while pop(i) deletes the item at an index and returns that item. Use remove() when you know the value and pop() when you know the position or need the item back.

Is del faster than pop() or remove()?

Deleting from the end of a list is O(1) for both del nums[-1] and nums.pop(), so the speed is practically the same. Removing from the front or middle is O(n) for all three because later items must shift, and remove() also has to search first.

How do I remove all occurrences of a value from a list?

Build a new list that keeps everything else, for example [n for n in nums if n != 2]. Calling remove() removes only the first match each time.

Keep learning

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

More in functions and methods:
Python append() vs extend(): What Is the Difference?Python sort() vs sorted(): What Is the Difference?Python print() vs return: What Is the Difference?Python str() vs repr(): What Is the Difference?Python Deep Copy vs Shallow Copy: What Is the Difference? See all →